Cablegate: Tokyo Media Reaction - Afghanistan

VZCZCXRO6586
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #2688 3280231
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 240231Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7703
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
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RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N541// PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY
RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/USFJ PRIORITY
INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 7529
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 9878
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 4705
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 8037
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 1340
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1943
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 3088
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8619
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 8084
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS TOKYO 002688

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

1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Tuesday morning included an Asahi
report claiming that Tokyo prosecutors are preparing to charge a
former top aide to Prime Minister Hatoyama with violation of the
Political Funds Control Law in connection with his alleged false
reporting of a total of 200 million yen in political funds.

2. "Karzai Should Eliminate Corruption and Improve Public Security"
The conservative Sankei editorialized (11/24): "President Karzai,
whose reelection has been confirmed, launched his second
administration following the swearing-in ceremony. During his
inaugural speech, Karzai stated, 'In five years, Afghan troops will
take the place of foreign troops in protecting the nation's public
security.' However, Afghanistan is likely to face many obstacles in
light of ongoing terrorist acts by the Taliban. Karzai should carry
out government policies that will help to steadily reconstruct the
nation. His first task is to completely eliminate corruption within
the government."

ROOS

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