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RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 NEW DELHI 002824 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NP, AC, PM 
 
STATE FOR INR/MR 
 
STATE FOR SCA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO 
 
STATE FOR SCA/PPD, PA/RRU 
 
STATE FOR AID/APRE-A 
 
USDOC FOR 4530/IEP/ANESA/OSA FOR BILL MURPHY 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS, U.S. 
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, WAR AGAINST TERRORISM, UNITED 
STATES & ARMS RACE, PAKISTAN; NEW DELHI. 
 
This cable reports on relevant media reaction from 
India's large non-English press. Embassy New Delhi 
reports on English-language media via email in the daily 
"Early Edition".  USG customers please write to Geeta 
Krishali (KrishaliG@state.gov) to subscribe to the "Early 
Edition." 
 
--------------------- 
WORLD ECONOMIC CRISIS 
--------------------- 
 
¶1. "MANMOHAN ON RECESSION," editorial in the October 27 
AMAR UJALA Hindi daily: "Prime Minister Manmohan Singh 
clearly said in the 7th Beijing Asia-Europe summit that 
this economic crisis is a result of developed countries' 
economic policies and the developing countries are paying 
the price. He suggested to set-up a global regulatory 
mechanism to monitor monetary activities and warn the 
corresponding financial institutions and countries 
against the risk in advance. But the question arises-- 
will the developed nations agree to it? The situation in 
the U.S. is pretty bad and the effect of recession is 
also evident in U.K. Asia will not be affected so badly. 
Both Prime Minister and the Reserve Bank have also said 
this. But, the biggest concern at present is to save our 
economy from this financial crunch and to start foolproof 
preparations for the security of the global economy. A 
global financial mechanism will have to be formed sooner 
or later." 
 
-------------------------- 
U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 
-------------------------- 
 
¶2. "THE FINANCIAL MORASS CAN BRING ABOUT VICTORY FOR 
OBAMA," edit-page article by columnist Subhankar 
Mukhopadhaya in the October 31 pro-BJP Kolkata Bengali 
daily, BARTAMAN. "Enough is enough. So, change we 
need. This slogan of the Democrats during the 
presidential campaign has become the focal theme for the 
common Americans.  Till some time ago, the average 
Americans were confused about who will be the 44th U.S. 
President, Obama or McCain. But the recent economic 
meltdown has totally changed the direction of the 
confusing politics...  So McCain, the Republican will be 
defeated in the election...  Practically, the American 
economy was quite strong when Bill Clinton, the Democrat, 
was in power but the problems started when Bush, the 
Republican, became the President...  The Americans have 
come to their senses now and they have turned their faces 
away from the Republicans...  Of course, it is unlikely 
that the Democrats will put everything into order when 
they assume power.  They may need a long time but let 
them be given the chance... Still, after all said and done, 
if McCain wins it will be proved that social reformation 
of the 'most modern' America is yet to be complete... And, 
if Obama wins then a Nelson Mandela will have a birth in 
the U.S...." 
 
¶3. "WILL AMERICA ACCEPT OBAMA? op-ed article by columnist 
in the October 31, 2008, Mumbai edition of centrist 
 
NEW DELHI 00002824  002 OF 004 
 
 
Marathi daily SAKAAL. "The failed Iraq mission, rising 
prices, shrinking jobs - there could be a thousand 
reasons for Americans not to vote for the Republican 
McCain. Varied opinion polls claim a general 
disenchantment with the current administration and a 
strong desire for change. But the point is whether these 
factors are going to help Democrat senator Barack Obama 
to win? Is America ready to accept a man whose race has 
been called into question so many times in the campaign. 
It remains to be seen if Americans can really identify 
with a half-White man of Kenyan ancestry..." 
 
¶4. "U.S.-ELECTION SCENARIO," op-ed in the October 31 
DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily by Dr. Devarshi Sharma: "The 
U.S. presidential election is taking an interesting turn. 
Barack Obama is not becoming popular only among 
Americans, but also in other countries. President Bush's 
popularity-graph has drastically fallen. The U.S. 
economic crisis, growing unemployment, bankruptcy etc. 
are the main reasons behind it. The Iraq and Afghanistan 
wars are obviously on the top. The situation is, 
automatically, turning in favor of Obama. The U.S. is 
deeply sucked into a quagmire of economic recession. Even 
the 700-billion economic rescue package could not save 
the economy.... McCain is paying the price for President 
Bush's erroneous policies. The age factor also seems to 
be going against him. On the other hand, unlike Maccain 
Obama lacks the political experience, but people still 
like him for his transparency about the main issues and 
policies and his slogan of change. Obama's youth and 
dynamism are also positive factors. Let us see if the 
nation of 74%-white-population will send him to the White 
House or not." 
 
--------------------- 
WAR AGAINST TERRORISM 
--------------------- 
 
¶5. "CONFLAGARATION IN ASSAM" editorial in the October 31, 
2008, Mumbai edition of centrist Marathi daily SAKAAL. 
"The serial blasts in Assam underline many truths. First, 
there is a serious communication gap between Assam's 
state government and the federal government in Delhi. The 
federal government has blamed the state administration 
for failing to avert the terrorist attack, despite 
sufficient warnings from the center. However, the state 
government has pointed an accusing finger at the center 
and in turn expressed helplessness in the wake of 
unprecedented powerful blasts.  These blasts have indeed 
caught the state and intelligence agencies completely by 
surprise. Even more worrying is the fact that ULFA, one 
of Assam's oldest militant groups, has allegedly 
organized the attacks with the help of the Bangladeshi 
group, HuJi or Harkat ul Jihadi Islami.  Security experts 
say there is sufficient reason to believe that it 
couldn't be only ULFA because it has no such capability 
to carry out powerful blasts and that too in a rapid 
succession...." 
 
¶6. "THE ENTIRE CLAN STANDS EXPOSED", editorial in the 
October 30 right-of-center Urdu daily "HINDUSTAN 
 
NEW DELHI 00002824  003 OF 004 
 
 
EXPRESS", New Delhi: "Now it has become evident before 
everybody that there exists a special kind of relation 
between terrorism and western capitalism. The terrorist 
elements are apparently against America. However, they 
are somehow preparing the ground for the expansion of 
American capitalism. As terrorism escalates, the American 
forces also swell up. Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq & now 
Syria are the latest examples before us. Further, 
terrorism seems to have taken up several shapes and hues 
in the aftermath of September 11. The Zionist, Jewish and 
fascist forces are carrying out terrorist activities 
while putting the blame squarely on their enemies, 
particularly the followers of Islam, so that the 
international powers as well as the national and local 
government agencies push in all their energies against 
them. Without a trace of doubt, the war unleashed against 
terror being fought all across the globe, is nothing but 
a reflection of the expansionist policies of the United 
States. In pursuance of its notorious motives, the 
American capitalism is even trying to snatch away the 
basic rights of civilians to live in places like Iraq, 
Afghanistan and Pakistan, while an abominable lull 
prevails amidst the international fraternity." 
 
------------------------- 
UNITED STATES & ARMS RACE 
------------------------- 
 
¶7. "FEARS OF A NEW ARMS RACE", editorial in the October 
30 right-of-center Urdu daily "RASHTRIYA SAHARA", New 
Delhi: "In spite of the fact that America today is in the 
throes of a major economic crisis, translating into a 
sharp reduction in the number of employment avenues, it 
still nurtures the ambition of exerting its hegemony over 
the world and impressing its status as the superpower of 
the world. That is precisely the reason why the American 
defense secretary, Robert Gates has been keen on 
upgrading the weapon systems of the country in order to 
maintain its military prowess. In fact, the issue 
pertaining to up gradation of weapons is not attributed 
to the perceived fears of the growing influence of China 
or Russia in the world, but it is the madness behind 
exerting its hegemony over the globe, which drives it to 
do so. Whenever America talks about a world sans nuclear 
weapons, it prefers to keep itself aloof from the list. 
This is perhaps because America feels that it is its 
bounden right to establish peace and hegemony over the 
world using the nuclear arsenal, while no other country 
in the world has got the right to acquire military powers 
or upgrade its forces in order to protect its 
sovereignty." 
 
-------- 
PAKISTAN 
-------- 
 
¶8. "ECONOMIC CRISIS IN PAKISTAN", editorial in the Oct 
31, 2008 right-of-center Urdu daily "ETEMAAD", Hyderabad: 
"Pakistan is on the verge of financial collapse. 
Pakistani leadership blames price hike in petroleum and 
food products for this situation. Terror attacks have 
 
NEW DELHI 00002824  004 OF 004 
 
 
also increase difficulties of this ill-fated country. 
Foreign investment has gone down. In past; America, China 
and Saudi Arabia had come forward to help Pakistan to 
come out of the crisis but in the current world wide 
financial situation, it seems impossible for these 
countries to come forward to help. Mr. Hussain Haqqani, 
Pakistan's Ambassador in America observes that America 
should help Pakistan as his country is an important ally 
in the U.S.' war on terror." 
MULFORD