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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 NEW DELHI 000115 
 
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: SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION: PRESIDENTIAL 
INAUGURATION/NEW ADMINISTRATION'S FOREIGN POLICY 
 
This cable reports on relevant media reaction from 
India's English and large non-English press. 
 
¶1. SUMMARY:  The Indian media reported and commented 
widely on the incoming and outgoing Presidents. Reports 
said President Bush on Monday made a round of farewell 
phone calls to world leaders, while President-elect Obama 
and his wife Michelle attended the Lincoln Memorial 
inaugural concert in Washington Sunday. Over the weekend, 
leading newspapers devoted special sections to the 
Presidential inauguration, with photos and trivia and 
write-ups on former U.S. presidents. Reports said Barack 
Obama and his family would make history Tuesday as the 
first black first family to move into the White House, a 
mansion largely built by slaves. It was reported that 
hours before his inauguration, Obama appointed Indian- 
American lawyer Preeta Bansal as the Senior Policy 
Advisor in the Office of Management and Budget. Editorial 
commentary reflected displayed cautious optimism on the 
President-elect's likely foreign policy, particularly 
vis-`-vis South Asia. While commentary on President Bush 
was predictably uncharitable, many newspapers conceded 
that he was good for India. Commentary from India's 
leading English and language newspapers follows. 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION/NEW ADMINISTRATION'S 
FOREIGN POLICY 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶2. "OBAMA'S BIG CHALLENGES," analysis in January 20 THE 
TIMES OF INDIA by foreign editor Indrani Bagchi: "In a 
recession-wracked America, bruised and battered by eight 
years of Bush, Obama has little option but to find quick 
deliverables in his first 100 days.... Obama's silence 
after saying that if rockets were threatening his 
daughters he would go after them - is seen as support for 
Israel. Which makes him no different from any other U.S. 
President. But if the Arab world is hoping he will do 
their work for them of neutralizing Hamas, that's not 
going to happen.... Iraq will remain a challenge even after 
the pullout. But Obama will also have to think about what 
to do with Iran, which finances Hamas and Hizbollah, and 
Shia militias in Iraq, and has become a nuclear 
nuisance.... Obama's challenge will be to bring Pakistan 
back from the jihadi edge, choke their support to the 
Taliban, work them out of their "strategic depth" 
mindset, and persuade them that the same terrorists they 
train to send to India are the ones that may attack the 
US. To stabilize Afghanistan, he will go to all those 
European countries who hated Bush and ask for troops - 
just like Bush." 
 
¶3. "OUR OBAMA MOMENT," op-ed analysis by consulting 
editor C. Raja Mohan in January 20 centrist INDIAN 
EXPRESS English daily: "It is the third element of 
Obama's argument that is viewed with some apprehension in 
New Delhi. Obama's assessment is that addressing 
Pakistan's security concerns on the east with India holds 
the key to Islamabad's genuine cooperation in the war on 
terror.... For the US, which now faces a real prospect of 
 
NEW DELHI 00000115  002 OF 008 
 
 
defeat in Afghanistan, South Asia is at the very top of 
its foreign policy agenda. Whether India likes it or not, 
Washington will devote substantive diplomatic energies 
towards the subcontinent, and New Delhi will be drawn 
into this dynamic. Instead of opposing something that is 
about to unfold, New Delhi must offer full cooperation to 
Obama in South Asia on terms that are mutually 
acceptable.... It will be a pity if India does not grasp 
this historic opportunity because its leaders lack either 
the self-assurance or the strategic imagination to 
leverage Obama's South Asia initiative." 
 
¶4. "BUSHED WORLD," editorial in January 20 centrist THE 
TIMES OF INDIA: "Unsurprisingly, in his farewell address, 
Bush said there are things he'd have done differently if 
given the chance. Legions of his critics say he had his 
chance not once, but twice and he blew it.... Despite his 
frayed image, Bush retains a measure of goodwill in 
India. He assiduously built on a rapprochement initiated 
by the Clinton administration. His free trade advocacy 
and commitment to the path-breaking India-US nuclear deal 
deepened relations. Should Obama-led America and India 
continue to strengthen diplomatic and strategic ties 
between the world's two largest democracies, the gains 
will be on both sides." 
 
¶5. "FROM INDIA WITH LOVE," analysis in January 18 THE 
TIMES OF INDIA by foreign editor Indrani Bagchi: "India 
has a strong interest in shaping Obama's world in the 
next four years. India has come a long way since the last 
Democrat administration. Courtesy George Bush, we are 
accustomed to living in a different style. Will it 
continue, be enhanced or diminished by Obama will depend 
upon his plans - does he want to make India a partner or 
a target?.... Primarily, it will be Obama's approach to 
Pakistan and Afghanistan that will define the nature of 
the new relationship with India... India and China will 
inevitably get in each other's way. The key is to ensure 
that the US stays out of it, or on India's side.... Global 
security will be a key component of Obama's foreign 
policy agenda, and by its very nature, India is on the 
right side. India has to make sure it is an indispensable 
voice in shaping the security agenda. Transnational 
threats such as nuclear non-proliferation, terrorism, 
HIV/AIDS will be shared dangers.... India is bound to come 
under pressure from the US as the fall guy for domestic 
failures on eco-friendly policy change." 
 
¶6. "THE SECOND NEW DEAL," editorial in January 20 
centrist ECONOMIC TIMES English daily: "President-elect 
Obama's vision of a second New Deal faces some risks the 
first one did. Roosevelt's New Deal during the Great 
Depression was a huge political success, but an economic 
quasi-failure.... Having learned from history, Obama will 
doubtless avoid some of Roosevelt's errors....  Hopefully, 
we will not get another Smoot-Hawley Act levying big 
imports tariffs. However, the Bush-Bernanke stimulus did 
not cure the recession, so it's not obvious that the 
Obama stimulus will.... Luckily he has time on his side, 
and - like Roosevelt before him - can get elected with 
populist rhetoric even if the economic recovery is weak. 
 
NEW DELHI 00000115  003 OF 008 
 
 
Meanwhile we must hope he will ditch the protectionist 
noises of his election campaign." 
 
¶7. "CAN OBAMA CORRECT U.S. WEST ASIA POLICY?" Op-ed 
analysis by Govind Talwalkar in January 20 centrist ASIAN 
AGE English daily: "Barack Obama, who takes office today, 
says that among the problems he would give priority to in 
international politics would be the ceasefire in Gaza.... 
It is difficult to imagine Mr. Obama making a complete 
break with America's West Asia policy.... Olmert cannot be 
trusted. But even if the messenger is dubious, the 
message is relevant. Mr. Obama should support the 
solution suggested by Mr. Olmert as it is the only course 
open. If Palestinians and Syrians are satisfied, Iran 
would lose the upper-hand which it enjoys at present. But 
both the Democrats and the Republicans have so far 
refused to break with the past and hence it is difficult 
to expect much from the Obama administration with regard 
to West Asia." 
 
¶8. "FOR OBAMA, IT'S TIME TO DELIVER," editorial in 
January 20 centrist THE ASIAN English daily: "Mr. Obama 
must aim at making the Pakistan military break its nexus 
with the jihadists on pain of aid reduction and eventual 
elimination should results not be forthcoming.... The Obama 
administration would seek to "build on" its "political 
and economic partnership" with India, to quote the 
secretary of state-designate. The outgoing administration 
led by George W. Bush did much to strengthen India and 
spoke of a "strategic partnership" with this country. The 
Obama Democrats are apparently pitching a bit lower. But 
we'll know more as we go along." 
 
¶9. "THE DAY THE WORLD'S WAITED FOR IS HERE," editorial in 
January 20 centrist MAIL TODAY English daily: "His next 
four years at the White House are not going to be easy. 
In fact, he is inheriting one of the most difficult 
presidential terms in American history.... Obama's foreign 
policy, especially relating to South Asia and 
Afghanistan, will need serious consideration from India. 
Obama has always maintained that the epicenter of the war 
on terror is the Afghan-Pakistan border, and not Iraq. 
Therefore, his stance on the Pakistan government will be 
important and in this context, Kashmir can enter the 
equation. Obama's trade policies - especially those 
relating to outsourcing - will also have to be looked at 
closely.... One important issue, nuclear non-proliferation, 
has been decided by the Bush administration. This is a 
plus since it can no longer poison Indo-U.S. relations. 
Yet, India must push the right buttons to ensure it 
remains an important friend, if not ally, of the US in 
the 21st century." 
 
¶10. "PRESIDENT OBAMA: ENORMOUS CHALLENGES TO MEET," 
editorial in January 20 centrist THE TRIBUNE English 
daily: "With President Obama, there is some hope for 
change in the US. As most Americans expect, he is bound 
to concentrate on how to turn the US economy around as 
his first priority. It is indeed a challenging task.... A 
bit of Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal may become 
necessary, but he has to be really innovative to pull his 
 
NEW DELHI 00000115  004 OF 008 
 
 
country out of the crisis. New Delhi will be watching 
with curiosity not only his moves on job outsourcing, 
which can adversely affect India's BPO companies, but 
also how the Obama administration looks at the US 
relations with India. The Bush administration took the 
Indo-US ties to a new high with the signing of the 
nuclear deal. Mr. Obama has indicated that the relations 
between the two countries will be strengthened further 
during his tenure in the Oval Office, but how he keeps 
his word remains to be seen.... If he succumbs to the 
wishes of the nuclear ayatollahs in the Democratic Party 
there can be difficulties in relations with India.... The 
Obama administration will help fight terrorism if it 
forces Pakistan to change its policy and crack down on 
terrorist groups." 
 
¶11. "HISTORY'S MAN," editorial in January 20 centrist 
DAILY NEWS & ANALYSIS English daily: "We in India would 
be missing the symbolism and significance of Barack Obama 
taking over as the 44th president of the United States on 
Tuesday if we were to merely ask what the new president 
means for India-US relations.... The first black president 
of the United States is a redemption, even if partial, of 
the American promise and dream that it is possible for 
the person of the most ordinary and humble origin to 
achieve and become the extraordinary.... What is more 
important is the fact that he brought new ideas and a new 
vision for the whole of America and in some ways to the 
world at large.... it is a time of promise and hope for all 
Americans as they look to Obama to start a new era in 
American history." 
 
¶12. "WAITING FOR OBAMA," op-ed article by Sumit Ganguly 
in the January 19 centrist English daily DNA. "Regardless 
of the other foreign policy choices of the George W Bush 
administration and their consequences, there is little 
question that his administration helped to dramatically 
improve relations with India.... As the Obama 
administration is poised to enter office, concerns have 
been expressed both in official and quasi-official 
circles in India that the bonhomie that had characterized 
Indo-US relations during the Bush administration will 
come to a close. There is little reason to assume that 
US-Indian relations are about to take an adverse turn 
under the Obama administration.  A number of compelling 
reasons suggest otherwise..... New Delhi should also know 
that the Indian diaspora in the US has a fundamental 
interest in ensuring that Indo-US relations remain on an 
even keel.... Most importantly from India's standpoint, the 
incoming administration is unlikely to have the same 
indulgent attitude toward Pakistan.... Instead of 
uncritically coddling the squalid military establishment 
and lavishing largesse upon it, the new administration 
will devote its resources to the social and educational 
sectors.... There is little reason why these attributes 
cannot be effectively brought to bear to ensure that 
Indo-US relations continue to flourish in the era of the 
Obama administration." 
 
¶13. "MAN OF COLOR," editorial in January 20 centrist THE 
TELEGRAPH English daily: "As he lifts his hand to take 
 
NEW DELHI 00000115  005 OF 008 
 
 
oath, Barack Obama will also be forced to think about the 
immediate legacy he is receiving... People in the U.S., and 
elsewhere in the world, will expect his powerful rhetoric 
to be backed by powerful action... There are...areas of 
domestic policy in which expectations from Mr. Obama are 
very high. Many believe that he will reduce healthcare 
costs and cut taxes. There is also the expectation that 
State intervention, by way of increased public spending, 
will become the reigning economic doctrine to resurrect 
the economy. Mr. Obama...has not expressed himself on these 
matters... The burden is awesome." 
 
¶14. "REGAINING AMERICA," editorial in January 20 centrist 
THE STATESMAN English daily: "The facetious say that it 
has always been the black man's lot to clean up the white 
man's mess in the USA. The ascendancy...by Mr. Barack 
Hussein Obama is not, however, one of those things. The 
mess that his predecessor has left behind may defy a 
clean-up on many counts and stymie efforts at 
rectification on others... A refreshing difference may not 
necessarily be the solution to the mesh of socio-economic 
problems in a troubled world and an equally suffocating 
domestic environment caused by...years of inexplicably poor 
governance in a country that has traditionally provided 
leadership to the world...." 
 
¶15. "ANY HOPE FROM OBAMA?" editorial in January 20 
Guwahati English left-of-center THE SENTINEL: "We must 
realize that the U.S. Government is a tenacious 
continuum, with its foreign policy dictated by a brazenly 
overt hegemonic pursuit... Kashmir still remains the focus 
of the US foreign policy in South Asia. Mr. Obama, no 
doubt, will be compelled by various forces to add to the 
US tendency to broker a solution to the Kashmir 'dispute' 
so that Pakistan may concentrate on the western front and 
deliver on its promise to root out the Al-Qaeda-Taliban 
combine." 
 
¶16. "GOODBYE, AND NONE TOO SOON," editorial in 
independent English daily THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS 
(circulation:350,000): "Finally the world can say goodbye 
to US President George W Bush. He has contributed more 
than any other political leader in recent history to 
violence and hatred with his war on terror drawing the 
world into a battle from which the exit points have still 
to be defined... Bush leaves office with few supporters. 
Probably his only main supporter is India, with Manmohan 
Singh unable to get over his admiration for the U.S. 
leader to a point where the government has still not 
established proper links with the new dispensation under 
President Barack Obama. Bush did manage to get New Delhi 
to sign the civilian nuclear energy agreement but this 
has definitely not put India-US relations on a new level, 
as was promised by both sides. The fact that US has a new 
President and Lok Sabha elections might throw up a new 
alternative are factors that can interrupt the 
relationship for a long while. All said and done the US 
president who declared not so long ago 'either you are 
with us, or with them' now finds that the people world 
over have definitely decided to redefine the 'us' to 
exclude him." 
 
NEW DELHI 00000115  006 OF 008 
 
 
 
¶17. "OBAMA A MYSTERY FOR INDIA," editorial page article 
by columnist Chandra Bhushan in January 19 centrist 
NAVBHARAT TIMES Hindi daily: "Since the World War II, the 
U.S. has an image of being an international bully and a 
global cop. But today the giant is groveling in the dust 
- most American financial institutions are down in the 
dumps, and the U.S. is no more the superpower it used to 
be. In these circumstances comes Obama to the President's 
chair. He wants to focus on solving the Kashmir problem 
so that there is no distraction in the war on terror in 
Pakistan and Afghanistan. We can expect increased U.S. 
activism on Kashmir.... Also, Obama could turn out to be 
the most anti-globalization U.S. President in history. 
With unemployment wreaking havoc in the U.S., he may be 
forced to become protectionist and populist. But to 
remain competitive, American companies will have to find 
cheaper labor options overseas and hence outsourcing will 
be imperative. If the attitude of the Obama 
Administration becomes insular, then it will have a 
domino effect in the entire world and may trigger off 
protectionism. Obama's campaign to save jobs can be a big 
threat to the world. Thus far, the U.S. administration is 
a mystery for India - like a closed book." 
 
¶18. "DEEPENING PERIL IN AFGHANISTAN," op-ed article in 
January 18 right-of-center DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily by 
strategic affairs specialist K. Subrahmanyam: "The key 
challenge for Barack Obama's foreign policy is not 
Afghanistan, but Pakistan. Actually, the biggest U.S. 
concern is jihadis' getting access to Pakistan's nukes... 
Now the jihadi organizations have become a serious threat 
to the Pakistan government. The terrorists are able to 
obstruct U.S. supply to Kabul via Pakistan, but the 
Pakistan army has a tremendous pressure to act tough 
against them. If it deceives U.S. like it did in the 
past, U.S. will halt its aid without which Pakistan will 
collapse. There was a time when U.S. wasn't afraid of any 
direct danger to it because of the Pakistan army, but the 
Americans believe that the Al-Qaida and the Taliban are a 
direct peril to them and Pakistan despite getting a fat 
aid has a soft attitude toward them. It is time for 
Pakistan to decide- if it will support U.S. or the 
Jihadis?" 
 
¶19. "OBAMA AND TERRORISM," editorial in January 17 
nationalist RASHTRIYA SAHARA Hindi daily: "The U.S. 
president-elect Barack Obama and vice president Joe Biden 
have indicated their anti-terrorism policy by declaring 
Al-Qaida and Laden the biggest threat. Obama will have to 
deal with terrorism, Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan on 
priority basis. Pakistan's border areas are a safe haven 
for Al-Qaida. Obama promised during his election campaign 
to destroy Al-Qaida and Taliban by attacking these areas. 
If he still thinks the same way even after Pakistan 
visits by U.S. representatives, it can be considered the 
future Obama Administration's policy. In fact, Biden's 
saying that Pakistan's situation in Afghanistan is 
affecting the U.S. success will be a matter of concern 
for Pakistan. Thus, it can be said that after January 20 
the changes Obama will make in the strategy on war 
 
NEW DELHI 00000115  007 OF 008 
 
 
against terrorism in Afghanistan will include- more 
aggression, maintain close relations with Pakistan and 
military offensives in its border areas, weakening of 
Pakistan factor in Afghanistan etc." 
 
¶20. "WELCOME BARACK," editorial in January 20 left-of- 
center Marathi daily MAHARASHTRA TIMES. "Time will prove 
whether the 44th president of the U.S. made any positive 
difference to the world. But it is certain that no other 
Head of State, in any part of the globe in recent 
history, has raised hopes and expectations, as has Barack 
Obama....  Obama has demonstrated a good pace by choosing 
the right people for the right slots in the White House. 
But the real challenge is to put the economy back on 
track..." 
 
¶21. "A NEW CHAPTER IN AMERICA'S HISTORY BEGINS FROM 
TODAY," editorial in the January 20 centrist Gujarati 
daily DIVYA BHASKAR. "Obama's taking over as the 44th 
President of the United States of America will ring in 
hope and optimism not only for America but for the global 
community....  At a time when this man in on the threshold 
of creating history, we wish him all the best in his 
efforts." (A similar editorial appeared in the January 
19, 2009 multi-edition right-of-center Gujarati daily 
GUJARAT SAMACHAR). 
 
¶22. "GOODBYE MR. BUSH!" editorial in January 20 left-of- 
center Marathi daily LOKSATTA. "George W. Bush has been a 
failure as a president, almost on every front in America 
- not just in terms of an economic meltdown but also in 
the ... social sector.... He will be known as a president of 
failed missions - disastrous policies that will haunt 
America for some time." 
 
¶23. "CHALLENGES BEFORE OBAMA," op-ed article by Dr Rashmi 
Bhure in January 20 centrist Marathi daily SAKAAL. 
"Pakistan could also be one of the most serious policy 
challenges before the new Obama administration.... Instead 
of co-operation, Pakistan has raised the possibility of a 
war with India. Now the crux of the matter is that can 
Obama change Pakistan's stance when he knows that the 
U.S. needs Pakistan's help in the fight against Taliban 
terror. Similarly, will the U.S. be able to stop aid to 
Pakistan when the latter is anyway on the verge of an 
economic collapse?" 
 
¶24. "HISTORIC CHALLENGE," editorial in the January 20 
independent Kolkata Bengali daily, ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA: 
"It is not the mere inauguration of an individual... Obama 
will have the responsibility for building a new 
multilateral world order appropriate for the post Cold 
War 21st century. It is his principal duty everywhere 
including in Iraq, Afghanistan, and in the Middle East... 
Ideologically, the swearing in of a Black President is an 
extremely positive thing for countries like India... So...let 
us hope, Delhi and Washingtn had been close associates 
and will continue to remain so." 
 
¶25. "NOT IDEOLOGY, BUT RELYING ON HIS PRAGMATISM," 
editorial-page article in the January 20 independent 
 
NEW DELHI 00000115  008 OF 008 
 
 
Kolkata Bengali daily ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA by Assistant 
Editor Semanti Ghosh: "President Obama, and practically 
all American Presidents, must realize that there is no 
use in indulging in child's play. They must sit for a 
dialogue and that too with the rocket-propelling Hamas. 
They must understand that there are only two options: 
either they should move forward and open up avenues for 
talks...or continue to remain puppets of the Jewish lobby 
by making innocuous statements... Obama will have to 
understand from his sense of pragmatism that he will have 
to campaign within his country even if he wants to 
advance to solve the Palestinian crisis...." 
 
¶26. "GREEN EMPLOYMENT: OBAMA ADMINISTRATION'S BIG TASK," 
editorial-page article in January 20 independent Kolkata 
Bengali daily ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA by columnist Pradip 
Dutta: "Obama is promising to make investments in the 
infrastructure sector in order to overcome the economic 
recession. This investment should be made in such a way 
that it ensures long-term economic development... 
Generating 'green employment' will be a big task for the 
new Obama Administration and for the Congress." 
 
¶27. "JANUARY 20" editorial in January 20 Guwahati 
Assamese independent ASAMIYA KHABOR: "People are 
expecting that the U.S. under Obama's leadership will 
take initiatives to make this world a better place to 
live by eradicating racism and terrorism ... Obama has 
already displayed his individuality through the selection 
of his teammates... The world community is eagerly waiting 
to see how he rescues his country from the current 
financial crisis or face other global problems such as 
Iraq, Afghanistan, nuclear disarmament etc." 
 
¶28. "INDIA'S WEAK DIPLOMACY," editorial page article by 
editor Sanjay Gupta in January 18 right-of-center DAINIK 
JAGRAN Hindi daily: "In the beginning the U.S. 
administration was stern with Pakistan, but later it 
softened. Both Bush's aides and Obama's went soft. 
Recently, Hillary Clinton, the future U.S. secretary of 
state, announced that to strengthen democracy the aid for 
Pakistan will be trebled. After much huffing and puffing, 
American diplomats and officials who went to Pakistan in 
the aftermath of Mumbai, changed their tune once they 
reached Islamabad. It remains to be seen what Obama does 
once he assumes Presidency of the U.S. Those countries 
who are trying to help resolve the Kashmir problem are 
unaware that it is the Pakistani-controlled Kashmir that 
is witnessing so much misery. India has failed to 
effectively project this." 
WHITE