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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 NEW DELHI 000198 
 
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: OBAMA PRESIDENCY, GLOBAL 
ECONOMIC CRISIS, INDO-PAK RELATIONS; NEW DELHI. 
 
This countrywide cable reports on relevant media 
reaction/opinion from India's large non-English press. 
The Mission reports on English-language media via email 
through the daily "Early Edition" summary. 
 
---------------- 
OBAMA PRESIDENCY 
---------------- 
 
¶1. "OBAMA AND MUSLIM WORLD," op-ed article in the 
February 1 right-of-center DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily by 
strategic expert K. Subrahmanyam: "George Bush kept 
fighting till the last day of his term against terrorism, 
but never defined his enemy. But the new U.S. President 
Barack Obama did not vacillate in doing so. These 
elements are a radical form of Islam... he is committed to 
take effective measures to find its solution. He promised 
to hold talks with the Muslim community. He is concerned 
that Islamic countries' policies may not give a better 
future to future generations. He has no sympathy for 
those who want to solve the Arab-Israel conflict in 
extremist ways and destroy Israel. Al-Qaida has declared 
itself a U.S. enemy and Obama is determined to destroy 
it. The Taliban is also, in its blind extremism, 
promoting terrorism. Now Pakistan has to decide whether 
or not it wants U.S. aid to protect itself from the 
Taliban Islamic terrorism. Pakistan is stuck with this 
question of Obama." 
 
¶2. "WHAT SHOULD INDIA EXPECT OF OBAMA," commentary in the 
January 31 centrist NAVBHARAT TIMES Hindi daily by Indo- 
American relations expert Vijayalakshmi: "The Americans 
have elected Barack Obama their President and now it is 
his turn to fulfill his promises. Restoration of peace in 
West Asia and troop withdrawal from Iraq are the main 
issues. Afghanistan and Pakistan are the priorities on 
his agenda. Pakistan will get the U.S. economic aid only 
if it plays an effective role in the fight against the 
Taliban. Obama clarified that missile attacks on the Al- 
Qaida network within Pakistan would continue. The Obama 
administration has stopped 55 million dollars of aid to 
Pakistan. It has not appointed any special envoy on the 
Kashmir issue, which is also a relief for India. Instead 
of India-Pakistan, the focus is on Afghanistan-Pakistan. 
The question arises: would Obama seek India's help in 
this effort? If yes, what would be India's answer? There 
are a lot of expectations of the new president and his 
administration, but we will have to give him some time." 
 
¶3. "AMERICA AND THE MUSLIM COUNTRIES", editorial in the 
January 30 right-of-center Urdu daily MUNSIF, Hyderabad: 
"The new President of America, Barrack Hussein Obama said 
that America is a friend of Muslim countries. His claim 
may be right at the individual level but over the past 15 
years the way American administrations waged wars against 
Muslim countries, the way they destroyed and devastated 
Iraq and Afghanistan, and the way they played trick after 
trick in African Muslim countries, particularly Somalia, 
proves America's hostility to Muslim countries. However, 
Obama has extended his hand of friendship and trust to 
the Islamic world. It needs practical confirmation. The 
 
NEW DELHI 00000198  002 OF 004 
 
 
Islamic world may exonerate America for the massacre of 
millions of innocent Iraqi people. It may also forget 
bombardments on unarmed Afghan civilians. It may ignore 
the threats given to Iran provided Obama orders 
withdrawal of American forces from Iraq; provided Obama 
relinquishes the pursuit of Afghanistan. Basically, Bush 
was an imperialist and aggressive President of America. 
He faced the consequences thereof, while Obama can 
achieve heights in the history of mankind like other 
renowned American Presidents." 
 
¶4. "AN AMIABLE WAY", editorial in the February 1 Islamist 
Urdu bi-weekly "DAAWAT", New Delhi: "In an interview with 
the al-Arabia T.V. Channel, President Obama said that 
America wants to move ahead on the path of progress and 
development, shoulder to shoulder with the Muslim world. 
It wishes their well-being. It is not against their 
progress and development. It does not want to inflict 
harm on them. He pays respect to the Muslim world. He has 
been to many Muslim countries, and realizes that every 
nation has its own aspirations and determinations. They 
should be given due regard. Now, Mr. Obama will have to 
prove through his conduct that he wants to maintain 
relations with the Muslim world, and is keen to move 
ahead on the lines of amiability, harmony and 
friendship." 
 
¶5. "OBAMA: LOOKS GOOD ON THE POSTERS" op-ed article by 
senior editor Anand Agashe in the February 2, 2009 Mumbai 
edition of centrist Marathi daily SAKAAL.  "Barack Obama 
does not have a magic wand and therefore it will take him 
quite some time and ingenuity to deliver the goods in 
today's America. In fact, the odds against him are 
daunting. The one thing he has in his favor is the fact 
that he has been able to connect with different segments 
of the American public. For a person of mixed parentage 
and a complex name that bears a resemblance to that of 
the Al Qaeda chief, Obama has indeed instilled confidence 
in a wide cross-section, and that includes the white 
population as well. His inclusiveness has brought him to 
where he now stands.  It remains to be seen if this 
characteristic helps him to take on the entire journey 
ahead. Those trying to search for an Indian Obama can 
stop their investigation. There is no such person, at 
least as of now. Most Indian leaders strike the note of 
divisiveness, and often Indian politicians draw electoral 
mileage out of such discordant policies." 
 
¶6. "OBAMA'S IDIOM" editorial in the February 2, 2009 
Mumbai edition of left-of-center Marathi daily LOKSATTA. 
"There are those who feel that Barack Obama will not be 
able to make any difference to American politics and 
administration. These 'theorists' will not be able to 
appreciate the fresh idiom in which Obama is trying to 
address the issues and challenges that already exist. In 
fact his Al Arabiya address is a good example of his 
unprecedentedly friendly approach to Muslim countries. 
American politics has been based on hatred of one kind or 
another. For a change, the top boss of the American 
administration is talking of peace, friendship, and 
cordiality. We have to appreciate the fact that he does 
 
NEW DELHI 00000198  003 OF 004 
 
 
not sound like his 'big brother' predecessors, especially 
Richard Nixon, Ronald Regan and both Bushes. It is of 
course during George W. Bush's tenure that self imposed 
policing of the world became the pivotal point of U.S. 
foreign policy..." 
 
---------------------- 
GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS 
---------------------- 
 
¶7. "TWO FACES OF RECESSION IN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES," 
editorial in the January 31 centrist DAINIK BHASKAR Hindi 
daily: "The rapid global job cuts in the current 
recession demand deep thinking and sensitive 
consideration. This problem is more serious in developed 
countries, and may have serious social repercussions. 
Families committing suicide in countries like the U.S. 
because they've lost jobs is just a sad face of this. The 
hidden face of crime and anarchy could be worse. Thus, 
the job crisis should be paramount in preparations to 
deal with the widespread economic downturn. The 
extravagant expenses of all other measures should be cut 
first, and job cuts should be the last option. The U.S. 
financial services company Citigroup's buying a 5 million 
dollar plane and the directors of the Wall Street 
investment banking companies' pocketing more than 18 
billion dollars in bonuses is really shameful. It is the 
gruesome face of recession. The companies and the 
governments should seriously heed this problem before it 
becomes the cause of rampant social ills." 
 
¶8. "ECONOMIC SYSTEM OF FUTURE", editorial in the January 
30 right-of-centre Urdu daily URDU TIMES, Mumbai: 
"According to a newspaper report published on January 29, 
about one billion people in the world are at present on 
the verge of starvation due to the current global 
economic crisis, and the developed western industrial 
countries are making all out efforts to save the sinking 
titanic of the interest-based capital system of 
economics. This is because the cruel interest-based 
economy is the brain child of greedy international 
gamblers. Unfortunately, such principles of earnings, 
trade and economy are ruling the roost; they are 
completely based upon oppression, injustice, 
exploitation, gambling and hoarding. The only way out of 
the current crisis is to abandon the selfishness, 
gambling and usury." 
 
------------------ 
INDO-PAK RELATIONS 
------------------ 
 
¶9. "INVESTIGATIONS BY PAKISTAN", editorial in the 
February 1 right-of-center Urdu daily SIASAT, Hyderabad: 
"Before Barack Obama's South Asian policy gets more harsh 
and strict to remove the prevailing tension and distrust 
between India and Pakistan, these neighboring countries 
in the subcontinent should cooperate with each other. If 
Pakistan provides some constructive information about the 
investigations to India, the attitude of the latter will 
become somewhat lenient. Moreover, the backwardness of 
 
NEW DELHI 00000198  004 OF 004 
 
 
Pakistan has played a key role in creating and fanning 
tension between the two countries. In many regions of 
Pakistan, victims of backwardness are getting entrapped 
in the conspiracies of terrorist organizations. They 
should tackle the current crucial situation with 
sincerity, seriousness, sagacity, prudence, wisdom and 
courage so that not only the people of Pakistan, but all 
its neighbors may be convinced that progress and 
development is possible in the subcontinent." 
 
¶10. "WHY SHOULD INDIA TOLERATE PAKISTAN SO MUCH? 
editorial in the February 2, 2009 centrist Gujarati daily 
GUJARATMITRA.  "One really fails to understand whether 
India is Pakistan's slave [or an independent sovereign 
nation]?  Why is India proving to be meek and impotent 
while dealing with this neighbor?  Despite the 11/26 
Mumbai attack investigation clearly establishing Pakistan 
as part of the conspiracy, India continues to supply 
clarifications and explanations intermittently to 
Pakistan.  India is behaving in a manner that gives the 
impression that she is a criminal rather than a victim. 
Pakistan is coercing India to perform the laborious job 
of collecting evidence.  After handing it over, Pakistan 
turns a blind eye when it comes to taking action against 
the perpetrators of this crime.  It is high time the 
Indian government realized that the patience of Indians 
is running out.  If America can carry out attacks on 
Pakistan, why can't India?  Are our Indian leaders so 
insensitive that they can't see the blood of innocent 
civilians spilled in the 11/26 attacks?  Why is India 
tolerating Pakistan's nonsense? 
MULFORD