VZCZCXRO5478
PP RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHNEH
DE RUEHNE #0886/01 1241215
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 041215Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6424
INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHHJJPI/PACOM IDHS HONOLULU HI
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 1723
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 4648
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 3861
RUEHNEH/AMCONSUL HYDERABAD 0535
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 2117
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 6015
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 2565
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 9470
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 3688
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 6314
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7964
RHOVVKG/COMSEVENTHFLT
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 NEW DELHI 000886 
 
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 REPORT: INDIAN MEDIA COVERAGE OF 
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S 100 DAYS IN OFFICE, AND APRIL 29 PRESS 
CONFERENCE 
 
SUMMARY: President Barack Obama's April 29 press 
conference to mark the completion of 100 days in office 
generated substantial reporting and commentary in the 
Indian media.  Overall coverage was positive with 
occasional commentary skeptical of the impact of the 
Obama Administration so early in its tenure.  Reports 
highlighted the President's remarks that the Pakistani 
military is beginning to realize that its obsession with 
India is misplaced.  THE TIMES OF INDIA lauded the 
remark, saying: "Obama has called a spade a spade." 
Mumbai based DAILY NEWS & ANALYSIS said, "Americans pick 
up lessons only when their own national interests require 
it."  HINDUSTAN Hindi daily said the President's 
observation seemed to have "cut ice with Islamabad," in 
that it subsequently withdrew its forces from the Indian 
border.  Lauding the President's 100 days in office, THE 
TELEGRAPH said "the United States of America is a very 
different place today."  THE DECCAN CHRONICLE commented 
that on foreign policy, President Obama had passed "with 
flying colors."  The ANANDA BAZAR PATRIKA Bengali daily 
said it was too early to discuss the effectiveness of the 
President's policies, "but his vision is praiseworthy." 
An op-ed in the influential SIASAT Urdu daily lauded the 
President's "humane qualities and respect for human 
values."  Two top television channels displayed 
skepticism, however.  The NDTV channel said "Obama's 
initial momentum seems to have hit a wall."  The CNN-IBN 
channel said the President's policies "are yet to have an 
impact."  END SUMMARY. 
 
-- NEWS REPORTS HIGHLIGHT "OBSESSION" REMARK: 
 
¶1. President Obama's April 29 press conference generated 
widespread reporting in India the next day. The media 
highlighted his remark: "On the military side you're 
starting to see some recognition just in the last few 
days, that the obsession with India as the mortal threat 
to Pakistan has been misguided, and that their biggest 
threat right now comes internally." On May 2, THE HINDU 
reported that President Obama's remarks have caused 
concern in Islamabad that Washington is building up the 
military at the expense of the civilian government. On 
May 3, THE TIMES OF INDIA reported the U.S. 
Administration went into damage control mode Saturday, 
assuaging Islamabad's concerns. 
 
-- "A FATAL OBSESSION" - THE TIMES OF INDIA 
 
¶2. The President's completion of 100 days in office 
generated editorial commentary in several important 
dailies. Following is an excerpt from an editorial in May 
2 centrist, independent THE TIMES OF INDIA English daily: 
(BEGIN EXCERPT) US president Barack Obama articulated, in 
no uncertain terms, that Islamabad's obsession with India 
as the mortal threat to Pakistan has been misguided. He 
asserted that the real threat to Pakistan lay within. 
Successive administrations in Washington over the past 60 
years chose not to point out this fact to Islamabad. It's 
welcome news, therefore, that Obama has called a spade a 
spade, an indication perhaps of the different lens 
 
NEW DELHI 00000886  002 OF 005 
 
 
through which he views geopolitics today. 
 
¶3. Meanwhile, about 6,000 troops on Pakistan's eastern 
border with India have been pulled back and redeployed to 
fight the Taliban in Buner. This is perhaps the 
consequence of some tough talk emanating from Washington 
secretary of state Hillary Clinton ticked off Islamabad 
not long ago but it was also done with an eye on securing 
the aid package that America is expected to give 
Pakistan...." (END EXCERPT) 
 
-- "AN INDIA OBSESSION" - DAILY NEWS & ANALYSIS 
 
¶4. Following are excerpts from an editorial in May 2 
Western India circulating centrist English newspaper 
DAILY NEWS & ANALYSIS: (BEGIN EXCERPTS) Now finally 
Barack Obama has articulated what should have been 
obvious all along: Pakistan's obsession with India is 
misplaced. All these decades, the US establishment was 
content to go along with this obsession, during the Cold 
War and much, much beyond. This made south Asia a brittle 
security zone through the military and financial aid that 
Pakistan got from the US. As a matter of fact, American 
view of India was shaped by Pakistan's perceptions. 
 
¶5. Americans pick up lessons only when their own national 
interests require it. The United States' national 
interests now demand that Islamabad should focus on the 
Taliban/al Qaeda - the mortal enemies of the Americans in 
the present world situation - and not perceive India as 
the enemy. Washington has been therefore hammering home 
the point to the generals in Islamabad - the Americans 
understand that it is the generals who matter most in 
Pakistan - that the obsession with India must go. (END 
EXCERPTS) 
 
-- "OBAMA NEEDS A RETHINK ON PAK" - ASIAN AGE 
 
¶6. Following are excerpts from an editorial in May 2 
nationally circulating centrist English newspaper ASIAN 
AGE: (BEGIN EXCERPTS) At his press conference earlier 
this week to mark his first 100 days at the White House, 
US President Barack Obama made two significant 
observations in respect of our part of the world, which 
looms large on Washington's radar screen. The two are 
inter-related. They privilege the Pakistan Army and 
undercut the elected government. One suggests that 
Pakistan's civilian government is not up to scratch.... 
 
¶7. Mr Obama also reinforces his trust in the generals on 
the question of Pakistan's nuclear assets.... The effect, 
the tenor, and the meaning of the President's 
observations - made without prevarication - suggest the 
pivotal role assigned to the Pakistan Army in America's 
AfPak policy. 
(END EXCERPT) 
 
-- "TROUBLE AND ADVICE" - HINDUSTAN HINDI daily 
 
¶8. Excerpt from an editorial in May 2 national centrist 
 
NEW DELHI 00000886  003 OF 005 
 
 
Hindi newspaper HINDUSTAN: "President Obama's advice that 
Pakistan's allegations against India were baseless seems 
to have cut ice with Islamabad. This is evident from the 
fact that soon after Obama made his statement in a press 
conference, Pakistan withdrew the Army from the Indian 
border and deployed it on the western region. But does 
this mean Pakistan has accepted that its real enemy is 
not India, but Islamic fanaticism? Or is it simply a 
drama to extract economic aid before Zardari's U.S. 
visit?" 
 
-- "A HUNDRED DAYS" - THE TELEGRAPH 
 
¶9. Following are excerpts from an analysis in April 29 
eastern India circulating centrist English daily THE 
TELEGRAPH by Washington correspondent K.P. Nayar: (BEGIN 
EXCERPTS) "What a difference a hundred days can make! The 
United States of America is a very different place today... 
In Obama's America, a woman can sue and hope to win her 
case if she is discriminated against at work: George W. 
Bush had made it difficult. Millions of parents go to 
sleep easy at night in Obama's America because the 
healthcare that was denied to their children by Bush has 
been made available... 
 
¶10. Obama has kindled hopes in hundreds of thousands of 
Americans...that stem cell research that Bush banned and 
Obama has allowed may eventually bring cure for diseases 
like Alzheimer's It is something that cannot be explained 
easily. It can only be felt when one lives in the US 
through the changes that the new occupant of the White 
House is initiating... Obama allows his motorcade to block 
traffic and zip through streets only when he is out on 
official business. Such gestures, albeit small, have a 
cascading effect... If nothing else, that is the change 
that makes the last hundred days in America worth living 
through." (END EXCERPTS) 
 
-- "PROMISES TO KEEP" - THE TELEGRAPH: 
 
¶11. Following are excerpts from an editorial in April 29 
THE TELEGRAPH: (BEGIN EXCERPTS) "It is clear that Mr. 
Obama aims to build a new America, more caring, more 
humane and more accountable... What is alarming is that the 
economy is yet to respond to the money that has been 
injected. There is no positive result in Afghanistan, 
especially with developments in Pakistan completely out 
of control. Policy-makers in India...are beginning to 
wonder if the world's superpower, under a new president, 
will actually act like one in Pakistan. The signs are 
confusing... 
 
¶12. His noble vision of a nuclear weapons-free world will 
come to naught if mullahs and generals, with not-so- 
covert support from the US, continue to threaten India's 
north-western borders. Mr. Obama has promises to keep 
within the US and elsewhere too. There is no bigger 
disappointment than promises without delivery." (END 
EXCERPTS) 
 
 
NEW DELHI 00000886  004 OF 005 
 
 
"CANDLE SHINES ON 100TH DAY, OBAMA'S MAGIC STILL WORKS" - 
- Op-Ed in DECCAN CHRONICLE 
 
¶13. Excerpt from an op-ed by political columnist Kishwar 
Desai in May 2 South India circulating left-of-center 
English daily DECCAN CHRONICLE: (BEGIN EXCERPT) "Mr. 
Obama has passed with flying colors on foreign policy and 
demolished the fear that his selection of Hillary Clinton 
would end up dividing the White House. However, the best 
part of Mr. Obama's presidency seems to be that he had 
made the Americans feel good about themselves all over 
again - despite all the problems they face. His desire to 
engage the world in a conversation, even inviting 'enemy' 
states such as Iran for a dialogue, has greatly improved 
the image of America abroad." (END EXCERPT) 
 
"100 DAYS" - DECCAN HERALD 
 
¶14. Excerpt from an editorial in May 02, South India 
circulating, left-of-center English daily DECCAN 
HERALD: "No other U.S. President in recent history had to 
face so many national and international challenges on 
stepping into office. The promise of change on which he 
was elected added to the baggage of expectations. Since 
the agenda was huge only the beginnings of a new course 
could be indicated in a few weeks, and he has been able 
to outline its nature in more concrete shape than when he 
campaigned for a new America." 
 
"OBAMA 100" -- ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA: 
 
¶15. Excerpt from an editorial in April 30 eastern India 
circulating centrist Bengali daily ANANDA BAZAR PATRIKA: 
"The time is not yet ripe to discuss the effectiveness of 
President Obama's policies, but his vision is 
praiseworthy. The courage he has been showing through 
different initiatives is indeed laudable. American 
conservatism in economic and foreign policies is well 
known. Obama's achievements on these issues have assumed 
a historic dimension in his first hundred days." 
 
-- COMMENTARY IN THE URDU PRESS 
 
¶16. Columnist Ahsan Lateef, writing in India's number one 
Urdu daily SIASAT May 3, compared President Obama's 
policies with the policies under previous 
administrations. He said, "Now that the reins of the U.S. 
Administration have been taken over by Barack Obama, it 
can be expected that the world will again see the 
peaceful face of American policies which are based on the 
President's humane qualities and respect for human 
values." 
 
¶17. The writer commended the President's decision to 
close Guantanamo, his choice of people for important 
offices in his administration, including "experienced 
Jews and Indians," setting up the Office of Religious 
Partnerships, and the appointment of the "Muslim Egyptian 
woman to represent Muslims." The op-ed concluded with the 
hope that the Obama administration will help in 
 
NEW DELHI 00000886  005 OF 005 
 
 
"spreading peace in the world and reducing the poison 
against Muslims and Islam, across the world." 
 
-- "REPORT CARD FOR OBAMA'S PAKISTAN POLICY" - NDTV 
 
¶18. Reporting on the presidential press conference, the 
NDTV 24-hour English news channel said, "On the 100th day 
in office the Obama administration is getting applause 
from the media and the public on most fronts but his 
lowest grades, if experts are to be believed, are on his 
Pakistan policy.  Within days of being sworn in, 
President Obama had developed a comprehensive plan for 
Afghanistan and Pakistan and appointed Ambassador Richard 
Holbrooke to be the region's Special Representative. But 
100 days later, Obama's initial momentum seems to have 
hit a wall." Another popular channel CNN-IBN said 
President Obama's policies "are yet to have an impact." 
BURLEIGH