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Japan deploys defenses for N Korean rocket launch

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Since Obama took office it's been apparent that China and Russia have tested us. And now the worst of the lot NKorea (together with their Iranian buddies). Reading what the Japanese are doing, albeit most likely simply a "precaution" and not necessary, I think now that if Bush were still in office we'd be hearing of a squadron of B2s being brought into Kadena about now to let the Norks know that if one thing goes wrong with their launch which the whole world has told them not to do, there could concievably be hell to pay. I'm really concerned that our policy has actually gotten "soft".

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OssanAmerica - "One thing goes wrong" meaning the launch is unsuccessful and lands in the ocean, too?

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I will repeat what I posted before - unless the DPRK can show that Japan approved of this launch over their territory, the DPRK is in violation of Japan's territorial integrity. The launch endangers life and property if the rocket malfunctions, and DPRK has no intention of guaranteeing safety. However, Japan does have the option to make sure it does what it can to prevent damage and to show to the world community that the DPRK will go ahead launching over Japan, while at the same time, would consider the same act to be an act of war if someone did the same thing to them. The appropriate course of action would be to have another country, like a member of the 6way talks, w/ an established track record send the satellite into orbit for the DPRK. This behavior leads to a poor reputation and many countries would be wary to trust such behavior especially when DPRK will not tolerate it themselves. It is a path that leads to nowhere.

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On a personal note, there are many jerks in this world, but we don't need any in the Asia Pacific region - we are all progressing to a better situation. DPRK can stay the way they are, but we will not.

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Correction:

I will repeat what I posted before - unless the DPRK can show that Japan approved of this launch over their territory, the DPRK is in violation of Japan's territorial integrity. The launch endangers life and property if the rocket malfunctions, and DPRK has no intention of guaranteeing safety. However, Japan does have the option to make sure it does what it can to prevent damage and to show to the world community that the DPRK will go ahead launching over Japan, while at the same time, would consider the same act to be an act of war if someone did the same thing to them. This behavior leads to a poor reputation and many countries would be wary to trust such behavior especially when DPRK will not tolerate it themselves. It is a path that leads to nowhere.

The appropriate course of action would be to have another country, like a member of the 6way talks, w/ an established track record send the satellite into orbit for the DPRK.

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It would be really bad if the missile crashed into Rokkasho mura (Japan's refined nuclear waste containment facility is located there). Aside from Kim being a maniac who starves his people, I love the glasses. NK wont attack Japan because of the pachinko money that goes by boat from Japan to NK. I read somewhere it is close to half of their GNP. NK attacks and then Japan remembers (conveniently) that gambling is illegal. The boats stop taking money to NK. People think that China is keeping NK in check. Japan has Kim right where they want him. His brinksmanship is impotent at best. Kim presents a much larger threat to his own countrymen. And the boat that takes the money to NK also brought the electronics for the taepodongs from Akihabara. Ooops, guess they should have thought of that one. I remember the last one they put up and nothing of consequence was done to address it. Nothing will be done this time either because it will have no positive effect. There is no way to have a productive conversation with Kim. Japan must protect itself in case of malfunction and duck for cover.

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And btw,OssanAmerica, B2's fly from Whiteman AFB. They leave from there in the dark and fly to the target and return to Whiteman every mission. They never land anywhere but Whiteman. Recently I heard of a "satelite base" where they operate out of discretely (probably Germany). All strategic bombers for Pacaf fly out of Guam. Kadena or Misawa is to close to the baddies to fly heavies out of. Any preperations in Japan by the US military would predominately be by the Navy. The Air Force would continue their mission in country the same as usual ( Air superiority/intercept/Airlift=>tactical and logistics, but not strategic assets). Just a little perspective on the military mission and how it manifests in Japan.

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