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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 000242 
 
SIPDIS 
 
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 - STATE OF UNION ADDRESS 
 
¶1. LEAD STORIES: All Wednesday morning papers gave top 
play to the ruling coalition's submission to the Lower 
House of a bill to extend by two months the provisional 
gasoline tax. 
 
¶2. "How to Deal with Remaining Fissures" The liberal 
Asahi editorialized (1/30): "...There were no sincere 
words in the President's State of the Union address 
about the fissures he created between the U.S. and the 
rest of the world.... It is undeniable that 9/11 was 
the biggest challenge for the Bush administration. The 
President enjoyed overwhelming support from the 
American people just after the attacks. However, his 
support rate has since declined to 30 percent. His weak 
support appears to indicate that the President's 
approach to the 'war on terrorism' has failed. 
President Bush expressed confidence that the surge in 
Iraq has achieved 'unimaginable success.' Sectarian 
conflict there has lessened, and the U.S. military is 
sustaining fewer casualties. However, no one can 
believe that the war on terrorism in general has been a 
success.... We agree with the criticism of a Democratic 
governor that the U.S. has fewer friends and more 
enemies." 
 
¶3. "Bush Should Be Aware of the Danger of Self- 
Righteousness" The liberal Mainichi argued in its 
editorial (1/30): "...In his State of the Union 
address, President Bush focused on the economy and the 
war in Iraq. However, it is regrettable that the speech 
lacked new policy proposals or innovative vision.... It 
is the responsibility of the person who started the war 
in Iraq to show a clear path toward an end to the 
conflict during his remaining term in office.... The 
Bush administration advocated the idea of changing the 
world by U.S. power alone. We hope that the President 
will realize the danger of self-righteousness before 
his term comes to an end." 
 
¶4. "Administration in Twilight Bears Heavy 
Responsibility" The moderate Yomiuri wrote in an 
editorial (1/30): "President Bush's last State of the 
Union address illustrated the difficulties the U.S. is 
facing at home and abroad.... If the U.S. is slow to 
take action on the subprime loan issue, the delay will 
have an adverse effect on the global economy. The USG 
and Congress should quickly make a decision on economic 
stimulus measures and implement them to prevent the 
U.S. economy from further slowing.... The President 
failed to show a path toward a substantial withdrawal 
of U.S. troops from Iraq.... Even though his 
administration is nearing its end, we hope that 
President Bush, as the leader of a global power 
responsible for world peace and prosperity, will do his 
utmost to break the impasse in Iraq." 
 
¶5. "Bush Facing Challenge over Economy during Last Days 
in Office" The economic-oriented Nikkei editorialized 
(1/30): "President Bush, who experienced 9/11 the year 
he took office, will go down in U.S. political history 
as a wartime president. Though he was once supported by 
a thriving economy, the economy has now gone off its 
upward track. Although public order in Iraq is 
improving, the future of the U.S. economy appears 
increasingly dim. Bush's last State of the Union 
 
TOKYO 00000242  002 OF 002 
 
 
address illustrated the challenges the U.S. faces 
today." 
 
¶6. "Bush Needs to Exercise Leadership for Next 
Generation" The conservative Sankei's editorial said 
(1/30): "...It is natural that the President put the 
major focus of his State of the Union address on the 
economy. Concern about the U.S. economic slowdown, 
which was triggered by the subprime loan crisis, is 
having a serious impact on the global economy... The 
speech was unsatisfactory, focusing as it did on 
domestic issues and the economy while ignoring East 
Asia and North Korea. However, there were some notable 
points in the address. First, the surge in Iraq, which 
was implemented despite opposition from Congress, is 
gradually working, and public security and governance 
there have improved. Second, the President took the 
initiative in international cooperation in fighting 
climate change, an area where the U.S. has been 
criticized for being negative.... Whoever the next 
president is, the U.S. cannot turn its back to such 
issues as the war on terrorism, the global environment, 
and the Middle East. We hope that President Bush will 
exercise his leadership until his last day in office 
for the sake of the next generation." 
 
¶7. "Narrowing Gap Necessary" The liberal Tokyo Shimbun 
contended in an editorial (1/30): "President Bush 
delivered his last State of the Union address. The 
speech was businesslike, as no comments on religion or 
history was made. However, the address illustrated the 
deep gap in U.S. society over such issues as the 
economy and Iraq." 
 
SCHIEFFER