politics

U.S. ambassador to Japan Hagerty to resign this month

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So? While I suppose it's obligatory to publish the news, it's no great loss for Japan.

13 ( +19 / -6 )

I wonder how long it will take Trump to appoint new ambassador. He seems to take his time with these things.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

I don't think this clown was ever in the news the two years he's been here, aside from when he was appointed. No one really cares if he leaves or stays.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

@samu,

The comments about Baker are just fluff, and he knows it. All he cares about is whether or not he "learned" anything about Okinawa.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

This guys eyes always seem cold and stale, kind of scary IMO.

And his hair is dyed too dark for his pasty skin colour, which makes him look vaguely vampiric. Considering the strategic importance of Japan to the US it's a bit sad the top job goes to money men or golf buddies with no diplomatic experience.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

The post of US ambassadorship to Japan has become a reward job for political loyalty in recent years.

John Roos(2009~2013) : Obama's finance chair in California. A financier.

Caroline Kennedy(2013~2017) : A celebrity. JFK's daughter.

William Hagerty(2017~2019) : A big checkbook donor to Donald Trump campaign in 2016 election.

The next US ambassador to Japan will most certainly be another big time donor to Donald Trump with zero diplomatic experiences.

3 ( +11 / -8 )

@voiceofokinawa

Is he following the footsteps of Howard Baker

Howard Baker was a life-long politician before his appointment to the post of Japan ambassador.

William Hagerty is a wealthy private equity owner whose only political act was to write a big donation cheque to the Trump campaign during 2016 election, for which he was handsomely rewarded for.

Of some 200 US ambassadorship, some 100 are "for sale", given to big time donors and supporters of the winning presidential candidate as political rewards. It used to be the ambassadorship to Pacific Islands and some small paradise countries that were offered for sale, but Japan has been added to "for sale" list in the last decade as Japan's importance in the world stage has dwindled.

2 ( +8 / -6 )

I wonder if Abe gave him what he came here for. Lets wait to see who gets the big casino gig in Japan whn its opened.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Dear Donnie,

I hereby submit my application to be the next...

1 ( +2 / -1 )

This guys eyes always seem cold and stale, kind of scary IMO.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

well at least he wasnt making you tube videos while on the tax payers dime and dancing to Japanese pop music. Had there been a tsunami or major earthquake, Im willing to bet allot he would of done more than Ross and not been crying for Japan.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

So, here is a job waiting for Tiffany Trump or Melania's brother if she has one ?

he had Trump's full endorsement.

Great, so he could moonlight as UK ambassador.

 Japan has been added to "for sale" list in the last decade as Japan's importance in the world stage has dwindled.

I roughly agree with you but it's not about Japan's status (there are still/again tensions in the area). It's more that Ambassadors have all been deprived of diplomatic role to become sorts of cultural centers managers. The criteria to send "friends" rather than pro diplomats is more about personal safety of the Ferrero chocolate Ambassador and his/her family. Any clown would live a safe expat/tourist life in an Embassy in Europe, Japan... Not so much in China or Middle East.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Watch Trump appoint Jeffrey Epstein.

What an idiotic thing to say.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

You're right. I'm very much interested in whether or not they learned anything about the bilateral relation through their first-hand experience with Okinawa. 

One its a "he" not they, and two, if it were of any serious importance, I am sure there would have been articles written about it. Rest assured, he and ALL Ambassadors to Japan from the US are briefed at length about the relationship between Okinawa, the National government here, and the US.

If you think otherwise, you really ARE choosing to keep your head in the sand.

Do they think the status quo of Okinawa must be maintained forever as it is?

In a couple of more years, there will be some MAJOR changes, on top of the one's that have already ocurred over the past few decades.

It's just not going to be "all or nothing".

The landfill is running along smoothly, and soon Futenma and other areas WILL be returned, and there will be even more changes along the way as well.

If you think that is keeping the "status quo" the same, you truly ARE living in the 1960's!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Well, let's wait and see what will happen in a couple of years. 

Only said by someone who refuses to acknowledge that there have been MAJOR changes over the past few decades !

You keep harping about how the "status quo" is being maintained since pre-reversion, but the reality of today is light years different, and you ego won't allow you to admit it.

You of ALL people should know that change takes time here in Japan. Nothing ever gets done over night. But when changes do occur you ignore the change. That's on you, everyone else knows otherwise.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Do the Marines pack up and go home then? I've been arguing the Marines have no legal basis to be stationed in Okinawa. And there're a host of security pundits who think there's no strategic reason why they must be deployed tto Okinawa, occupying so much land and space.

Everyone knows your love for the USMC, and odds are you will keep singing this same love song until the day you die. But when people keep singing the same old song, over and over, particularly when it's no longer has any meaning, they change the channel and ignore it!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Yubaru,

You aren't responding to the questions I raised above, as always,, only rubbing the surface and avoiding to discuss the real isue.  Come directly to the core of the problem when you discuss something..

One: On what legal basis are the Marines stationed in Okinawa? Two: Why is it necessary for the Marines to maintain bases in Okinawa, occupying so much land and space?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Back on topic please. Posts that do not refer to U.S. Ambassador Hagerty will be removed from now on.

Well, neither the Ambassador, the US Gov., or Japanese government's considered anything to do with Okinawa to be an issue that needed to be discussed.

Now we will just have to wait and see what the next Ambassador's agenda will be for Japan.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

have a look at US Embassy Japan website not one word about child abductions - yet Japan has been blacklisted - Hagerty has done great disservice to US citizens

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Is he following the footsteps of Howard Baker, an ambassador to Japan during the George W. Bush admibnistration? Baker was also from Tennessee and I think ran for a Senate seat after retiring from the ambassadorship. I wonder what they learned about the Okinawa issue during their tenures?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Yubaru,

You're right. I'm very much interested in whether or not they learned anything about the bilateral relation through their first-hand experience with Okinawa. Do they think the status quo of Okinawa must be maintained forever as it is?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Yubaru,

Well, neither the Ambassador, the US Gov., or Japanese government's considered anything to do with Okinawa to be an issue that needed to be discussed.

You mean, in the thinking of Hagerty, Trump and Abe, Okinawa doesn't count much for the Japan-U.S. security alliance just as Sado Island in the Japan Sea? LOL.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Yubaru,

One its a "he" not they

I've sent JT comments of mine to both of them from time to time. So what's wrong about using the plural pronoun "they" above?

In a couple of more years, there will be some MAJOR changes, on top of the one's that have already ocurred over the past few decades.

You sound like someone directly involved with the U.S. policy toward Okinaw. Well, let's wait and see what will happen in a couple of years. 

Do the Marines pack up and go home then? I've been arguing the Marines have no legal basis to be stationed in Okinawa. And there're a host of security pundits who think there's no strategic reason why they must be deployed tto Okinawa, occupying so much land and space.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

good riddance

Did he do something bad, macv?

Dear Donnie,

I hereby submit my application to be the next...

It'll be rejected. Don't bother.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

he never said one word about all the kids with American fathers abducted by Japanese wives, never stuck up for US citizens victimized by Japanese. As for Caroline Kennedy she personally intervened to have US citizen convicted drug smuggler Julie Hemp released from jail and allowed free transit to USA.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

good riddance

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

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