saidani comments

Pick up a newspaper anywhere outside of your home in Pyongyang and read it.

Nice. Demagogue the person you are debating. It is sure to help you win your point.

To be sure, China wants to see this issue resolved through debate and negotiations. Who doesn't, except the US? After over a decade of nothing but threats and sanctions, it must seem obvious that this strategy has only succeeded in making matters worse, both for the starving N Koreans and the rest of Asia. And, like is building in Iran, the likely end game will be some kind of attack on N Korea. We will see where China stands as that timetable quickens. This is clearly the same tactic that was used against Iraq, Libya, Syria, and pre-war Japan and will probably result in the deaths of even more innocents at the hands of the US or its surrogates.

I believe the day money was given to his hands, Morsi declare his total control of power.

That's not how it works. The commitment was made but that doesn't mean the money was in Morsi's pocket. And, yet, we haven't heard about the money commitment being withdrawn since Morsi went all dictator on Egypt. Your blind defense of Obama becomes more evident every day.

And of course you're ignoring the fact that they DO have other interception points besides Defense headquarters. The battery there would be a defense of last-resort.

Defense of the people who are in charge of the other interception points which failed would be a cruel joke on the Japanese people. The Defense headquarters should show some confidence in their overall defenses by using that last line of defense outside an elementary school to protect Japanese children instead of their own asses. What they are saying is that they don't really trust their defenses enough to put themselves at the same level of risk as the rest of the population. And if the missile does reach the Defense headquarters, why should the Japanese people want their failed leaders to be saved?

First if any missiles are launched successfully I sincerely hope that they land in YOUR backyard and not mine.

Japan is my back yard. So what are you saying, Japan is merely a beachhead for US warmongering since N Korea does not threaten YOUR backyard? Then we agree.

Oh btw it isnt JUST the US that is against the regime in NK gaining nukes and missile technology, there are plenty of other countries in the world that dont want to see a totally unreliable regime having the capability that they are after.

There are a lot of Asian nations which, like Japan, suffer from Stockholm Syndrome. Left to their own or collective devices, they would either mount their own defenses or seek to negotiate with N Korea and bring them into the family of Asian nations. The economic potential of opening N Korea is massive. Reunification would be good for all Koreans. Unfortunately, it would not fit into US plans, evidenced by the fact that the US has effectively rejected all efforts to talk with N Korea, much like it has treated Iran and much like it treated Japan pre-Pacific War. The plain truth is that the US uses the tension in Asia as leverage against its hostages.

Yubaru Dec. 06, 2012 - 05:18PM JST

Yes, well, Kadena is in Okinawa and the last I heard, it was an airbase. Forgive me for using the broader term "troops" to mean American forces which include air bases. Of course, the whole thing is specious fear-mongering.

On a larger point, what gives the US the right to limit the technological growth of any nation, especially when the US is the reason that there is no dialogue with N Korea and NKs will continue to do what the Chinese allow it to do anyway? You are simply buying the hype that the US is justified to punish thought crimes around the world.

I'm not sure Japan has satellites that could perform this function or if they should since the U.S. already should have that intel source covered.

Well, then, the government could save a lot of money by watching CNN which was all over the story. But you miss the point with this technical information and that is the hype promoted by the Japanese government before the launch about their early warning system. It exposed a systemic problem in the government similar to the manner in which it handled the SPEEDI radiation data which is that the government is rather incompetent in these areas because they are too willing to sacrifice the public welfare for political ends which require consensus rather than leadership. All of the hi-tech apparatus in the world is useless if the people in charge of it don't use it properly.

China havent noticed that the entire world knows that their cheap labor is the problem

That's a laugh. Most developed economies have investments in China which are supported by their governments, including Japan which actually subsidizes off-shoring of jobs. So your issue with all of those lost jobs needs to be taken up with your government, not China or Vietnam or Thailand or Bangladesh or (soon) Myanmar (among others) who offer similar low-wage, low-tax, lax-restriction opportunities.

its second long-range rocket launch this year after a much-hyped but botched attempt in April.

As much hyped by the Americans and Japanese governments as by the N Koreans. But the greatest embarrassment from that event belongs to the Japanese government which had to find out the rocket failed from media reports as their early warning system was...well...late.

is it me or is the rocket launch being blown totally out of proportion? :)

Rather the definition of fear-mongering. The US only loses in Asia if Japan and S Korea figure out that the US military is more of a deterrent to peace in the region than the protector of it. And Okinawans need a reminder about the value of all the troops stationed there what with all of the alcoholism and assaults and curfews that have taken over the headlines there. Of course, those troops would be the target if N Korea really intended to bomb Japan.

Yes, because the best way to deal with "rogue states" (read: those nations who will not comply with the US) is to get the UN to approve sanctions which seems to presage US actions against the offending nation (i.e., Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya). Meanwhile, hands off genocide in Africa (one supposes that the US is either has no vested interests or supports the tyrants in charge).

On the other hand, Japan can open negotiations with N Korea about the abductees and S Korea can openly express the desire for reunification talks. That is, until the US gets involved and demands that any deals with N Korea go through the US government, making all negotiations between S Korea/Japan and N Korea unlikely to bear fruit.

But, for N Korea, the US has some problems, namely China and Russia which leads one to believe that this, like Iran, is a means of pressuring China which would not be opposed to reunification of the Korean peninsula except for the large presence of US troops.

There can be no peace in Asia until the US is excluded from any talks. Japan and S Korea are not acting in their own best interests by backing the US call for UN sanctions, but merely to keep the US in a position of authority in Asia.

Oh, so they are different? From who? Everybody else? Or only Westerners? All other asians? Are they also different from Mongols and Koreans, people from which thei hail?

Apparently, different from you as you seem so willing to criticize them because they are different. Why the great need to make Japanese like everyone else in the world? The Westernization of Japan has not been wholly beneficial for the Japanese people or their culture.

The very sad truth is that this country has an identity problem, exquisitely manifested in youths wearing masks to "look cute" or "have a seemingly smaller face". You call it a quirk but it is more serious than that when young people hide behind a mask 24/7. there can be no comparison to wearing sunglasses in public - just a handful actually do that.

The people do not have an identity crisis, but a crisis of insecurity and guilt which the West (particularly the US) seems intent on encouraging.

As for sunglasses, I would much rather see a person's eyes (windows on the soul) when talking to them than their mouths. People hide much more behind sunglasses than by wearing a mask. And you have no basis for claiming that only a handful of people wear sunglasses in the West other than trying to diminish the comparison.

Japan and its people are "special" don't you know? Wearing surgical masks in public suits that special style well. You can't have the cake and eat it too. Either you're special or you're not...

Most Japanese people are just living their lives like everyone else, including having cultural quirks that seem strange to outsiders. They do not think of themselves as "special" in the manner you suggest but are curious as to why foreigners feel compelled to criticize them and make fun of them because they are different.

the police

Unless someone commits a crime, they should not be bound to restraints on their liberty to appease the desires of the police or any authority. Japan is not France, particularly because multiculturalism has not infected the political class...yet. As for your mansion and car, it is your responsibility (or your landlord's) to protect them, not the greater society's responsibility to show you their face to ease your fears. Japan is not yet a police state though it is moving in that direction quickly.

It's alike sunglasses just a modern veil.

Excellent point. Many people wear sunglasses as a shield to prevent showing their emotions or making eye contact with others. Perhaps this strain of psychosis is the same as masks. But it is doubtful that Westerners would admit to it. It's too easy to point fingers at "weird," "mentally ill," "psychotic" Japanese.

Who cares if people wear masks?

Face masks are also the fashion of choice to hide faces from security cameras, e.g. when withdrawing money from ATM machines after robberies.

Or simply to maintain the privacy of their everyday legal activities from the snooping eyes of government, advertisers, and perverts.

Obama is using populism, not sound economics or serious debate to push his agenda, whatever that is. What it isn't is a path to economic recovery and a stable economy. Americans should prepare for its own lost decade...or two.

Why they just can't be just an economic power by being humble , contented of what they are now ??

Yes, many people wonder about this. Why can't the US be more humble and stay out of the affairs of other sovereign nations? One might believe they think they own the world sometimes.

Abe, Hashimoto and Ishihara do not have to come to Washington. Their positions have been well known in American public.

LOL. WOW. The American public doesn't know anything about these men. They barely know anything about their own government. Presidential elections haven't gotten more than a 60% turnout since 1964. Moreover, they could hardly care less about what happens in Japan. Just because you are trying to sell Obama's message to the Japanese doesn't give you the right to deceive them with such comments.

All laws are written in macro perspectives.

You have no idea what you are saying. First, American laws are rather specific. Ask anyone who has been audited by the IRS or has to deal with OSHA or who exceeds 0.85 on a breathalyzer. Secondly, the Senate passing an amendment does not make it a law.

And while you may be cheered that the amendment was passed, the fact that it had to be put to a vote indicates that many in Washington are wavering on the security treaty with Japan. Otherwise, why bother having to make such a public spectacle of it?

Lastly, despite the US Constitution giving the responsibility of making war to Congress, since WWII, presidents have taken this responsibility for their own. Do you honestly believe that Obama will not go to war against Syria or Iran or even China unless Congress gives its approval? Recent history shows that not to be the case.

But now Japan can step up the game a little more since the US statement and its presence will probably deter China from using an all out attack.

LOL. To be sure, the US is telling Noda not to do anything stupid that would force the US to act on this promise. Unless, of course, the US is manipulating Japan once again for some nefarious reason. Who knows who America wants to make war with next.

You need to read between the lines.

LOL...seriously? Why not be more explicit? The only credible answer is that the US wants room to hedge. And while your admiration for Noda is commendable, you should at least give him credit for things he has actually done. The nationalization of the Senkaku's was a major gaffe at best. The fact that he allowed a prefecture governor to box him in shows a lack of strength and leadership. And there is little that Washington has told Noda (unless he is keeping secrets from the public) except that the US will back Japan...kinda, sorta, maybe, it depends.

As for Abe, Hashimoto, and Ishihara talking to Washington, it would not be appropriate for local politicians to speak directly to a foreign government. That would be Noda's responsibility. Your comment comes across as propaganda especially coming from someone attached to the Obama campaign in America and with no connection to Japan.

The caption for the picture is: "If I have to read another stupid rumor about my poor health, I'll feel like blowing my brains out!"

Or, maybe, "blowing your brains out." Well, not yours personally...you get the idea.

Do not worry Japan. US will defend you

Good for Webb. That said, saying ain't doing. There is still the matter of billions of dollars in US corporate investments in China and the debt held by China that still has the Obama administration hoping it all just goes away. It is not insignificant that Obama refuses to call China a currency manipulator (Of course, the US is the biggest currency manipulator anyway.). As with all things, time will tell but Japan should not rest easy and should try to do more to settle the issue with China without getting the US involved.

More electioneering. Noda and the DPJ claim the Japan/US alliance is the basis of Japanese foreign policy in the region. The LDP is no different in its dependence on the US. The sad truth is that Japan cannot deal effectively with China while under the shadow of America's own interest with China which is not necessarily beneficial for Japan.

＞The TPP wouldn't eliminate a country's ability to quarantine/embargo products over safety or non-native species issues. All it would really do is lift monetary tariffs.

Actually, from leaked documents (the negotiations are secret), the investor/state dispute provision would give beef producers the ability to sue the government for profits lost by such a ban. But the suit would not be4 heard in Japanese courts. The dispute would be heard by judges who are part of the regional bureaucracy set up by the TPP.

This gives companies leverage over sovereign governments. While the Japanese government would not be prohibited from making such a ban, the threat of lawsuits might have the same effect. And, only 2 of the more than 2 dozen provisions address monetary tariffs and non-tariff trade restrictions.

IIRC, in 2010, the percentage of the workforce working less than full time jobs stood at 34%. To be sure, that percentage has grown markedly since then. One would imagine that the total unemployed/underemployed in Japan must be approaching 50% by now.

Imagine if the US took the same stand on automobile imports and bans those Japan vehicles, such as the Prius (which by the way 0% of it is manufactured in the US), which compete directly with US automobiles and only allowed those crappy box cars into the US?

The US should do it then. Obviously, there are other considerations. Maybe the massive US debt owned by Japan and the desire to keep a standing military in Japan. Who knows what else.

In fact, 70% of Toyota cars sold in the US are made in the region (US, Canada, Mexico) and Prius will be built in the US beginning 2015.

As for the quality of beef from the US and Australia, that would be an issue for the producers. Some studies on the subject tend to ascribe a higher quality to US beef over Australia due to production/raising techniques. Perhaps you should take that issue up with ranchers in Australia.

Nice personal demagoguery, though.

Australia is the largest exporter of beef to Japan so you shouldn't have any problem getting Aussie beef.

Regardless, when(if) Japan joins the TPP, its ability to halt US beef imports will be severely limited if not outright lost. You can determine for yourself if that will be a good thing for the Japanese people.

Unlike team sports like baseball, golf is an individual effort. In team sports, a player enters a system which weeds out the less talented players, forcing them to seek other careers (except for American baseball players who can come to Japan and play once they have washed out of the MLB).

The golfer, on the other hand, has to make that judgement for herself and it is very difficult to do at times. I remember following the difficulties of US golfer Scott Verplank who struggled to make reach his potential on tour. In casual rounds with friends, he would regularly shoot low scores (64, 65, 66) but could not do the same in a tournament.

To be sure, many of the unsuccessful women on the Japanese tour face the same situation and it makes it doubly hard to give up their dream while knowing they have the talent to compete even if they can't recognize that they do not have the ability to handle the pressure of competition. This is a sad and familiar story for anyone who has experienced the emotional wreck caused when one's life-long dream collides head-on with reality.

Not justifying the theft but I hope she recovers from this and finds happiness in life.

skipbeat Nov. 29, 2012 - 11:32AM JST

Yes, it seems obvious that the US (and Japan) is merely funding the global bureaucracy which has been fighting the "War on Poverty" in the 3rd world since the end of the war with few tangible results except for the rapid growth of the bureaucracy. China offers a viable alternative.

Jimizo Nov. 29, 2012 - 09:24AM JST

Excellent and insightful comment. Imagine China being the one to provide market solutions to 3rd world problems.

China’s growing presence in trade is just restoring the Middle Kingdom to its historic dominance.

One has to wonder what the US will do to make sure this doesn't happen. Japan is unfortunate in having a front-row seat.