Dempsey tells U.S. troops in Japan: Avoid war by preparing for it

Such an idiotic nonsense! Diplomacy is the way! USA, why?

If you've never been in the military it's not something that you would easily understand. These young men and women train daily for one purpose, war. That's what they do, that's their job, they are there when diplomacy fails.

"Gutted the military"???? If it's too weak to fight now it's due to fighting two unneeded wars that dragged on forever. A few less handouts to contractors for unneeded weapons systems - that would be a good thing.. .

Bunch of good this does when the politicians screw it up and make these guys pay for their mistakes.

In all the years I was in the military I met few if any people that actually WANTED to go to war, sure we were trained to do it, and never flinched from our duty, but let's get real here General talk to the politicians the troops don't need to hear this the idiot leaders who start wars do!

Such an idiotic nonsense! Diplomacy is the way! USA, why?

This is not an American quote, it goes back to Roman times. It was said that Rome's only peaceful times were those when they were fully prepared for war.

The world is not a safe place, most of the world is ruled much as it aleays has been, by brute force. Human beings are territorial and aggressive, which are natural animal traits. People want things, and they often want things which other people have. Were it not for the threat of punishment, people (and nations) would steal from each other with little compunction.

Were it not for US forces in Japan and Korea, there would likely have been another war between North and South Korea by now, and possibly fighting between China and Taiwan. You might try to argue that threat military force does not stop wars, but that is false. The US military presence in Asia has likely saved more lives than you might imagine.

You can suck your thumb and pretend that all the world needs to do is "to give peace a chance", but there will always be those who will want what you or your country has. If you do not have the ability and will to defend what you have, you will not have it for very long.

By nature, the strongest and smartest thrive, and the weak fail. Those Darwinists out there cannot argue otherwise. The world now belongs to those who had the strength and the ability to take it. This will never change.

Only the dead have seen the end of war.

The object of battle is not to die for your country; It is to make the other poor dumb bastard die for his country. George S. Patton

Such an idiotic nonsense! Diplomacy is the way! USA, why?

It's as if you've never heard of deterrence.

In order to have a war you must build-up for it. The US has been doing this for quite some time (50%+ of yearly budget) and it seems the politicians in Japan want to start building up for a war also (paid thru inflation).

So be it Threaten no more To secure peace is... to prepare for WAR

Tony EwApr. 26, 2013 - 10:34AM JST @OssanAmericaApr. 26, 2013 - 08:02AM JST So you want to drag me into a useless conversation? You expect Dempsey to say otherwise on Japanese soil? >Your 'high standard' is fraying at the edge.

Just wanted you understand that your fantasies about the US and China siding together against Japan is total lunacy. I find the level of your recent arguments in order to support China'sd aggression in the face of world opinion to be what's "fraying at the edge".

Alex80APR. 26, 2013 - 08:09AM JST @Yubaru: diplomacy fails because politicians WANT the wars.

Politcians do not want wars. They want what many other people want; money and power. Diplomacy is not so different from war, and as much has been stolen through diplomacy as has been stolen in war. Ill-devised diplomacy has often ended in war, so diplomacy in itself is not necessarily a good thing. One only has to go back to the second world war to see a tragic example of the results of poorly devised and implemented diplomacy.

No form of diplomacy can be effective if it cannot or will not be backed up by force.

Throughout time immortal there have been peoples and nations who have put up walls and only wanted to be left alone and to live in peace. Inevitably there came an invading army to break down those walls and plunder all within just because they could. It is a noble concept to be able to get along as nations and a goal to strive for, but in the meantime you need to keep a vigilant watch on the wall and good men at your side, someone is planning to come to take your gold and your life, you can count on it as sure as winter is coming.

@OssanAmericaApr. 26, 2013 - 11:10AM JST

Tony EwApr. 26, 2013 - 10:34AM JST @OssanAmericaApr. 26, 2013 - 08:02AM JST So you want to drag me into a useless conversation? You expect Dempsey to say otherwise on Japanese soil? >Your 'high standard' is fraying at the edge.

Just wanted you understand that your fantasies about the US and China siding together against Japan is total lunacy. I find the level of your recent arguments in order to support China'sd aggression in the face of world opinion to be what's "fraying at the edge"

Your buddy Abe about to 'sell out ' Japan when he meet Putin soon. Why? Japan is so desperate to rebalance the power play in the region, I bet he will be willing to get half a loaf, two Kurile Islands, that's it and sign the gas deal. So you see politicians do things you cannot imagine. Enough said, I am not interested in your opinions about my 'fantasy ideas', my audience are other readers who care to step back and see the forest instead of just the trees.

America can continue to send in VP, Kerry, even POTUS to Japan, same old message, nothing new but again a little warning perhaps to Japan not to let loose her nationalists, no more cruising the disputed islands. It's getting expensive for Japan!

Such an idiotic nonsense! Diplomacy is the way! USA, why?

There are some people/countries in the world that have just one agenda. They want to make everyone think, act and pray just like they do. There are other people/countries that just want power and a don't give a damn about how they get there. Reality is such a bitch to comprehend!

“the best way to avoid war is to prepare for it.”

Didn't they mean a pre-emptive strike?

Nobody could say it better, Japan. Change the constitution, finance the military and defend Japan. If that doesn't happen, then expect another century of occupancy. But that might be a good idea - it keeps the economy going at USA taxpayers' tab.

@ben4short

Possibly maintaining peace in the region is simply an accidental by-product of their primary reason for being here: protecting US interests,

The United States is not perfect, the people tend to be a bit idealistic and arrogant at times. The United States is big and unwieldy to keep on track sometimes. As a Super Power it sometimes steamrolls its way to what it wants. But the day she gives the rest of the world the finger and takes her toys and goes home, is the day the word will be scrambling for the lifeboats and asking if Elvis has really left the building.

Avoid war by preparing for it

How long and how much resources required for preparation? Back in 1980s, Soviet Union got broke due to unlimited spending for preparation. It needs to beg for charity for surviving. It has been disintegrated. Although US is not bad like Soviet now, debt ceiling has to raise for every year. Will Japan foot the bill for necessay preparation?

Congress is getting sick of ever rising debt. Many unemployed Americans are depening on food vouchers. Homelessness and hunger is part of daily lives. Uncomfortable truth is US is too broke for preparing another war. Irag war alone has costed more than a billion per week. Mr Dempsey logic is out of touch with the reality.

Avoid war by cutting more and more of defense budget. Mr Demsey paycheck should be smaller too.

@Yubaru

Well said above. Sadly those who want war are very rarely those who have to fight.

@OssanAmericaApr. 26, 2013 - 08:02AM JST

"“Would we trade off our relationship with Japan in order to have a stronger relationship with China? The answer is no,” Dempsey said."

Wow. Did Toney Ew catch that?

So you want to drag me into a useless conversation? You expect Dempsey to say otherwise on Japanese soil? Your 'high standard' is fraying at the edge.

Wow,dude, the irony and naivete of your post is staggering. Even if one were to accept your premise that US forces in Asia have saved lives and prevented wars, can't you see that the sole reason for their presence is as you stated: "they want things which other people have?" Possibly maintaining peace in the region is simply an accidental by-product of their primary reason for being here: protecting US interests, which is code for post-war imperialism. Boy have you got your head twisted on backwards.

Indeed the Naivety of YOUR comments are typical of someone who has never set foot on any of these places. Another arm-chair warrior... You know it all, but you've never left your hometown.

Brilliant... Thank You!

" Dempsey also call on Bbeijing to be more transparent about cyberattacks and boost collaborate with US in tackling the common threat to their economies"

I wonder what sort of common threats to US and China economies meant in Dempsey's context.

No bickering please.

@Steve Fabricant

You said it well. Wish more people had your knowledge & perspective.

Dempsey went on to say that by increasing its surplus of hammers Japan will discover an commensurate increase in the amount of available nails.

Gen. Dempsey, funny guy, I wonder what it takes to be a general, ignorance is definitly a criteria.

"Avoid a war by preparing for it", "kill to protect" (Prince William).... simple mindedness. Amazing.

@Tony Ew

"Your buddy Abe about to 'sell out ' Japan when he meet Putin soon. Why? Japan is so desperate to rebalance the power play in the region, I bet he will be willing to get half a loaf, two Kurile Islands, that's it and sign the gas deal. So you see politicians do things you cannot imagine."

Japanese politician who has been taking big role on the island dispute (Mr. Mori) has been saying for a long time that Japan should settle for a half of territory. This has been ongoing debate before recent tensions around this region and this is not something that people cannot imagine. People are well aware of possibilities that Japan settling for a half.

You can imagine things as you like but stop commenting your imagination and stop commenting things that are not even relevant to topic.

Saketown

The point I want to make is for The U.S., Japan, and Taiwan to build a "Great Wall" of deterrence against Comminist China's aggressive ambition to takeover the Western Pacific

It may be your widest fantasy. Although Taiwan is sharing Japan with fishing rights, many Taiwanese are so disgusted about dumping Taipei treaty signed US as witness. In their view, US has betrayed their trust. US is always fair weather friend.

http://www.taiwandocuments.org/taipei01.htm http://www.taiwandocuments.org/taipei02.htm

During WWII, both Commies and Nationalist troops made temporary truce for kicking off imperialists from their shore. History may repeat again too.

Can you imagine what China would do to the Oceans around the Okinawan Shelf? Judging by what I've seen in China, I am Very Concerned.

I can imagine that China has been very patient about modernizing their blue water navy, aerospace and upgrading sub marine. Time is for their side. Demographically their population is younger. Their birth rate is higher. Their saving is astronomical. Okinawa may be independent after 10 or 15 yrs. Who knows?

We can't let that happen. We'd all end up breathing that Smog Ridden Air and Drinking Dead Pig Filth Water or eating Tuna laced with some mutated chemical from a Chinese Offshore Platform.

Uncomfortable truth is Japan is resource poor and having limited farm land. During the boom time, Japan can afford to export food and water from distant land. However it cost fortune. The point is China is not forcing Japan to buy their produce or products. For example rare earth! It control the 90% of supply. Whether Japan like it or not, it has to import something it can not produce locally.

Gawd, just the thought of that Countries Sick Ambitions make me nauseous.

No nation is clear or sick ambitions. Many right wing politicians still fond of revisiting the good old days of their forefathers. Bygone is bygone! Japan is the land of setting Sun. No longer the land of rising Sun.

BTW: Thanks for the NPP nod...so when do I get my Bronze Medal and 1 Million Dollar Paycheck in the mail?

If it is true, I will quit my day job for posting mail here. In my lifetime, I have never made that amount of bucks.

Correction to second last paragraph first sentence as

No nation is clever for sick ambitions as Japan.

@Yubaru: diplomacy fails because politicians WANT the wars.

@ Riffraff

I like your George Patten's comment. Very befitting for a Super power in the Asian Region.

@SaketownApr. 26, 2013 - 10:31PM JST

Yep. We gotta be ready to defend The Senkaku's in the event of a Communist Takeover of the Western Pacific.

Japan is 100% worth Defending Militarily if needed and I am glad General Dempsey put "The Perspective" right in front of China's "Selected" (instead of "Elected") President Xi that if Xi and The Communist Party of Power tries to take over The Western Pacific (as laid out in Xi's vision) then he will certainly have to go through The U.S. Armed Forces (The Greatest Military in the World) in order to achieve that vision.

And we will not allow that to happen.

Bravo Zulu to General Dempsey and our Armed Forces in Asia who put their lives on the line Every Day for Feedom and Democracy.

Do you notice Saketown? Even while China is posturing, complaining about the upcoming exercise, THAT IS UNDERSTANDABLE. But do you notice the Chinese are laughing behind your back? They are making Japan and US bleed financially. It cost mucho money to conduct live drills. Just be careful don't get any Japanese caught in a 'friendly fire' incident. US personnel can easily mistaken one Oriental from another! Meanwhile China do it on the cheap, sending maritime surveillance ships to the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, actually penetrating the 12 mile zone (must be painful to watch) and cruise around more to taunt the Japanese Coast Guards. Very cheap and effective strategy to LEAN on Japan without firing a shot. See, China is very peaceful, art of war, no bullets fly.

So you see there is NOTHING Japan can do except to continue to bleed money with more joint exercise with US. What's next? Have joint drill off Tokyo Bay? Don't do that or a surprise PRC sub may just surface for sight seeing!

@Tony Ew

Bro, haven't you been thought that a Nations Monetary Value is based its National Defense Capabilities?

Why do think do think 3rd World Countries are racing to go Nuke Capable?

They want to get a foothold in the World Markets, plus a "Nice Warm Chair" at the U.N Security Council.

Nukes = Power = Money. That's how it rolls Man.

Besides, Money is no object to America when it comes to roll'en out "The Big Guns".

What would the US economy do without all these wars?

Wow,dude, the irony and naivete of your post is staggering. Even if one were to accept your premise that US forces in Asia have saved lives and prevented wars, can't you see that the sole reason for their presence is as you stated: "they want things which other people have?" Possibly maintaining peace in the region is simply an accidental by-product of their primary reason for being here: protecting US interests, which is code for post-war imperialism. Boy have you got your head twisted on backwards.

Pax Romana, Pax Britannica, Pax Americana

There's nothing wrong with one power dominating. Major wars only tend to occur when the balance of power shifts (see WWI, WW2)

@ Tony Ew

Oh don't worry, we'll keep Kiddo Kim under control. I'm more concerned about that spider in my bathroom than Kim Jong Un.

The point I want to make is for The U.S., Japan, and Taiwan to build a "Great Wall" of deterrence against Comminist China's aggressive ambition to takeover the Western Pacific and destroy the Oceans Environment in the process as they have already done to their own country.

Can you imagine what China would do to the Oceans around the Okinawan Shelf? Judging by what I've seen in China, I am Very Concerned.

We can't let that happen. We'd all end up breathing that Smog Ridden Air and Drinking Dead Pig Filth Water or eating Tuna laced with some mutated chemical from a Chinese Offshore Platform.

Gawd, just the thought of that Countries Sick Ambitions make me nauseous.

BTW: Thanks for the NPP nod...so when do I get my Bronze Medal and 1 Million Dollar Paycheck in the mail?

It beats me why we guys over here have to spend astronomical amounts of money and train up thousands of potential killers to defend ourselves from the guys over there who are spending astronomical amounts of money and training up thousands of potential killers to defend themselves from us.

It doesn't make sense.

Yep. We gotta be ready to defend The Senkaku's in the event of a Communist Takeover of the Western Pacific.

Japan is 100% worth Defending Militarily if needed and I am glad General Dempsey put "The Perspective" right in front of China's "Selected" (instead of "Elected") President Xi that if Xi and The Communist Party of Power tries to take over The Western Pacific (as laid out in Xi's vision) then he will certainly have to go through The U.S. Armed Forces (The Greatest Military in the World) in order to achieve that vision.

And we will not allow that to happen.

Bravo Zulu to General Dempsey and our Armed Forces in Asia who put their lives on the line Every Day for Feedom and Democracy.

"“Would we trade off our relationship with Japan in order to have a stronger relationship with China? The answer is no,” Dempsey said."

Wow. Did Toney Ew catch that?

@Chin4Sailor

Indeed the Naivety of YOUR comments are typical of someone who has never set foot on any of these places. Another arm-chair warrior... You know it all, but you've never left your hometown.

Brilliant... Thank You!

Thank YOU, Chin, for your astute biography of me. Fact is I've been living in Asia for 35 years, mostly Japan but several years in Korea and Taiwan.

Besides, the more important question is what is the connection between where one lives and his knowledge/insight into US foreign policy? To think that the US' 160-odd foreign bases are the result of American altruism and goodwill is the epitome of naivete, dude.

@sangetsu03

People want things, and they often want things which other people have. Were it not for the threat of punishment, people (and nations) would steal from each other with little compunction.

Were it not for US forces in Japan and Korea, there would likely have been another war between North and South Korea by now, and possibly fighting between China and Taiwan. . . The US military presence in Asia has likely saved more lives than you might imagine.

Wow,dude, the irony and naivete of your post is staggering. Even if one were to accept your premise that US forces in Asia have saved lives and prevented wars, can't you see that the sole reason for their presence is as you stated: "they want things which other people have?" Possibly maintaining peace in the region is simply an accidental by-product of their primary reason for being here: protecting US interests, which is code for post-war imperialism. Boy have you got your head twisted on backwards.

“the best way to avoid war is to prepare for it.”

Such an idiotic nonsense! Diplomacy is the way! USA, why?

Then we are in trouble, obama has gutted the US Military.