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Ready for rocket launch

50 Comments

Self-Defense Force personnel set up a PAC-3 Patriot missile unit at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on Saturday, in preparation for North Korea's rocket launch, expected to take place sometime between April 12-16.

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50 Comments
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Sakura and missiles: a sad contrast.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

Wow, for some reason I didn't think they would actually deploy these in a downtown area - somewhere more discreet is where I imagined them to be.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Get that military sh!t out of the way!

I can't see the cherry blossoms at all!

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Exhibition of Japan's Wasted Wealth !

1 ( +5 / -4 )

lol so weird how openly theyd put those there on the ground, id thought theyd pull those on top of a tall business building or something where there would be more limited access =/

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

'Wasted' with China and North Korea next door??

0 ( +4 / -4 )

What's wrong with where they placed them? If I lived there it would make me feel safer. Plus, I'm sure part of having them deployed so openly is to let the people know the gov't is trying to do something about the threat.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Hanabi in April.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

sensei258Apr. 08, 2012 - 08:21AM JST What's wrong with where they placed them? If I lived there it would make me feel safer. Plus, I'm sure part of having them deployed so openly is to let the people know the gov't is trying to do something about the threat.

lol just thought it would be more strategic to place them on high ground...granted i wasnt aware tokyo was under inpending attactk by something that requires patriots.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

A PAC-3 missile is much like a cherry blossom petal in the way how it gives off quite a spectacle in its brief life while exposed in full view.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Did they manage to get them situated this time without any incidents? If I recall correctly, a couple of years back when they deployed them, one of the transport trucks hit a lamp-post or something. Sad that folks in Japan have to be concerned because NK is so irrational.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Wow, for some reason I didn't think they would actually deploy these in a downtown area - somewhere more discreet >is where I imagined them to be.

They are located on the grounds of the defense ministry, not exactly a place one can just stroll around.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

This is all show to justify the hundreds of millions spent on all these useless toys.

The money would have been better spent on the young, elderly and otherwise needy.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Need to cover them with pink camouflage.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

And yet last week the government was telling the public not to panic. I am sure the kids in that neighbourhood are wondering what the heck is going on. And the mistrust and lies continues for another generation. Pathetic. Just pathetic.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

They are obviously more for show. It's debatable if they could actually hit them.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

If I lived there it would make me feel safer.

You might change your mind if one malfunctioned and slammed into your apartment building.

Plus, things like that tend to be targets if a war comes.

I tend to feel safer where there ARENT any weapons around. Best to keep them way, away from civilians to prevent a civilian city being labeled as a military target and also to prevent civilians getting hurt when there is an accident.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Pity missiles can't defend the Japanese against radiation.....

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Madam Dewi Sukarno is a very interesting woman. She says Japan is just making a fuss of it at the instigation of its master. It's a showcase to display PAC-3 fifth wheel that costs 1 trillion yen even with Aegis destroyer put to sea as if we were under real threat of attack from North Korea. Meanwhile the U.S. is demanding 150% increase of USMC transfer cost to be born by Japan.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

id thought theyd pull those on top of a tall business building or something

Exactly how would you get something that heavy on top of a tall business buiding?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Seiharinokaze

If your at all concerned with credibility you probably shouldn't be quoting a has-been socialite who doesn't live on the same plain of reality as the rest of us. Perhaps on a thread on worthless tarentos or the geinokai but certainly not one on national defense.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I feel so much safer.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

China won't stop or restrain N Korea from firing a rocket/missiles into space! So by allowing that to happen,the Chinese are using N Korea to poke at the Japanese and to display anti-Japan feelings by firing one into the sky since. N Korea and China has an alliance to counter USA-Japan-S Korea alliance!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

They are empty, no fuel, just a show. They will not be fired, just as many have predicted.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Peacocking is all it is. Show your feathers and pretend to be dominate. We all know the truth though, don't we?

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

sensei: "If I lived there it would make me feel safer."

You'd feel safer with rocket launchers in your backyard put there JUST for show when the NK rocket is not even going to fly nearby? As I said, this is simply for show. The powers that be want to try and show that Japan is still a military force, which it is not.

I think this is quite sad, really, and certainly nothing to be proud of.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

And wasn't the government JUST telling everyone to remain calm? Then why the paranoia and deployment of these things?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

USNinJapan2,

I hate to offend you, really. But I rather tend to listen to some has-been socialite, bitch or court fool if I'm at all concerned with credibility (or how to tell it from plausibility) particularly when everyone else says the same thing in chorus with his/her shoulders squared. Don't you remember Iraq?

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

you probably shouldn't be quoting a has-been socialite who doesn't live on the same plain of reality as the rest of us.

That old mistake gets very tiring on this board. It makes no difference who said it. It matters what was said. I despise the dried up old battle-ax, but if that is what she said, she was right and I agree with her.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

MustardKing

It's not ad hominem if both the individual and the statement s/he makes are irrational.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Seiharinokaze

So you honestly believe DPRK, who the world/UN believes has a viable nuclear weapons program and is openly in pursuit of a long-range ballistic missile delivery system, when they claim that they are attempting to launch a civilian satellite into orbit despite the fact that, they have conducted three previous alleged satellite launches none of which resulted in any satellites in orbit? And you believe that this shouldn't concern Japan who happens to be less than two short minutes away from DPRK by rocket/missile and also that any concern by the GOJ is all just a show in order to justify their defense budget so the US can make a sale?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

US, YOUR country has all of the above. Why does your country get to tell others what they can and can't have - more so when you have the things your country tells others they can't have? If you don't want NK to have nukes, how about convincing YOUR country to get rid of theirs? Do as I say, not as I do never works. Why some countries and their public haven't learned this yet is beyond me.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Guza!, I guess this is mainly to show the N Korea "we are well ready here, dare something!".

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Got to be a lot of nonsence and negative publicity of warui n koreans as if they didn't warn of a launch these patriot missiles wouldn't have been deployed. So the 'enemy' has to warn of an attack first now also hahhaha load of bollocks

0 ( +1 / -1 )

All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.

Now we just need to figure out who is evil?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

tmarie

You clearly don't get it but the international community, the UN, most other responsible nations, etc. don't want the DPRK or a host of other unstable and rogue nations to be any more armed than they already are. Limiting global proliferation is the more realistic goal (in contrast to the unrealistic goal of a world totally free of nuclear weapons, i.e. putting the genie back in the bottle) towards which most first world nations are striving. Which would you rather have? A world in which NPT nations like the US, Russia, China, France, Britain, etc. have nuclear weapons but don't use or threaten to use them or a world in which we discard the "Do as I say, not as I do" approach and allow nations like the DPRK, and Iran to develop and build whatever they want? In the light of the fact that we don't live in a perfect world, I would chose the former.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

MustardKing

The very idea that a public display of unnecessary military SDF hardware downtown would somehow contribute to the Japanese public being more accepting of their government's military acquisitions from US companies is indeed irrational. If anything it would have the opposite effect and galvanize existing anti-SDF sentiments. To think, as Sukarno evidently does, that this entire rocket/missile launch crises, which happens to be taken very seriously not only by the US and Japan but also by the UN, South Korea, and even China, is nothing more than a red herring to promote the international defense industry is just as absurd.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

If the missiles were useful they wouldn't need to be told when the enemy was going to be firing in our direction now would they. To the enemy oh just wait a minute I have to read the manual? How much did us charge oh we'll they need the money don't they ....

0 ( +2 / -2 )

When you are staring down the barrel of a gun it is NOT prudent to think "Oh, it's not loaded" or " he wouldn't dare shoot me". Take all precautions necessary to protect yourself and your family. Period.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

You clearly don't get it but the international community, You roll this out for anyone that you don't agree with or points out faults about your country. It seems that the US doesn't "get the international community" because it is one of the most hated nations in the world - who has nukes, many of them. "Do as I say, not as I do...."

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Whatever it takes to divert the attention away from the growing nuclear problems hey

0 ( +0 / -0 )

tmarie

Your personal feelings regarding the US aside, you need to realize and accept the reality the US is a very significant chunk of the 'international community' particularly in influence. Fortunately, the international community, at least the governments, don't share your extreme view of the US and our role on the global stage. I don't suppose you have any rational reply to my post above regarding your "do as I say, not as I do" rant?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

The main reason for the launch is politics. Its a boost for the new Dear Leader, a flex of his might and power. They are not going to launch a satellite aiming south. But they don't have to. Just like they did not have to launch a satellite last time. They just tell the miseducated North Korean people they did it. But footage of actually launching a rocket helps with the charade.

The main reason for the reaction, this PAC-3 junk, is also politcs. Its trying real hard to justify all the money thrown in the crapper on it. And it may lead to more purchases, making all those theiving bastard military contractors happy. Viktor Bout has nothing on those evil arms dealers that is for sure. Plus its an attempt to take Japanese minds off the nuke crisis here at home. Privately they must be thanking Kim.

So this freak show is a win for NK, a win for corrupt Japanese politicians, and another lose for decent peace loving people everywhere.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Funny how mine is a rant when you roll yours out much more than I do.

Your personal feelings regarding the US aside, you need to realize and accept the reality the US is a very significant chunk of the 'international community' particularly in influence. I don't actually think you know my "personal feelings" regarding the US. You might have a clue on how I feel about Japan reacting to the NK "threat" though based on a few threads.

You need to realise, and so does your country, that you aren't as significant as you think - which is why people wish you would stop sticking your nose in things that aren't your business. This isn't "your" business. It is NK's and they have a "right" to test rockets if they want to. If other nations are allowed to do it, why not NK? Again, "Do as I say..." Until people actually understand this, there will be issues with world security.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

USNinJapan2,

If the rocket launch violates United Nations sanctions aimed at curbing North Korea's missile program, we may well take a more restrained attitude without slanting to sensationalism. Righteous indignation is often misleading and cumbersome, though pehrpas productive to some people. The places where the parts of the three-stage rocket may splashdown are outside the territorial waters of Japan. And the point the ascent of the rocket will end is up in the space beyond Philippines. With their experience of two or three rocket launches in the past, they may at least have the technology to send a rocket into the intended direction. Even if the third stage doesn't go into orbit, it will burn itself out as it enters the atmosphere. Debris may fall down, but when the satellites of Russia and Germany had done their term of service and were expected to drop to the earth a few months ago, did any country deploy missile batteries here and there and set up a PAC-3 Patriot missile unit and dispatch three Aegis destroyers?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Viktor Bout has nothing on those evil arms dealers that is for sure.

More on Viktor Bout. It's quite obvious that what has happened to Mr. Bout weighs heavily on your mind. So why not go and really try and do something to help him?

Or if that is indeed hopeless then go after those "thriving bastard military arms contractors" instead.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

what an irony. you have one of the nicest thing created by nature in the background and one of the ugliest machine (in terms of it's (mis)use made by human

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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