picture of the day

Visiting the troops

14 Comments

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, right, is welcomed by a Japanese soldier, left, during his visit to a Self-Defense Forces camp in Djibouti on Tuesday. Abe had lunch with the troops who are helping to fight piracy off Somalia. Abe is on a four-nation tour of the region which includes visits to Bahrain, Kuwait, Djibouti and Qatar.

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14 Comments
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By what stretch of the imagination is an SDF contingent defending Japan in Djibouti?

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

The SDF team is taking part in anti-piracy operations off Somalia.

lol....Japan probably has just that one armoured vehicle and that one soldier in the entire region!

-4 ( +8 / -11 )

bilduhberg, my wife's cousin living in Hokkaido is married to a man belonging to the SDF. He came back a few months ago after being stationed in South Sudan. I don't see what's "LOL" about this picture that you obviously know nothing about.

0 ( +8 / -8 )

Not very tactical having that giant white and red bullseye on the side of your camoflauged tactical vehicle! No weapon mounted on that turret either, wonder if they launch tako yaki balls from a slingshot at the pirates. I jest, I jest!

6 ( +10 / -4 )

International self-defence forces are respected for their sterling work as blue berets all over the world, in stark contrast to Globocop.

How many ground vehicles do you need to police marine piracy?

0 ( +3 / -3 )

The SDF team is taking part in anti-piracy operations off Somalia.

This is an admirable cause and excellent use of the JSDF. The problem of piracy off the coast of Somalia is a huge one that is often forgetten about.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

At least Abe is wearing a suit. I'm tired of politicians changing their dress on military visits. Which is worse, George Bush wearing fatigues, even though he spent most of his early life trying to avoid military service, or Tony Blair in his 'casual' outfit, trying to show that he's not one of those politicians who doesn't know what it's like to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

So much SDF in the news, you would think there was an agenda from the mass media

0 ( +4 / -4 )

So much SDF in the news, you would think there was an agenda from the mass media

It is standard journalistic practice to cover the daily activities of the prime minister, so you'll have to blame Mr. Abe for that.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Is the pattern on his uniform meant to camoflauge him from the pavement? And, sorry, but the Hinomaru is nothing but a giant target.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Troops???? I only see a single guy, and two bodyguards

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

looks like centuries old armoured vehicle (!)

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Centuries old? 'Fraid not. It's a completely new Japanese armoured vehicle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komatsu_LAV

The JSDF are among the best equipped forces in the world today.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

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