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### Viewing cable 09BERLIN1158, MEDIA REACTION: U.S., AFGHANISTAN, LEBANON

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
09BERLIN1158 | 2009-09-18 12:12 | 2011-01-13 05:05 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Berlin

`

    VZCZCXRO9064
    RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHLZ
    DE RUEHRL #1158/01 2611235
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    R 181235Z SEP 09
    FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5236
    INFO RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC
    RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
    RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
    RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
    RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
    RUCNFRG/FRG COLLECTIVE
    RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 1546
    RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0238
    RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0761
    RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 2286
    RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 1293
    RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 0479
    RHMFIUU/HQ USAFE RAMSTEIN AB GE
    RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//J5 DIRECTORATE (MC)//
    RHMFISS/CDRUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE
    RUKAAKC/UDITDUSAREUR HEIDELBERG GE

` `

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 BERLIN 001158

    STATE FOR INR/R/MR, EUR/PAPD, EUR/PPA, EUR/CE, INR/EUC, INR/P,
    SECDEF FOR USDP/ISA/DSAA, DIA FOR DC-4A

    VIENNA FOR CSBM, CSCE, PAA

    "PERISHABLE INFORMATION -- DO NOT SERVICE"

    SIPDIS

    E.0. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO GM US RS IR PK IN IC
    SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S., AFGHANISTAN, LEBANON

    ¶1.   Lead Stories Summary
    ¶2.   (U.S.)   Missile Defense
    ¶3.   (Afghanistan)   Aftermath of Elections
    ¶4.   (Lebanon)   Formation of New Government

    ¶1.   Lead Stories Summary

    Print media focused primarily on two issues:  President Obama's
    decision to give up the missile defense program involving Poland and
    the Czech Republic, and the school attack in the Franconian city of
    Ansbach.  Some papers also foregrounded the election campaign, which
    is moving into its final days.  Editorials focused on President
    Obama's decision to give up the missile defense plan and the school
    attack.  ZDF-TV's early evening newscast heute opened with a live
    report from Ansbach, while ARD-TV's early evening newscast
    Tagesschau opened with reports on the missile defense.

    ¶2.   (U.S.)   Missile Defense

    All media prominently reported that "President Obama has put a stop
    to the plans of his predecessor, Bush, to deploy a missile defense
    shield in Eastern Europe.  He explained this by saying that there
    are new facts on the threat Iran poses" (ARD-TV's primetime newscast
    Tagesschau).  Many media described Obama's "U-turn" as an attempt to
    get Russian support for UN measures against Iran.  Although most
    editorials welcomed the decision, it also met with some skepticism.

    Front-page headlines included: "Obama puts a stop to the missile
    defense shield in Poland and the Czech Republic" (Berliner Zeitung
    9/18)), "U.S. puts stop to missile defense shield in Eastern Europe"
    (S|ddeutsche), "Obama gives up Bush's missile defense shield in
    Europe" (Die Welt), "Obama chooses a 'flexible' missile defense"
    (Frankfurter Allgemeine), and "Obama declares peace to Russia" (FT
    Deutschland).

    Primetime ARD-TV's Tagesschau (9/17) commented: "Although there
    might be new threat assessments and technological progress,
    President Obama wants to remove a large diplomatic stumbling
    block....  Obama hopes that Moscow will make concessions in
    connection with Iran and nuclear disarmament."

    Westdeutscher Rundfunk (9/17) radio commented: The renouncement of
    the missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic does not
    just come as a relief for Central Europe and Russia, but lets the
    entire world believe in disarmament again....  Once again,
    Washington's change towards reason demonstrates once more that
    Bush's policy was dangerous for the world.  The view forward makes
    us hopeful.  Only together with Moscow, we can persuade Tehran to
    make reliable concessions to prevent the production of nuclear
    weapons once and for all without ruling out the peaceful usage of
    nuclear energy....  Obama's decision strengthens those within and
    outside NATO who believe in disarmament.  What remains is the
    disappointment of Polish and Czech politicians who had hoped to
    increase their countries' security through the missile defense
    shield.  These backward thinking people should now consider the
    possibility that they will particularly benefit from Washington's
    improved relations with Moscow."

    Deutschlandfunk radio (9/17) commented: "Obama believes that solo
    runs within NATO are counterproductive.  For the current U.S.
    government, Russia is an indispensible partner in the UN Security
    Council.  However, this is not given as a reason because Obama wants
    to prevent the impression that he bowed to vehement Russian
    resistance to the original missile defense plans....   If this
    decision is interpreted as a weakness, then this is another price

    BERLIN 00001158  002 OF 004

    Washington has to pay for its misguided policies in recent years."

    ARD-TV late night newscast Tagesthemen (9/17) remarked: "This is
    realpolitik.  Reagan and Bush's Star Wars dreams were ideologically
    motivated and therefore did not consider costs and dangers.  Obama
    is practical, even when he looks at his budget.  In addition, no
    U.S. President makes such concessions without getting something in
    return.   We might already see next week when the UN Security
    Council responds to Iran's nuclear policy what kind of concessions
    Russia makes.  Obama will head the meeting and needs a success.
    And, as a great hope from whom many still expect the impossible, he
    needs success."

    S|ddeutsche Zeitung (9/18) opined: "Obama's greatest challenge will
    be that he must remove the suspicion that he bowed to Russia.  He
    must not just do this in Congress but also in Eastern Europe, where
    people fear that Moscow could see the renouncement of the missile
    defense shield as a sign of weakness that encourages the Russians to
    pursue their interests elsewhere with tanks, like in Georgia.
    However, Obama will have many opportunities to show that the missile
    defense shield is not the yardstick for NATO's loyalty to the Poles
    and Czechs....  NATO could do maneuvers in the countries and if
    necessary set up bases there.  NATO's new strategy should also take
    the fears of eastern Europeans into account....  Obama will have
    difficulty implementing his cooperative foreign policy if Europe as
    a whole does not support him."

    Die Welt (9/18) commented on its front-page: "One thing was certain
    in the past: America's Presidents come and go - but their foreign
    policies remain the same....  Obama is entering a new path and the
    direction is getting clearer...  As expected, the U.S. government is
    saying goodbye to George W. Bush's plan to establish a missile
    defense shield in Central Europe.  The reason is practical and
    fundamental...  It is a further signal that Obama is pursuing a
    policy on Iran that is based on building confidence.   And it fits
    in his ambitious project to create a world without nuclear weapons.
    It must be seriously asked whether this policy isn't naove and
    dangerous, also because disappointment is spreading in Central
    Europe."

    Under the headline "U-turn," Frankfurter Allgemeine (9/18) said in a
    front-page commentary:  "There is no doubt that the decision has an
    enormous impact on foreign and security policy, not to speak of the
    style of communicating it [to Poland and the Czech Republic].  It
    will have an effect on the potential countries where it was supposed
    to be deployed.  They had to take a lot of unpleasant criticism from
    their western neighbors, threats from Russia and skepticism among
    their own people when the topic of missile defense was hot under
    Bush.  In the future when the next controversial topic is debated,
    they will think twice whether they should move so closely to the
    U.S. and take such risks."

    Frankfurter Rundschau (9/18) remarked:  "Russia is a partner that
    the U.S. cannot ignore.  Until the end of the year, both countries
    have to agree on renewing the START treaty if they want to avoid a
    new arms race.   Russian President Medvedev has made clear what the
    price is:  the U.S. must renounce the missile defense shield, return
    to the ABM treaty that builds mutual confidence and renounces
    missile defense systems.  Iran seems to be playing only on the
    regional level.  The renouncing of missile defense is not just a
    tactical move.  It is a change of course.  The leaders in Moscow
    should not be under the illusion that their toughness has paid off.
     However, Europeans can hope that Washington's current understanding
    for bearing global responsibility will continue."

    ¶3.   (Afghanistan)   Aftermath of Elections

    Many papers carried factual news reports on the events in
    Afghanistan, but the majority of them focused on the aftermath of

    BERLIN 00001158  003 OF 004

    the airstrike near Kunduz and the elections and, in reports on the
    Karzai government's reaction to allegations of election fraud,
    mentioned that six Italian soldiers died in a suicide attack in
    Kabul.  Frankfurter Allgemeine (9/18) headlined on its front page:
    "Many People killed in Attack on ISAF Soldiers in Kabul."  In
    another report FAZ (9/18) wrote that "the death of six Italian
    soldiers of a unit based in Siena in a suicide attack in Kabul has
    caused a shock in Italy but has, for the time being, not resulted in
    a new debate over the [Italian] mission in Afghanistan."
    Tagesspiegel (9/18) headlined: "16 people Killed in Attack in Kabul
    - Six Italian Soldiers Die," and wrote: "This was the thus far most
    serious attack on the Italian forces in Afghanistan.  Italy has sent
    2,800 soldiers to the ISAF forces in the country.  As of Thursday,
    20 Italian soldiers have lost their lives in the mission."
    Sueddeutsche Zeitung (9/18) reported under the headline: "Serious
    Attack In Kabul - Six Italian Soldiers Dead - Karzai Defends
    Elections" that "In Italy, the death of the soldiers caused a shock
    and a new political debate over the Italian military engagement in
    Afghanistan."

    Editorial commentary, however, focused on the outcome of the
    presidential elections.   Die Welt (9/18) demands: "Recount! Now,"
    and judged: "In Berlin, the question of whether the re-election of
    Afghan President Karzai is credible or fraudulent has major domestic
    political significance.  The question is not whether Afghanistan is
    ripe for democracy or whether a certain degree of corruption...is
    acceptable.  The question is whether a fraudulent majority for
    Karzai offers the Taliban a lever to present themselves on the
    international stage as the political opposition against a corrupt
    regime and then get rid of the description 'terrorists.'  If the
    Taliban are trying to be recognized as a party in the civil war and
    are able to refer to a fraudulent election, the government in Berlin
    could no longer use the argument that the Bundeswehr presence in
    Afghanistan as a 'stabilization mission,' not a 'war.'  Hamid Karzai
    rejected the allegation that one quarter of the votes was falsified.
     The West must now examine this in the same resolute way as it did
    in Pakistan in 2008 after former ruler Musharraf suspended the
    parliamentary elections.  If the West uses different yardsticks for
    Karzai than it used for Musharraf, the Taliban supporters will
    expand their assistance.  And then it is only a small step to the
    foundation of a 'National Liberation Front' with which the Taliban
    could legitimize themselves internationally.  That is why all votes
    should be recounted and, if necessary, new elections be held."

    According to Frankfurter Allgemeine (9/18), "people easily talked
    about a 'success' after the Afghan presidential elections...but the
    degree of egregious vote-rigging, which is now gradually coming to
    the fore, is surprising.  What is even worse President Karzai is
    left looking like the main sinner.  The international community that
    is supporting his government with financial means and supports him
    with 100,000 soldiers who are risking their lives for the country's
    survival on a daily basis is faced with a dilemma.  It cannot
    continue to support him but cannot drop him either.  The best way
    out is to give the election results the greatest possible legitimacy
    by reviewing them, if necessary also with a runoff election, even if
    it takes place early next year."

    ¶4.   (Lebanon)   Formation of New Government

    In an editorial Sueddeutsche (9/18) said: "The surprising thing
    about Lebanon is that life continues there even without a
    government.  For more than three months now, the parties are unable
    to agree on a coalition. One reason is that the possible coalition
    parties recklessly pursue their own political and economic
    interests.  Second, the neighboring states and the major powers are
    also involved in Lebanon.  The opposition parties led by Hezbollah
    tend to look to Iran, which wants to enter into talks with the
    United States at the beginning of October.  The Saudis and with them
    the Americans are strengthening prime minister-designate Hariri and

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    his team because Tehran's influence is to be contained in Lebanon,
    too.  But these are not favorable prospects for an early agreement."

      MURPHY

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