Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287
Articles
Brazil
Sri Lanka
United Kingdom
Sweden
00. Editorial
United States
Latin America
Egypt
Jordan
Yemen
Thailand
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
2011/05/18
2011/05/19
2011/05/20
2011/05/21
2011/05/22
2011/05/23
2011/05/24
2011/05/25
2011/05/26
2011/05/27
2011/05/28
2011/05/29
2011/05/30
2011/05/31
2011/06/01
2011/06/02
2011/06/03
2011/06/04
2011/06/05
2011/06/06
2011/06/07
2011/06/08
2011/06/09
2011/06/10
2011/06/11
2011/06/12
2011/06/13
2011/06/14
2011/06/15
2011/06/16
2011/06/17
2011/06/18
2011/06/19
2011/06/20
2011/06/21
2011/06/22
2011/06/23
2011/06/24
2011/06/25
2011/06/26
2011/06/27
2011/06/28
2011/06/29
2011/06/30
2011/07/01
2011/07/02
2011/07/04
2011/07/05
2011/07/06
2011/07/07
2011/07/08
2011/07/10
2011/07/11
2011/07/12
2011/07/13
2011/07/14
2011/07/15
2011/07/16
2011/07/17
2011/07/18
2011/07/19
2011/07/20
2011/07/21
2011/07/22
2011/07/23
2011/07/25
2011/07/27
2011/07/28
2011/07/29
2011/07/31
2011/08/01
2011/08/02
2011/08/03
2011/08/05
2011/08/06
2011/08/07
2011/08/08
2011/08/10
2011/08/11
2011/08/12
2011/08/13
2011/08/15
2011/08/16
2011/08/17
2011/08/19
2011/08/21
2011/08/22
2011/08/23
2011/08/24
2011/08/25
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Antananarivo
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Alexandria
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embasy Bonn
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Brazzaville
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangui
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Belfast
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Cotonou
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chiang Mai
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Chengdu
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
DIR FSINFATC
Consulate Dusseldorf
Consulate Durban
Consulate Dubai
Consulate Dhahran
Embassy Guatemala
Embassy Grenada
Embassy Georgetown
Embassy Gaborone
Consulate Guayaquil
Consulate Guangzhou
Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Hong Kong
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kolonia
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Krakow
Consulate Kolkata
Consulate Karachi
Consulate Kaduna
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Lusaka
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Lome
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy Libreville
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Leipzig
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Mission Geneva
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Mogadishu
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maseru
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Merida
Consulate Melbourne
Consulate Matamoros
Consulate Marseille
Embassy Nouakchott
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Nuevo Laredo
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Consulate Nagoya
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Praia
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Moresby
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Podgorica
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Ponta Delgada
Consulate Peshawar
REO Mosul
REO Kirkuk
REO Hillah
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Surabaya
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy Tirana
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
Consulate Thessaloniki
USUN New York
USMISSION USTR GENEVA
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Mission CD Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
US Delegation FEST TWO
UNVIE
UN Rome
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vientiane
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AF
ADANA
ASEC
AFIN
AMGT
AE
AORC
AID
AR
AO
AU
ASEAN
AGOA
AFGHANISTAN
AFFAIRS
AMED
APER
ASECARP
APEC
AEMR
AS
AA
ANET
AFLU
ABLD
AL
ASUP
AJ
APECO
AMER
ABUD
AODE
AM
AFSN
AESC
AND
AG
ALOW
AROC
AVIANFLU
ATRN
ACOA
AEGR
AMGMT
AADP
AFSI
ACABQ
APRM
AZ
AIDS
ASE
AGAO
ADCO
ABDALLAH
ARF
AIDAC
ACOTA
ASCH
AC
ASEG
AGR
ACS
AMCHAMS
AN
AMIA
ASIG
ADPM
ADB
ANARCHISTS
ALOWAR
ARM
AUC
AINF
AINT
AORG
AY
AVIAN
AMEDCASCKFLO
AK
ARSO
ARABBL
ASO
ANTITERRORISM
ARABL
AOWC
AGRICULTURE
ALJAZEERA
AMTC
AFINM
AOCR
ABER
ARR
AFPK
ASSEMBLY
ASSK
AZE
AORCYM
AINR
AGMT
AEC
ACKM
APRC
AIN
ASCC
AFPREL
ASED
APERTH
ASFC
ASECTH
AFSA
AOMS
AORCO
ANTXON
ARC
AFAF
ADIP
AIAG
AFARI
AEMED
AORL
AX
ASECAF
AOPC
ASECAFIN
AFZAL
APCS
AMB
AGUIRRE
AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL
AIT
ARCH
AMEX
ALI
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
AORCD
AVIATION
ARAS
AINFCY
ACBAQ
AOPR
AREP
ALEXANDER
ATRD
AEIR
AOIC
ABLDG
ASEX
AFR
ASCE
ATRA
ASEK
AER
ALOUNI
AMCT
AVERY
APR
AMAT
AEMRS
ASPA
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ALL
AECL
ACAO
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORD
AFL
AME
ADM
ASECPHUM
AGIT
ABT
ASECVE
AGUILAR
AT
ABMC
ALZUGUREN
ANGEL
ASR
ANTONIO
BMGT
BEXP
BM
BG
BL
BA
BR
BTA
BO
BY
BBSR
BLUE
BK
BF
BTIO
BELLVIEW
BE
BU
BN
BH
BD
BC
BTC
BILAT
BT
BX
BRUSSELS
BP
BB
BRPA
BUSH
BURMA
BMENA
BESP
BIT
BBG
BGD
BMEAID
BAGHDAD
BEN
BIO
BMOT
BWC
BLUNT
BURNS
BUT
BGMT
BAIO
BCW
BOEHNER
BFIF
BOL
BASHAR
BIMSTEC
BOU
BIDEN
BZ
BFIN
BTRA
BI
BHUM
BOIKO
BERARDUCCI
BOUCHAIB
BORDER
BEXPC
BTIU
BTT
BIOS
BEXB
BGPGOV
BOND
BLR
CE
CG
CH
CVR
CASC
CU
CI
CD
CO
CDG
CB
CJAN
CPAS
COM
CVIS
CMGT
CT
CENTCOM
CNARC
CTERR
COUNTER
CHIEF
CDC
CTR
CBW
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CY
CA
CM
CS
CWC
CN
CITES
CF
CWG
CIVS
CFIS
CASCC
CROATIA
CONS
COUNTERTERRORISM
CASA
COE
CJ
CHR
CODEL
CR
CBC
CACS
CHERTOFF
CAS
CONTROL
CONDITIONS
CONDOLEEZZA
CITEL
CV
CLINTON
CHG
CZ
CON
CTBT
CEN
CRIMES
COMMERCE
CLOK
CRISTINA
CFED
CARC
CND
CTM
CARICOM
COUNTRYCLEARANCE
CBTH
CHINA
CSW
CICTE
CJUS
CYPRUS
CW
CAMBODIA
CENSUS
CIDA
CRIME
CBG
CBE
CMGMT
CAIO
CEC
CARSON
CPCTC
CEDAW
COMESA
CVIA
CWCM
CEA
COSI
CAPC
CGEN
COPUOS
CGOPRC
COETRD
CKGR
CFE
CQ
CITT
CIC
CARIB
CVIC
CLO
CAFTA
CVISU
CHRISTOPHER
CACM
CIAT
CDB
CIS
CUL
CHAO
CNC
CL
CSEP
COMMAND
CENTER
COL
CAN
CAJC
CUIS
CONSULAR
CLMT
CIA
CBSA
CEUDA
CAC
CROS
CIO
CPUOS
CKOR
CVPR
CONG
CONTROLS
CEPTER
CVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGKIRF
CDCE
DPOL
DEMARCHE
DHS
DR
DA
DISENGAGEMENT
DEMOCRATIC
DEFENSE
DJ
DY
DARFUR
DHRF
DEA
DTRO
DPRK
DO
DARFR
DOC
DRL
DK
DOJ
DTRA
DOMESTIC
DAC
DOD
DEAX
DIEZ
DEOC
DELTAVIOLENCE
DCOM
DMINE
DRC
DCG
DPKO
DOMESTICPOLITICS
DE
DB
DOT
DEPT
DOE
DHLAKAMA
DHSX
DS
DKEM
DAO
DCM
DANIEL
DEM
DAVID
DCRM
ETRD
EAGR
ETTC
EAID
ECON
EFIN
ECIN
EINV
ELAB
EAIR
ENRG
EPET
EWWT
ECPS
EIND
EMIN
ELTN
EC
ETMIN
EUC
EZ
ET
ELECTIONS
ENVR
EU
EUN
EG
EINT
ER
ECONOMICS
ES
EMS
ENIV
EEB
EN
ECE
ECOSOC
EK
ENVIRONMENT
EFIS
EI
EWT
ENGRD
ECPSN
EXIM
EIAD
ERIN
ECPC
EDEV
ENGY
ECTRD
EPA
ESTH
ECCT
EINVECON
ENGR
ERTD
EUR
EAP
EWWC
ELTD
EL
EXIMOPIC
EXTERNAL
ETRDEC
ESCAP
ECO
EGAD
ELNT
ECONOMIC
ENV
ETRN
EIAR
EUMEM
ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID
EREL
ECOM
ECONETRDEAGRJA
ETCC
ETRG
ECONOMY
EMED
ETR
ENERG
EITC
EFINOECD
EURM
EENG
ERA
EXPORT
ENRD
ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC
EGEN
EBRD
EVIN
ETRAD
ECOWAS
EFTA
ECONETRDBESPAR
EGOVSY
EPIN
EID
ECONENRG
EDRC
ESENV
ETT
EB
ENER
ELTNSNAR
ECHEVARRIA
ETRC
EPIT
EDUC
ESA
EFI
ENRGY
ESCI
EE
EAIDXMXAXBXFFR
EETC
ECIP
EIAID
EIVN
EBEXP
ESTN
EING
EGOV
ETRA
EPETEIND
ELAN
ETRDGK
EAIDRW
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
EPEC
ENVI
ELN
EAG
EPCS
EPRT
EPTED
ETRB
EUM
EAIDS
EFIC
EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM
EAIDAR
ESF
EIDN
ELAM
EDU
EV
EAIDAF
ECN
EDA
EXBS
EINTECPS
ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ
EPREL
EAC
EINVEFIN
ETA
EAGER
EINDIR
ECA
ECLAC
ELAP
EITI
EUCOM
ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID
EARG
ELDIN
EINVKSCA
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EFINTS
ECCP
ETC
EAIRASECCASCID
EINN
ETRP
EAIDNI
EFQ
ECOQKPKO
EGPHUM
EBUD
ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ
ENERGY
ELB
EINDETRD
EMI
ECONEFIN
EIB
EURN
ETRDEINVTINTCS
EIN
EFIM
ETIO
ELAINE
EMN
EATO
EWTR
EIPR
EINVETC
ETTD
ETDR
EIQ
ECONCS
EPPD
ENRGIZ
EISL
ESPINOSA
ELEC
EAIG
ESLCO
EUREM
ENTG
ERD
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
ECINECONCS
ETRO
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECUN
EFND
EPECO
EAIRECONRP
ERGR
ETRDPGOV
ECPN
ENRGMO
EPWR
EET
EAIS
EAGRE
EDUARDO
EAGRRP
EAIDPHUMPRELUG
EICN
ECONQH
EVN
EGHG
ELBR
EINF
EAIDHO
EENV
ETEX
ERNG
ED
FR
FREEDOM
FINREF
FJ
FI
FRELIMO
FOREIGN
FAA
FETHI
FAS
FTAA
FRB
FAO
FCS
FINANCE
FWS
FTA
FEMA
FDA
FLU
FRANCISCO
FBI
FORCE
FO
FARC
FK
FT
FCSC
FAC
FM
FMGT
FINV
FCSCEG
FARM
FERNANDO
FINR
FIN
FINE
FIR
FDIC
FOR
FOI
FCUL
FKLU
FMLN
FISO
FIXED
GM
GMUS
GG
GR
GE
GAZA
GT
GH
GZ
GJ
GLOBAL
GV
GABY
GOI
GA
GCC
GB
GY
GATT
GC
GUAM
GEORGE
GTIP
GOV
GOMEZ
GUTIERREZ
GL
GKGIC
GF
GU
GWI
GARCIA
GTMO
GN
GANGS
GIPNC
GAERC
GREGG
GUILLERMO
GASPAR
GERARD
GI
HK
HR
HUMANR
HUMAN
HO
HA
HUMANRIGHTS
HU
HHS
HIV
HUM
HRKAWC
HILLEN
HILLARY
HDP
HUMRIT
HSTC
HUMANITARIAN
HCOPIL
HADLEY
HURI
HL
HRETRD
HOURANI
HG
HARRIET
HESHAM
HI
HNCHR
HARRY
HRECON
HRC
HOSTAGES
HEBRON
HUMOR
HSWG
HYMPSK
HECTOR
HN
HYDE
HUD
HRPGOV
HIGHLIGHTS
ID
ILC
IS
IZ
ICAO
IMO
ITU
IR
IAEA
ICRC
IPROP
IT
IBRD
ISRAELI
IRAQI
ISSUES
ITRA
IV
IO
IGAD
IRAQ
IN
IMF
ICTR
ISCON
IADB
IDB
IEA
INR
IWC
ICCAT
ILO
INMARSAT
IOM
ICJ
IQ
ISPA
ITRD
IPR
INTELSAT
ISN
IAHRC
INTERNAL
IFAD
IICA
IHO
IRAN
IL
IRCE
IC
INTELLECTUAL
IRM
IE
ICTY
IDLI
IFO
ISCA
INF
INL
ISRAEL
INV
IBB
INFLUENZA
ISPL
ITER
ITIA
INRA
ISAF
IACHR
INTERPOL
IFR
IRS
INRB
IEF
ISAAC
ICC
INDO
IIP
IATTC
INAUGURATION
IND
INS
IZPREL
IACI
IEFIN
INNP
ILAB
IA
IMTS
ITALY
ITALIAN
IFIN
IRAJ
IX
ICG
IF
ITPHUM
ITA
IP
IACW
IK
IUCN
IZEAID
IRPE
IDA
ISLAMISTS
ITF
INRO
IBET
IDP
IRC
ISO
ICES
IRMO
ITPGOV
IQNV
IMSO
IRDB
IMET
INCB
IFRC
JA
JO
JP
JM
JCIC
JOHN
JE
JEFFERY
JS
JUS
JN
JOHNNIE
JAMES
JKUS
JOSEPH
JML
JAWAD
JSRP
JIMENEZ
JOSE
JKJUS
JK
JAPAN
KMDR
KPAO
KPKO
KJUS
KCRM
KGHG
KFRD
KWMN
KDEM
KTFN
KHIV
KGIC
KIDE
KSCA
KNNP
KHUM
KIPR
KSUM
KISL
KIRF
KCOR
KRCM
KPAL
KWBG
KN
KS
KOMC
KSEP
KFLU
KPWR
KTIA
KSEO
KMPI
KHLS
KICC
KSTH
KMCA
KVPR
KPRM
KE
KU
KZ
KFLO
KSAF
KTIP
KTEX
KBCT
KOCI
KOLY
KOR
KAWC
KACT
KUNR
KTDB
KSTC
KLIG
KSKN
KNN
KCFE
KCIP
KGHA
KHDP
KPOW
KUNC
KDRL
KV
KPREL
KCRS
KPOL
KRVC
KRIM
KGIT
KWIR
KT
KIRC
KOMO
KRFD
KUWAIT
KG
KFIN
KSCI
KTFIN
KFTN
KGOV
KPRV
KSAC
KGIV
KCRIM
KPIR
KSOC
KBIO
KW
KGLB
KMWN
KPO
KFSC
KSEAO
KSTCPL
KSI
KPRP
KREC
KFPC
KUNH
KCSA
KMRS
KNDP
KR
KICCPUR
KPPAO
KCSY
KTBT
KCIS
KNEP
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KNNB
KGCC
KINR
KPOP
KMFO
KENV
KNAR
KVIR
KDRG
KDMR
KFCE
KNAO
KDEN
KGCN
KICA
KIMMITT
KMCC
KLFU
KMSG
KSEC
KUM
KCUL
KMNP
KSMT
KCOM
KOMCSG
KSPR
KPMI
KRAD
KIND
KCRP
KAUST
KWAWC
KTER
KCHG
KRDP
KPAS
KITA
KTSC
KPAOPREL
KWGB
KIRP
KJUST
KMIG
KLAB
KTFR
KSEI
KSTT
KAPO
KSTS
KLSO
KWNN
KPOA
KHSA
KNPP
KPAONZ
KBTS
KWWW
KY
KJRE
KPAOKMDRKE
KCRCM
KSCS
KWMNCI
KESO
KWUN
KPLS
KIIP
KEDEM
KPAOY
KRIF
KGICKS
KREF
KTRD
KFRDSOCIRO
KTAO
KJU
KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW
KEN
KO
KNEI
KEMR
KKIV
KEAI
KWAC
KRCIM
KWCI
KFIU
KWIC
KCORR
KOMS
KNNO
KPAI
KBWG
KTTB
KTBD
KTIALG
KILS
KFEM
KTDM
KESS
KNUC
KPA
KOMCCO
KCEM
KRCS
KWBGSY
KNPPIS
KNNPMNUC
KWN
KERG
KLTN
KALM
KCCP
KSUMPHUM
KREL
KGH
KLIP
KTLA
KAWK
KWMM
KVRP
KVRC
KAID
KSLG
KDEMK
KX
KIF
KNPR
KCFC
KFTFN
KTFM
KPDD
KCERS
KMOC
KDEMAF
KMEPI
KEMS
KDRM
KEPREL
KBTR
KEDU
KNP
KIRL
KNNR
KMPT
KISLPINR
KTPN
KA
KJUSTH
KPIN
KDEV
KTDD
KAKA
KFRP
KWNM
KTSD
KINL
KJUSKUNR
KWWMN
KECF
KWBC
KPRO
KVBL
KOM
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KEDM
KFLD
KLPM
KRGY
KNNF
KICR
KIFR
KM
KWMNCS
KAWS
KLAP
KPAK
KDDG
KCGC
KID
KNSD
KMPF
KPFO
KDP
KCMR
KRMS
KNPT
KNNNP
KTIAPARM
KDTB
KNUP
KPGOV
KNAP
KNNC
KUK
KSRE
KREISLER
KIVP
KQ
KTIAEUN
KPALAOIS
KRM
KISLAO
KWM
KFLOA
LE
LU
LH
LA
LG
LO
LY
LANTERN
LI
LABOR
LORAN
LTTE
LT
LAS
LAB
LAW
LVPR
LARREA
LEBIK
LAURA
LS
LOTT
LOVE
LR
LEON
LAVIN
LGAT
LV
LAOS
LOG
LN
LB
MOPS
MO
MARR
ML
MASS
MZ
MR
MNUC
MX
MV
MCC
MY
MEDIA
MTCRE
MG
MCAP
MOPPS
MP
MI
MK
MC
MD
MA
MU
MASC
MW
MT
MEPP
MN
MTCR
MH
MEPI
MIL
MNUCPTEREZ
MMAR
MICHAEL
MUNC
MDC
MPOS
MONUC
MAR
MGMT
MAS
MEPN
MENDIETA
MARIA
MONTENEGRO
MOOPS
MSG
MARITIME
MURRAY
MUKASEY
MOTO
MCA
MFO
MEX
MRSEC
MMED
MACP
MAAR
MINUSTAH
MCCONNELL
MAPP
MGT
MARQUEZ
MANUEL
MNUR
MCCAIN
MF
MOHAMMAD
MOHAMED
MNU
MFA
MILITANTS
MINORITIES
MTS
MLS
MILI
MIAH
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MED
MARAD
MNVC
MINURSO
MNUCUN
MIK
MARK
MBM
MPP
MILITARY
MAPS
MNUK
MILA
MTRRE
MACEDONIA
MICHEL
MASSMNUC
MUCN
MQADHAFI
MPS
MARRGH
MRCRE
MTRE
MORALES
MAP
MCTRE
MHUC
MOPSGRPARM
MOROCCO
MCAPS
NL
NU
NS
NI
NPT
NATO
NO
NG
NATEU
NSF
NZ
NAS
NP
NDP
NLD
NGO
NEPAD
NAFTA
NASA
NEA
NGUYEN
NIH
NK
NIPP
NONE
NR
NANCY
NEGROPONTE
NRR
NERG
NSSP
NSG
NSFO
NE
NATSIOS
NFSO
NATIONAL
NTDB
NT
NCD
NTSB
NRC
NELSON
NAM
NH
NPG
NEC
NSC
NFATC
NMFS
NATOIRAQ
NAR
NZUS
NARC
NCCC
NA
NC
NEW
NRG
NUIN
NOVO
NATOPREL
NEY
NV
NICHOLAS
NPA
NW
NARCOTICS
NORAD
NOAA
NON
NTTC
NKNNP
NMNUC
NUMBERING
ODIP
OIIP
OPRC
OSCE
OREP
OTRA
OPET
OSCI
OVIP
OECD
OCII
OUALI
OPDC
OEXC
OFPD
OPIC
OFDP
OPCW
OECV
OAS
OM
OMIG
ODAG
OPREP
ORA
OIC
OEXCSCULKPAO
OIG
OASS
OFFICIALS
ORTA
OSAC
OIL
OIE
OEXP
OPEC
OPDAT
OMS
OES
OHI
OMAR
OCRA
OFSO
OCBD
OSTA
OAO
ONA
OTP
ORC
OAU
OXEC
OA
ODPC
OPDP
OVIPPRELUNGANU
OASC
OSHA
OPCD
OTR
OPPI
OPCR
OF
OFDPQIS
OSIC
OHUM
OSTRA
OASCC
OBSP
OFDA
OPICEAGR
OIM
OGAC
OTA
OTRAORP
OPPC
OESC
OCEA
OVP
ON
OPAD
OTAR
OCS
ODC
OTRD
OCED
OSD
ORUE
OREG
PHUM
PINR
PTER
PGOV
PREL
PREF
PL
PM
PHSA
PE
PARM
PINS
PK
PUNE
PO
PALESTINIAN
PU
PBTS
PROP
PTBS
POL
POLI
PA
PGOVZI
POLMIL
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POLM
PD
POLITICS
POLICY
PAS
PMIL
PINT
PNAT
PV
PKO
PPOL
PERSONS
PING
PBIO
PH
PETR
PARMS
PRES
PCON
PETERS
PRELBR
PT
PLAB
PP
PAK
PDEM
PKPA
PSOCI
PF
PLO
PTERM
PJUS
PSOE
PELOSI
PROPERTY
PGOVPREL
PARP
PRL
PNIR
PHUMKPAL
PG
PREZ
PGIC
PBOV
PAO
PKK
PROV
PHSAK
PHUMPREL
PROTECTION
PGOVBL
PSI
PRELPK
PGOVENRG
PUM
PRELKPKO
PATTY
PSOC
PRIVATIZATION
PRELSP
PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ
PMIG
PREC
PAIGH
PROG
PSHA
PARK
PETER
POG
PHUS
PPREL
PS
PTERPREL
PRELPGOV
POV
PKPO
PGOVECON
POUS
PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN
PWBG
PMAR
PREM
PAR
PNR
PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO
PARMIR
PGOVGM
PHUH
PARTM
PN
PRE
PTE
PY
POLUN
PPEL
PDOV
PGOVSOCI
PIRF
PGOVPM
PBST
PRELEVU
PGOR
PBTSRU
PRM
PRELKPAOIZ
PGVO
PERL
PGOC
PAGR
PMIN
PHUMR
PVIP
PPD
PGV
PRAM
PINL
PKPAL
PTERE
PGOF
PINO
PHAS
PODC
PRHUM
PHUMA
PREO
PPA
PEPFAR
PGO
PRGOV
PAC
PRESL
PORG
PKFK
PEPR
PRELP
PREFA
PNG
PGOVPHUMKPAO
PRELECON
PINOCHET
PFOR
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PRELC
PREK
PHUME
PHJM
POLINT
PGOVPZ
PGOVKCRM
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PECON
PEACE
PROCESS
PLN
PRELSW
PAHO
PEDRO
PRELA
PASS
PPAO
PGPV
PNUM
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PGIV
PRFE
POGOV
PEL
PBT
PAMQ
PINF
PSEPC
POSTS
PHUMPGOV
PVOV
PHSAPREL
PROLIFERATION
PENA
PRELTBIOBA
PIN
PRELL
PGOVPTER
PHAM
PHYTRP
PTEL
PTERPGOV
PHARM
PROTESTS
PRELAF
PKBL
PRELKPAO
PKNP
PARMP
PHUML
PFOV
PERM
PUOS
PRELGOV
PHUMPTER
PARAGRAPH
PERURENA
PBTSEWWT
PCI
PETROL
PINSO
PINSCE
PQL
PEREZ
PBS
RS
REFUGEES
RW
RP
RELFREE
RO
REGIONAL
RIGHTS
REACTION
REPORT
RU
RENAMO
RIGHTSPOLMIL
REFORM
RM
REFUGEE
REL
RELATIONS
ROW
RREL
REGION
RATIFICATION
RBI
RICE
ROOD
RODENAS
RUIZ
RODHAM
ROBERT
RGY
ROY
REUBEN
RELIGIOUS
RUEHZO
RODRIGUEZ
RUEUN
RELAM
RSP
RF
RSO
RCMP
REO
ROSS
RPTS
RENE
REID
RUPREL
RMA
RI
REMON
RPEL
RFE
RFIN
RA
RAFAEL
RAY
RUS
RPREL
ROBERTG
RECIN
RAMONTEIJELO
SNAR
SP
SN
SMIG
SL
SOCI
SU
SG
SF
SENV
SZ
SOE
SCUL
SY
SO
SR
SYR
SE
SA
SW
SIPDIS
SCIENCE
SADC
SI
SCI
SOCIETY
SC
SAARC
STR
SECRETARY
SANC
SSH
ST
SNA
SGWI
SEP
SOCIS
SETTLEMENTS
SPECIALIST
SK
SHUM
START
STET
SCVL
SREF
SCHUL
SCUIL
SYRIA
SECURITY
SPCE
SYAI
SMIL
SOWGC
STEPHEN
SNRV
SKCA
SENSITIVE
SECI
SNAP
SPP
SCUD
SOM
SPECI
SMIGBG
SENC
SCRM
SGNV
SECTOR
SENVEAGREAIDTBIOECONSOCIXR
SENVSXE
SASIAIN
SACU
SENVSPL
SWMN
STEINBERG
SOPN
SOCR
SCOI
SCRS
SILVASANDE
SWE
SARS
SNARIZ
SUDAN
SENVQGR
SM
SNARKTFN
SAAD
SD
SAN
SIPRNET
STATE
SENS
SUBJECT
SFNV
SECSTATE
SSA
SPCVIS
SOI
SOFA
SCULKPAOECONTU
SPTER
SKSAF
SENVKGHG
SHI
SEVN
SANR
SPSTATE
SMITH
SCOM
SH
SNARCS
SNARN
SIPRS
SNARM
SIPDI
SCPR
SNIG
SELAB
SULLIVAN
SENVENV
SECDEF
SOLIC
SOIC
SPAS
SASC
SOSI
SEC
SEN
SENVCASCEAIDID
TU
TH
TW
TSPA
TRGY
TPHY
TBIO
TIFA
TS
TZ
TX
TSPL
TT
TK
TC
TINT
TERFIN
TERRORISM
TIP
TURKEY
TI
TECHNOLOGY
TNGD
TRSY
TRAFFICKING
TOPEC
TPSL
TP
TD
TR
TA
TIO
TREATY
TO
THPY
TECH
TRADE
TPSA
TG
TAGS
TF
TRAD
THKSJA
TVBIO
TNDG
TN
TBIOZK
TWI
TV
TWL
TRT
TWRO
TSRY
TTPGOV
TAUSCHER
TRBY
TRBIO
TL
TPKO
TIA
TGRY
TSPAM
TREL
TNAR
TBI
TFIN
TPHYPA
TWCH
THOMMA
THOMAS
TERROR
TRY
TBID
TPP
TE
THANH
TJ
TBKIO
UNGA
USUN
UN
UG
UNSC
UK
UP
US
UNCTAD
UNVIE
UNHRC
USTR
UNAMA
UNCRIME
UNESCO
UV
UNDP
UNHCR
UNCSD
UNCHR
UZ
USAID
UNEP
UNO
UNPUOS
UY
UNDC
UNCITRAL
UNAUS
UNCND
UA
UNMIK
USTDA
USEU
USDA
UNICEF
UR
UNFICYP
USNC
USTRRP
UNODC
UNRWA
UNOMIG
USTRPS
USAU
USCC
UNEF
UNGAPL
UNFPA
UNSCE
USSC
UGA
UEU
UNMIC
UNTAC
UNION
UNCLASSIFIED
USPS
UNA
UMIK
USOAS
UNMOVIC
UNFA
UNAIDS
UNCHC
USGS
UNSE
UNRCR
UNTERR
USG
UE
UAE
UNWRA
UNCSW
UNSCR
UNCHS
UNDESCO
UNPAR
UNC
UB
UNSCS
UKXG
UNGACG
UNREST
UNHR
USPTO
UNFCYP
USCG
UNIDROIT
UNSCD
UPU
UNBRO
UNECE
USTRUWR
UNCC
UNESCOSCULPRELPHUMKPALCUIRXFVEKV
VM
VE
VT
VETTING
VN
VZ
VIS
VC
VTPREL
VIP
VTEAID
VTEG
VOA
VA
VTIZ
VANG
VISIT
VO
VENZ
VAT
VI
VEPREL
VEN
WFP
WTO
WHO
WTRO
WBG
WMO
WIPO
WA
WI
WSIS
WHA
WCL
WE
WMN
WEBZ
WS
WAR
WZ
WMD
WW
WILLIAM
WEET
WAEMU
WM
WWBG
WWT
WWARD
WITH
WMDT
WTRQ
WCO
WEU
WALTER
WRTO
WB
WHTI
WBEG
WCI
WEF
WAKI
WHOA
WGC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 08TOKYO2071, DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 07/29/08
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08TOKYO2071.
| Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08TOKYO2071 | 2008-07-29 08:01 | 2011-08-25 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Tokyo |
VZCZCXRO8298
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #2071/01 2110801
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 290801Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6144
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/USDOJ WASHDC PRIORITY
RULSDMK/USDOT WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5//
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA//
RHMFIUU/USFJ //J5/JO21//
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA
RUAYJAA/CTF 72
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 1451
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 9077
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 2807
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 7281
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 9660
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 4595
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0585
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0974
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 002071
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA;
WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION;
TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN,
DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA
FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR;
CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA.
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA
SUBJECT: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 07/29/08
INDEX:
(1) U.S. military off-base housing in Okinawa: Housing bubble has
burst due to saturation (Tokyo Shimbun)
(2) New "base" expanding in Chatan, Okinawa, with U.S. military
households accounting for a third of total population; Ward mayor:
"Sunabe may be taken over by U.S. military" (Tokyo Shimbun)
(3) "Noncombat" zone cannot be guaranteed: ISAF commander (Shinano
Mainichi Shimbun)
(4) ISAF: Reconstruction and destruction-Agony over contradiction
(Shinano Mainichi Shimbun)
(5) Shirakaba gas field: China intends to uphold initiative,
constraining Japan's stake below 33 PERCENT (Tokyo Shimbun)
(6) Has Prime Minister Fukuda changed his political method to a
"Koizumi style"? (Yomiuri)
ARTICLES:
(1) U.S. military off-base housing in Okinawa: Housing bubble has
burst due to saturation
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 24) (Abridged slightly)
July 29, 2008
By Natsuko Katayama
Off-base housing for U.S. service members in Okinawa is increasing
due to hefty housing allowances. It is also having a serious impact
on the local economy. Although off-base housing has resulted in a
booming economy as an unusually high-yield investment, there are
concerns that the housing bubble will burst.
Monthly military housing allowance amounting to 160,000-270,000 yen
The website of Ryusei Kensetsu in Ginowan carries this explanation:
"In Okinawa, there is rental housing for U.S. military personnel and
civilian employees. Although rent is high, the occupancy rate is
over 90 PERCENT ." The company's sales representative, Keisuke
Matsuo, 30, said: "Housing on hills overlooking beaches and oceans
within a 30-minute drive to the base is popular." Such housing is
concentrated in Yomitan, Chatan, Kadena, and other municipalities on
the western coast in the central part of Okinawa.
The U.S. military housing allowance ranges from approximately
160,000 yen to 270,000 yen a month. The amount is higher depending
on rank; the allowance doubles for double-income families. Matsuo
also noted: "Customers usually search for housing that costs their
entire housing allowance, so rents are more than twice those of
private-sector housing. Off-base housing has been drawing attention
over the last 20 years as an investment. The trend caught fire about
10 years ago. Rents are so high that one can pay off loans for the
building and the land in 15 to 20 years. In many cases, investors
are people who inherited land, civil servants, and base workers."
Some have become billionaires building one block of apartments after
another.
High yields attract investors
TOKYO 00002071 002 OF 010
President Yuji Yokoda, 41, of Joy Housing, a local realtor that
mostly handles housing for foreigners, established the company 10
years ago. Yokoda said: "People said that the yield was unreal, but
as I checked the matter, it turned out to be true." A variety of
companies began entering the market at around that time. President
Yokoda, too, expanded his business quickly. Today, 99 PERCENT of
the apartments and houses his company handles is housing for
foreigners.
In early years, housing for foreigners was built mostly by people
who inherited land or people who needed to rebuild their houses.
Building such housing has spread by word of mouth as a high-yield
investment, and all sorts of people have entered the market over the
last five years. Inquiries have come from outside Okinawa. Major
real estate companies in such places as Tokyo and Kanagawa
Prefecture have entered the market in recent years.
Yokoda took this view: "The market peaked five years ago. Housing
has sharply increased and the market has been saturated over the
last several years. Occupancy rates have dropped, and the banks have
begun hesitating to lend money."
Apart from housing in good locations, old apartments and houses
become unpopular. In five to ten years time, rents are lowered, and
the option of renting them to Japanese people is considered.
According to another person concerned, there have been cases in
which investors have filed suits against the construction companies
for building new housing with no tenants.
Old housing unpopular, vacancy feared
Yokoda also noted: "I don't know if the high housing allowances will
continue forever. Developers in the Kanto and Kansai regions have
been pushing ahead with large-scale projects to build condominiums
and other facilities. Once those projects are completed, demand and
supply and the economic balance in Okinawa will collapse. The
housing bubble has burst."
One-third of the households in Chatan's Sunabe district is housing
for foreigners. Some people have moved away after their neighborhood
became filled with foreigners. Masaharu Teruya, chairman of the
Chatan Assembly's Special Committee on Military Bases, who lives in
the district, expressed concern: "Many new buildings have been
built, leaving old houses unoccupied. This area might be filled with
empty houses."
Lower House member Mikio Shimoji pointed out: "The development of
off-base housing should not have been left to real estate companies.
The administration said there was nothing it could do, but it
granted construction authorization. I think they were able to take
measures of some sort, such as a city landscape ordinance and
regulations."
Teruya added: "Construction authorization must be granted when there
is no illegality. Enacting an ordinance takes time. Development
progressed in a short period of time. Something must be done so that
the residents will not be driven into a corner any further."
(2) New "base" expanding in Chatan, Okinawa, with U.S. military
households accounting for a third of total population; Ward mayor:
TOKYO 00002071 003 OF 010
"Sunabe may be taken over by U.S. military"
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 20) (Excerpts)
July 28, 2008
A U.S. Marine living off base was arrested this February for the
rape of a junior-high school girl in Okinawa Prefecture this
February. The incident resulted in a new focus on "off-base housing"
in the area where the soldier lived. In Sunabe-ku, Chatan-cho, which
is adjacent to Kadena Air Base, a number of luxurious homes have
been constructed for use by U.S. military personnel and their
families. U.S. military personnel now account for a third of all
households in the district. This situation is quite abnormal. A
local residence complained: "Instead of bases shrinking, a new
'base' is expanding here."
In Sunabe-ku, smart-looking houses of the same design line both
sides of the street. A new luxury condominium also has been built in
the back. "The rent of this house is 250,000 yen. That house goes
for 300,000 yen. All of these are for U.S. service personnel and
their dependents," Sunabe Ward Mayor Shouji Matsuda said. He stopped
in front of the condominium, saying: "The rent of a one-floor
apartment with an elevator per family is 430,000 yen."
With a deafening roar, U.S. military aircraft frequently buzz the
top of the condominium. Due to the noise, more than 200 local
families have already moved away. About 970 local families and about
500 U.S. military families live side by side in the area. The
construction of two large condominiums (that can accommodate 125
households) is now underway and scheduled for completion next month.
There is also a plan to build houses for 288 families next to the
condominiums. The U.S. military has given no explanation to the
local residents. Matsuda muttered with a sigh: "The site of the U.S.
military base accounts for 56 PERCENT of the total area of this
town. U.S. servicemen began to live off-base in 2000, and the number
of off-base personnel has sharply increased over the past several
years. If no measures are taken, the number of U.S. forces-related
personnel may exceed that of local residents, and Sunabe may be
taken over by the U.S. military."
There is a beautiful beach in front of the large condominium. The
beach and a park on the side of the condominium are crowded with
U.S. military families on weekends. Matsu quoted an old neighborhood
woman as saying: "Once the mammoth condominiums are built, the beach
will inevitably become like a private beach. Since so many people
connected to the U.S. military live here, we cannot allow our
children to go alone to the beach."
U.S. servicemen and their dependents have no obligation to register
as local residents. One local resident complained: "We don't know
what kind of persons are residing here."
There was one American soldier who frequently invited his friends
over and they all drank and made merry until very late at night.
Local residents collected signatures to call on the U.S. military to
take proper countermeasures. In May, the U.S. military apologized
and made the soldier move back to the base compound.
There are many cases of on-street parking by cars owned by U.S.
military personnel or their families; the traffic jam in the area is
also terrible. The town or prefectural roads are repaired with tax
money. Garbage from U.S. soldiers' households is collected by
TOKYO 00002071 004 OF 010
contracted collectors, but some military households dump their
garbage at collection points reserved for local residents. U.S.
soldiers are not required to pay either the residential tax or the
residents' association fee.
Subsidies equivalent to salaries paid
Triggered by the alleged rape of a junior-high school girl by a U.S.
Marine, the U.S. military has now revealed how many personnel are
living outside the bases and under which conditions U.S. military
members are allowed to live off base.
As of the end of March, 25 PERCENT of all U.S. forces personnel in
Japan, or 24,800 (about 2,900 more than that in the previous year),
were living off base. Half of them live in Okinawa Prefecture.
The village of Chatan hosts 3,223 U.S. military personnel, the
second largest military population following Yokosuka City in
Kanagawa Prefecture. Of these, 35 PERCENT live off-base.
A survey conducted this March by Chatan-cho found that the numbers
of rental apartment buildings and detached houses for foreigners
increased by 114 PERCENT and 130 PERCENT , respectively, compared
to several years ago.
A real estate agent specializing in housing for U.S. military
personnel or civilians working for the U.S. forces explained: "The
rent of a house covering a 20-30 tsubo area is 130,000-170,000 yen
for a single person. In the case of families, the average rent of a
house of more than 40 tsubo runs about 250,000 yen. There are some
who live in houses covering 50-60 tsubo. These prices are about two
times higher than the rental market values in Okinawa."
The question is who pays such high rents. A Japanese woman whose
husband is a U.S. soldier and lives in a 250,000 yen-a-month
detached home said: "We receive almost the same amount of a housing
subsidy as my husband's pay. I was surprised at the sum at first."
She added they also receive a little under 60,000 yen for utility
charges.
20 PERCENT of houses on bases left vacant
It was found out this March that Japan has constructed a total of
10,295 houses at U.S. military bases at a cost of approximately 546
billion yen (estimated amount). The funding was disbursed from the
so-called sympathy budget over a period of about 30 years. In the
case of a facility in Zushi City, Kanagawa Prefecture, in
particular, the construction cost per unit reportedly was 78 million
yen.
Construction costs for housing units in bases in Okinawa over a
period of five years starting in FY2002 totaled approximately 30.2
billion yen. A huge amount of tax money was spent on the
construction project, but as of this January, about 20 PERCENT of
the houses were still vacant.
Mayor Matsuda said: "Allowances for off-base U.S. soldiers might
also come from the sympathy budget." Many local residents have the
same suspicion.
An official of the Defense Ministry's public relations office said:
"We paid utility charges from 1992 until 2000, but we don't any
TOKYO 00002071 005 OF 010
more." An officer of the U.S. Force Japan Headquarters stated: "The
U.S. government pays housing allowances for its off-base personnel.
Rental fees are determined in accordance with Japanese rental market
values."
House of Councillors member Tokushin Yamauchi said:
"It is inconceivable that the U.S. military, which should be
practical, allows its personnel to live off-base at an enormous
cost, even though there are vacant houses on base. Regarding the
sympathy budget, we are informed only in rough terms. I suspect that
Japan has offered funds to the U.S. side without letting the people
know about it and that the U.S. has paid rental fees with the money
given to it, much like the secret treaty reached between Japan and
the U.S. when Okinawa was returned to Japan."
Chatan Mayor Masaharu Noguni emphasized:
"Since the ratio (of U.S. forces-related personnel to the
population) has been on a sharp rise, we are finding it difficult to
administer the area. Before allowing its personnel to live off-base,
the U.S. military should carry out strict screening. It also should
consider the resident registration and tax issues."
A 50-year-old woman who moved to an area in which many U.S. military
personnel live nine years ago grumbled: "In a short period of time,
my residence was surrounded by U.S. housing units. From my house, I
can no longer see the ocean." There was a case in which a cigarette
was flicked into her place from the condominium next door. In
another case, stones were thrown at her house. She complained: "I
thought I should not have a biased view (toward U.S. soldiers) ...
We are asked to conduct exchanges, but we can't after witnessing
such rude behavior."
(3) "Noncombat" zone cannot be guaranteed: ISAF commander
SHINANO MAINICHI SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full)
Eve., July 17, 2008
Kazuhiro Kimura, Kyodo
KABUL-U.S. Army Gen. McKiernan, who commands the International
Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, met the press,
including Kyodo News, in Kabul on July 16. The Japanese government
is looking into the feasibility of sending the Self-Defense Forces
to Afghanistan, but the ISAF commander remarked that he "cannot
guarantee that there is a place where we will not encounter the
enemy."
The Japanese government has been restricting the scope of the SDF's
overseas activities to what it calls "noncombat areas"-or zones
where no combat operations are being actually conducted and where no
combat operations are anticipated to be conducted throughout the
period of SDF activities carried out there. The ISAF commander's
remarks can be taken as noting that the idea of "noncombat areas" is
unrealistic in Afghanistan where ISAF troops are fighting Taliban
insurgents and where terrorist attacks are going on. His remarks
will likely affect discussions in Japan.
Germany and some other countries have been refusing to participate
in full-scale combat operations although they are ISAF members. With
these countries in mind, McKiernan criticized their stance, saying,
TOKYO 00002071 006 OF 010
"Restricted military contributions reduce our (ISAF's) superiority
over the enemy."
McKiernan also clarified his intention to welcome "any
contributions," including the SDF's dispatch. He exemplified such
activities as airlifting supplies, giving medical support, and
training policemen. "Instead of sending soldiers (to fight), I think
we can send ideas," he added.
He also noted that ISAF is fighting Taliban insurgents and other
militants near the Pakistani border in the eastern and southern
parts of Afghanistan. "Most areas are comparatively stabilized," he
said.
Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Wood met the press,
including Kyodo News, in Kabul on July 16 and revealed that he had
met with a fact-finding survey team sent from the Japanese
government in June and discussed specifics about candidate locations
and activities. However, he avoided referring to specifics about the
SDF's dispatch. "It is for the Japanese government to decide," he
said.
(4) ISAF: Reconstruction and destruction-Agony over contradiction
SHINANO MAINICHI SHIMBUN (Page 4) (Full)
July 23, 2008
Kazuhiro Kimura, Kyodo
ASADABAD and PULI KHUMRI-Japan has given up sending the Self-Defense
Forces to Afghanistan, where the International Security Assistance
Force, or ISAF for short, is now operating in full swing. Meanwhile,
ISAF is mopping up the Taliban, an antigovernment militia. In this
Afghan antiterrorist campaign, however, there are also an increasing
number of civilian casualties resulting from accidents, such as
mistaken bombings. ISAF is tasked with a contradictory set of jobs
called "reconstruction" and "destruction," and its soldiers agonize
over their duties as they constantly brush with death.
Asadabad is a small town in Afghanistan's northeastern province of
Konar. It is a mountainous region that is about eight kilometers
from the Pakistani border. "The international terrorist group Al
Qaeda is hiding in that mountain," said Konar Province's Governor
Walid, pointing to the steep mountain. Armed insurgents are hiding
in the border area, where U.S. troops under ISAF's command are
carrying out their mission.
In Konar, an 85-member provincial reconstruction team (PRT) is
assisting reconstruction, with more than 1,000 combat troops engaged
in military operations. They are separately based. Two days before
our visit there, nine American soldiers were killed in an attack.
The PRT base is armed with antiaircraft guns, and soldiers move on
armored vehicles with machineguns. They train their guns on all
passing vehicles-no smile on their faces.
They repair hospitals and schools and construct roads and bridges.
Their tasks are similar to what the Ground Self-Defense Force did in
the southern Iraqi city of Samawah to assist Iraq with its
nation-rebuilding efforts. PRT-assisted projects in Konar alone
total approximately 50 million dollars (about 5.3 billion yen). The
projects will estimatedly reach 100 million dollars within the year.
The Taliban regime has now collapsed, and Afghanistan has
TOKYO 00002071 007 OF 010
substantially improved its infrastructure. However, some local
residents are still backing the Taliban militants.
In Afghanistan, mop-up operations conducted by ISAF troops have
caused a large number of civilian casualties. One PRT official sent
from the U.S. government admitted that this has brought about a
local backlash. In the neighboring province of Nangarhar, a U.S.
military chopper recently raided a wedding hall, killing 47 people
including the bride. "The right hand (PRT) constructs buildings with
words of confidence and friendship, while the left hand (mistakenly
bombs and) destroys them," the official said. "But," he added with a
sigh, "combat operations are absolutely necessart."
We next visited Puli Khumri in the northern Afghan province of
Baghlan, where we were escorted by light-armed Hungarian soldiers
working on PRT projects and arrived at a local school that was under
repair. A group of local women wearing blue burqas was waiting there
with petitions in their hands. They asked the PRT for
infrastructure, including water and a power supply. "This year
alone," 1st Lt. Gabriel said, "we have received 842 petitions."
In Afghanistan, Konar Province was the most stable region. Hungary
made it a precondition for its troops to stay away from combat
operations for its activities there. Last November, however, a
suicide attack there killed 70 people, including local residents.
Since then, the local security situation has deteriorated.
Insurgents, according to Deputy Commander Sandor, "do not
differentiate PRT civilians from combat troops," The day before our
visit there, a soldier was killed in the blast of a roadside bomb.
The Hungarian base posted a photograph of another soldier who was
killed in June.
"If one more Hungarian soldier should die, that's the end of this
bullshit assistance. I want to let Afghans know that." With these
bitter words, one captain released his frustration.
ISAF integrated into antiterror war
Kazuhiro Kimura, Kyodo
BRUSSELS and KABUL-Members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO) are now sending reinforcements to the International Security
Assistance Force (ISAF) deployed in Afghanistan. Some NATO members
were reluctant to take part in combat operations there but have now
changed their minds. What lies behind that is strong pressure from
the United States calling that the price of participation in the
alliance. ISAF is tasked with maintaining public security in its
assistance to Afghanistan's reconstruction. Meanwhile, Operation
Enduring Freedom (OEF), a U.S.-led military campaign targeted at the
international terrorist group Al Qaeda, is also going on in that
country. The fusion of ISAF and OEF is also underway. ISAF's
assistance to Afghanistan and the U.S.-led war on terror are now
being mixed up.
Hungary made it a precondition for its ISAF participation to stay
away from combat operations, but it has now decided to send special
forces to the central province of Uruzgan. "While there are
countries sustaining a large number of casualties, there are
countries (like Germany) refusing to fight. This hurts the
alliance's solidarity." In response to this criticism from a
Brussels-based U.S. diplomatic source, Hungary made the decision.
TOKYO 00002071 008 OF 010
On Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists attacked America at its nerve centers.
The United States and Britain took it as an attack on the West as a
whole. However, Afghanistan is a long way off from Hungary as well.
Even so, a Hungarian military officer said: "We're a member of the
alliance, so we cannot refuse to get our hands dirty. It's an
appropriate burden (to send special forces)."
One commander of ISAF troops deployed in the eastern part of
Afghanistan serves concurrently as a commander of OEF troops. ISAF
carries out airstrikes to back up OEF troops as needed. Such
military mixing is now conducted on a routine basis.
In Iraq, public security is now improving. In response, the U.S.
government has indicated that it would further scale back on its
military presence in Iraq and would instead reinforce its troops in
Afghanistan. "Relations between ISAF and OEF are too complicated.
It's possible to simplify their chains of command." With this, U.S.
Ambassador to Afghanistan Wood implied that the United States
strongly wanted to adopt a unified chain of command.
(5) Shirakaba gas field: China intends to uphold initiative,
constraining Japan's stake below 33 PERCENT
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full)
July 24, 2008
Beijing, Takamasa Suzuki
Japan and China have recently agreed to jointly develop gas fields
in the East China Sea. In this connection, it was learned from
several sources connected to bilateral relations that China intends
to constrain Japan's stake in the development of the Shirakaba gas
field to below one-third of the total investment amount in order to
fully demonstrate it has the lead in developing that field. This is
likely to cause controversy in Japan.
According to the agreement reached in June, Japanese companies will
participate in the development of the Shirakaba gas field in the
form of investing in the project, and profits will be distributed
according the proportion of investment. The proportion of investment
by Japan is to be determined in future talks. An informed source
said that China had proposed that Japan's stake should be below 33.3
PERCENT . The Japanese side reportedly has not objected to the
proposal.
China National Offshore Oil Corporation and China Petroleum and
Chemical Corporation have been developing the Shirakaba gas field
jointly with international oil majors. However, those two Chinese
companies alone are now investing in the project.
A Chinese official told the Tokyo Shimbun, "If Japan's stake in the
project exceeds one-third of the total investment amount, it would
top the stake held by either of the two Chinese companies. This is
unacceptable"
Japan and China have agreed to jointly develop a gas field in an
area straddling the median line -- near the Asunaro gas field --
between the two countries as Japan had insisted. The two countries
will likely develop this gas field under a fifty-fifty partnership.
However, opposition is growing in China, with one source noting that
China has made too many concessions to Japan.
TOKYO 00002071 009 OF 010
China has clearly made a distinction between the Shirakaba gas field
and another gas field within the area straddling the median line.
Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei noted: "Japan will take part in the
development of the Chunxiao (Shirakaba) gas field, based on Chinese
law and with the acknowledgement that China has sovereignty over
that gas field." By stressing its sovereignty and control over the
Shirakaba gas field, China presumably wanted to send a message that
it had not given in to Japan,.
(6) Has Prime Minister Fukuda changed his political method to a
"Koizumi style"?
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full)
July 25, 2008
On the night of July 10, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lawmakers
were enjoying bowling at the bowling center in the Prince Park Tower
Tokyo, Shiba Park, Tokyo. They recently have been bowling together
almost every week.
Former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is a member of the LDP's
bowling team. He has recently become enthusiastic about the game.
Many participants are motivated to use this opportunity to find out
the views of Koizumi, who is regarded as a key mover and shaker in
today's political situation.
After enjoying bowling, Koizumi dined with LDP Lower House members
Yasuhiro Nakagawa, Kuniko Inoguchi, and Junichiro Sakurai, who are
all now serving their first terms in the Diet. Hidenao Nakagawa and
Tsutomu Takebe, former LDP secretaries general and also members of
the bowling team, joined them for dinner.
"I will be quiet until the election; I don't deliver campaign
speeches anymore," said Koizumi, although he had just given a speech
at a party to celebrate the publication of a book coauthored by
former Defense Minister Yuriko Koike, Lower House member Yukari Sato
and Inoguchi. He noted: "If you get support from these three
persons. Inoguchi, Koike and Sato, your campaigning will gather
momentum."
Koizumi has no intention to again assume the LDP presidency, even
though there have been calls on him to run again. He reportedly has
been trying to find a suitable candidate to carry out his structural
reform agenda.
During the dinner after bowling on July 10, Koizumi and Hidenao
Nakagawa had a long conversation. One participant felt that Koizumi
was trying to convince Nakagawa to keep his reform policy line,
which is being reviewed now in the government and ruling coalition.
Speculation, too, is that Koizumi is considering Koike as a possible
candidate to succeed Fukuda.
On July 3, as if to spur on the Fukuda government, Koizumi stressed
in a lecture:
"We politicians are now interested in three issues: Whether the
Prime Minister shuffles his cabinet soon; whether he dissolves the
House of Representatives; and whether the Lower House is dissolved
by Fukuda or other person. I never tell the Prime Minister what he
should do. I just tell him that I want him to make decisions, since
I will support any of his decisions, even those that are opposite to
my views."
TOKYO 00002071 010 OF 010
Whether Fukuda will accept Koizumi's direct advice is uncertain.
However, the view has gained ground that Fukuda's political method
of being a "coordinator" has now changed to Koizumi's top-down
style.
Last December, Fukuda made a political decision to provide blanket
relief to those who had contracted Hepatitis C. In March this year,
he announced a policy of abolishing the road tax revenue system. In
May, he ordered Japan to sign the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
He has made those decisions in the face of strong resistance in
relevant agencies and the LDP.
Fukuda reportedly decided on his own the phrase "Realization of a
Low Carbon Society" used in the Group of Eight (G-8) summit in
Hokkaido for measures against global warming. A senior Foreign
Ministry official revealed that the phrase had been made suddenly
without holding any meeting of four cabinet ministers. The framework
of the meeting was created by the former Abe government.
Has confrontation between the ruling and opposition camps under the
divided Diet, added to his low public support, caused a change in
Fukuda's political method?
Ichiji Totsuka, former secretary general of the LDP Gunma
prefectural chapter, who has supported Fukuda in his home
constituency of Gunma Prefecture, said:
"When someone who does a remarkable job as the number two person
assumes the number one slot, that person cannot handle the top job
properly. To hold on to his administration, Fukuda needs to show his
determination as number one and he also needs a number two man
(chief cabinet secretary) like himself. To that end, I would like
him to shuffle his cabinet."
SCHIEFFER