I was frightened and felt helpless. You can't expect a nuclear expert to be prime minister or cabinet minister, so we need top regulatory officials to provide expertise and help us. We didn't have th

Naoto Kan: Welcome to Japan.

And yet the Americans offered their expertise and you said, no thanks?

A leader making excuses by belittling others. Typical Kan.

Here's a more typical Kan quote, from March 15 at Tokyo Electric headquarters:

Why are there so many people here? Important matters are decided by five or six people. Quit screwing around! Get a smaller room ready!

(Tokyo Shimbun, via Ampontan)

The thing is Mr. Helpless happened to be in Tepco's Operations Room, where more than 200 people had stayed up all night the night before dealing with the Fukushima nuclear accident.

Kan-kun thought he was in the Conference Room.

Modern Japan's worst PM. At least Hatoyama-bochan was good for joke material.

A leader isn't supposed to be an expert. But he/she should bring experts to the table and make tough decisions.

As far as I know, old Gorby in the USSR was no nuke expert but he was able to quickly make decisions and they came up with an action plan quickly and decisively.

And yet the Americans offered their expertise and you said, no thanks?

First of all, could you be clear on what expertise was refused?

The Japanese government requested and received cooling equipment from the U.S. as well as a fire truck and more than 7,000 pounds of special equipment.

Two experts from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission did come to Japan but I don't what communication they had with the Japanese government. Also, many more people from USAID came to Japan, but that was not exactly expertise. Japan also received equipment from France and Russia, and TEPCO was more interested in help from French nuclear experts. http://news.uk.msn.com/world/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=156805996

What exactly did Kan say no to? Are you sure it was Kan and not someone else in the government?

First of all, could you be clear on what expertise was refused?

Well THIS is an easy one to reply to!

http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/japan-declined-u-s-offer-to-station-nuclear-experts-in-kans-office-edano

Too bad, it is too late now. This is more the than his reason to accept the US help. US scientists and Special Nuclear Task Team were ready to leave. These professionals are always prepared for disaster like this and they have resources and tools to control it (non guarantee here) while Japan had NONE at that time..

I now recall Kan's boostful remarks claiming he is a Nuke expert. Well,... too late now. Japan's sovereignty, my butt! I feel very sorry for all Japanese and foreigners in Japan who are going through very tough time due to his stupid mistake and calculation.