Cablegate: Tokyo Media Reaction - Afghanistan and Iran

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P 190137Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
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UNCLAS TOKYO 002400

SIPDIS

STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - AFGHANISTAN AND IRAN

1. LEAD STORIES: Most Monday morning papers gave top play to press
remarks by an unnamed senior Pentagon official, in which the
official indicated that the U.S. would be prepared to accept moving
the envisaged Futenma replacement facility at Camp Schwab offshore
by about 50 meters.

2. "Dissatisfaction with Political Vacuum Mounting" The liberal
Mainichi wrote from Kabul (10/19): "Afghan election authorities are
likely to release the final results of the presidential election
shortly. With a runoff vote being possible between President Karzai
and former Foreign Minister Abdullah, frustration with the continued
political vacuum is mounting among Afghan people, as well as in the
U.S., which is being drawn into a prolonged war in Afghanistan."

3. "Serious Sectarian Strife in Iran" On Sunday's suicide bombing in
Iran that apparently targeted the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,
the top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri stated from Tehran (10/19):
"The attack was evidence that the sectarian strife between Shiites
and Sunnis could develop into a serious problem that might cripple
Iran's Shiite-dominated Islamic revolutionary system. The Iranian
government has begun criticizing the U.S. and Britain by saying that
they were behind the terrorist assault. This may have an adverse
effect on the relationship between Iran and the U.S. and European
countries, which has shown signs of improvement following the recent
resumption of talks over Iran's nuclear development."

ROOS

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