politics

Pompeo cuts short Asia visit to just Japan after Trump hospitalized

36 Comments
By Patrick Semansky

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36 Comments
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Americans have such a weird obsession with their flag. With the current mess of affairs in America I wouldn’t want to show off that I was from there.

Spoken like a Democrat.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If something happens U.S. Soldiers in Okinawa paid by Japan will fly in to help South Korea like they did in the last Korean War. Nice!

Fathom trying to defend Japan if all of the Koran peninsula were communist and allied with PRC. If you can imagine the problems that presents for the defense of Japan then you start to understand why the US forces in Japan will rush to defend South Korea from a North Korean attack, and why Japanese need the US troops to do so. As obnoxious as South Korean governments can be they are not a direct threat to Japanese territorial sovereignty. China and North Korea however are. They would gleefully bombard Japan and invade it and kill as many Japanese as they could given the opportunity. Keeping South Korea out of communist hands is very much in the interests of Japan.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"Pompeo had originally been scheduled to visit Ulan Bator..."

That trip does not "make sense" now, on "an hour-by-hour basis" or any other basis, in light of current developments, does it...?

Actually it makes huge sense. The CCP is now banning the teaching of several subjects formerly taught in the Mongolian language in Inner Mongolia. Instead they are requiring instruction in Mandarin. Parents have removed their children from schools, held protests and there have been an uncertain but possibly large number of parents arrested. Who knows where the children of the arrested parents are. It is becoming a very big deal in Mongolia and it makes huge sense to have the US Secretary of State visit Mongolia and speak to their leadership in person, in private. I would argue it was a critical visit.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Americans have such a weird obsession with their flag. With the current mess of affairs in America I wouldn’t want to show off that I was from there.

Only insecure types, though.

Most patriotic types don't need to fetishize the flag.

And most Americans one meets here, abroad (or even in the US) are of sound mind.

Online is another matter, however.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Is his visit needed???.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Mike Pompeo, former Director of the CIA. Gonna trust that guy?

4 ( +6 / -2 )

The Land of the Free has never been the Land Without Laws

Laws are (should be) there to protect the freedoms of the people, not to protect the feelings of fetishists. What real difference does it make to anyone else, materially, if a person wants to wear star-spangled briefs, or to relax in the comfort of their own home on flag-embroidered cushions?

Public displays of flag-hugging political promiscuity are much more offensive.

Actually a better word than offensive would be pathetic.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Americans have such a weird obsession with their flag. With the current mess of affairs in America I wouldn’t want to show off that I was from there.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Pompeo and his wife have been hard at work for the last two years holding illegal political dinners at the State Department to wine and dine Republican high dollar contributors and campaign finance bundlers to prep for a run at the presidency after in 2024.

The IG was fired for investigating this illegal action.

He'll be just another tyrant who thinks he can operate by fiat. Don't trust him as far as you can throw him.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Trump has a chronic case of the virus, and thing can get only worse, if he not out of the hospital in a few days,his condition is probably more critical than we are being told, these doctors probably has not even treated a coronavirus patient

6 ( +6 / -0 )

The Land of the Free, with a whole page of rules for what you can or cannot do to a bit of coloured cloth.

Thanks for the link cleo, I thought it was a wind-up upon initial reading such is absurdity of it. This was my favourite;

It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs

The grannies of America should be made aware of this before they incur the wrath of the swivel-eyed right wingers.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

ReasonandWisdomNippon said "While Japan is becoming the Fool of East Asia. Always willing to pay, always willing to apologies to the Korean!"

Actually, the Japanese govt is a fool, not Japanese people. Abe proposed quad, hyped the threat from neighbors, and asked for the protection, then he has to pay for it. There is no free lunch. He begged the others to die for him, he is dreaming. Will he die for others ?

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Stand Fast and Stand near !

Hold Tight and hold Strong !

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

As for the mask, see section d, below. It is reprehensible for supposedly patriotic individuals to treat our flag this way.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/4/8

wearing a mask like that in the USA will get you beat up or killed 

The Land of the Free, with a whole page of rules for what you can or cannot do to a bit of coloured cloth.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Pompeo still coming to Japan.

The one Nation stupid enough to keep paying more and more.

Will S. Korea pay its fair share? Nope.

For decades Japan has been paying Billions and Billions, more and more compared to SKorea, we have paid 20x more since the 70s. When SKorea used the excuse of being Poor Nation.

WHAT'S your excuse and reason now Rich South Korea? Apparently Japan should pay more to defend South Korea as well.

If something happens U.S. Soldiers in Okinawa paid by Japan will fly in to help South Korea like they did in the last Korean War. Nice!

S. Korea is an Expert at diplomacy....

While Japan is becoming the Fool of East Asia. Always willing to pay, always willing to apologies to the Korean!

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

bass4funk:

I got a mask just like that one, so cool.

A mask like THAT? You might as well write COVID on your forehead too.

People in Asia must be rejoicing. I don't think any Asian countries like that man.

Oh, that’s not true, a lot of people do.

Yeah, some like that man. They want him to be president again, especially the Russians and Chinese, if you know what I mean.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

The QUAD nations - US, Japan, Australia and India - are the big democracies and security eyes and ears of Asia. They can all be trusted to push back militarily against expansionist Communist China - and this is looking likely to be in 2021 when Covid is hopefully over. South Korea is simply too close to PRC to be considered for QUAD. They cannot be trusted.

Personally, I think Taiwan should be a member of QUAD. This was a bad oversight by the current members.

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

Any agreements made now would be worthless. The meetings should be done under more stable conditions. If he is still in his position, he would accomplish more when the timing is better.

Exactly! To add on, it’s just a waste of tax payers money hosting such meets as well as cost for the other country delegates while coming here! These people just want to travel, wine and dine, stay in 5 star hotels as it’s all free for them while the output from most of these meetings are very unproductive or nil !

3 ( +7 / -4 )

Pompeo is yet another Trump thug who will thankfully be unemployed next month. Maybe he can get a job as a bouncer at Hooters

12 ( +19 / -7 )

The Quad meeting is important, though Pompeo might not be taken too seriously. He’s achieved nothing and is unlikely to do so in his term.

He’ll be gone in 3 months.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

I got a mask just like that one, so cool.

Is it framed on the wall?

13 ( +15 / -2 )

People in Asia must be rejoicing. I don't think any Asian countries like that man.

Oh, that’s not true, a lot of people do. Yeah, many think he’s pushy, but a lot like that, a strong leader.

-12 ( +7 / -19 )

People in Asia must be rejoicing. I don't think any Asian countries like that man.

11 ( +18 / -7 )

I got a mask just like that one, so cool.

-19 ( +4 / -23 )

He might be infected. DENY THAT MAN ENTRY.

9 ( +14 / -5 )

"Pompeo had originally been scheduled to visit Ulan Bator..."

That trip does not "make sense" now, on "an hour-by-hour basis" or any other basis, in light of current developments, does it...?

6 ( +8 / -2 )

The Quad is far more important than visits to Mongolia and South Korea. But since the Quad Meet is in Japan, watch South Korea get bent out of shape.

The Quad was Abe's idea and very good one.

0 ( +11 / -11 )

The Quad is far more important than visits to Mongolia and South Korea. But since the Quad Meet is in Japan, watch South Korea get bent out of shape.

4 ( +14 / -10 )

Pompeo had originally been scheduled to visit Ulan Bator on Wednesday and stop in Seoul from Wednesday to Thursday, to meet with senior officials.

So long as the Quad meet stands still, the rest are just second-tier events and extras for his Asian trip.

6 ( +12 / -6 )

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