taro67 comments

Clinton, because he did such a great job of resolving Israel/Palestine issues while he was president. Also, Obama knows he has lost the trust of Arabs and Israelis because of his bumbling ME foreign policy that has spread destruction and death throughout North Africa.

An important reason why America's conflicts on interests will prevent the US from defending Japan over the Senkakus. America's economy could not withstand the shock of a trade war with China and American companies will not allow Obama to push the issue to the point of direct conflict with China.

However, true to America's role in world affairs, if peace is achieved without conflict, the US will take credit. If it evolves into a deeper conflict, the US will sit on its hands. Only an all out regional conflict will cause the US to get involved militarily.

globalwatcher Nov. 20, 2012 - 11:30PM JST

What does that even mean? I know, you're just still kind of giddy that Obama is still around. You'll get over it soon enough.

You will be glad the US is around some day soon.

Japan will pay a bitter price for allowing itself to be controlled by the US one day. Some already have paid.

Noda is being Obama's puppet to the bitter end. Perhaps if he had the same level of loyalty toward the Japanese people that he has for the American elite he would not be facing defeat in a few weeks.

Obama is a true leader of democracy. He can turn water (Junta) into "bottled water"

You're kidding, right?

Americans love to tell others what to do, but they do not want to be told by others what to do in history. They will never change.

Fixed it for accuracy.

Wow, this sounds like exactly what Al Quida has been saying.

To be sure. America...making enemies out of friends everywhere around the world. You will recall that Al Qaeda was created by the CIA to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan. Maybe the US should stop creating and arming terrorists who then use their assets to fight America. Think of all the innocent civilians and US military personnel in foreign lands who might still be alive today if the US was not so intent on molding the world in its image.

This is exactly what Obama wants to do in Asia 40 years after the US left Vietnam with its tail between its legs. Divide and conquer.

They need to stop this. Obama doesn't care. He is the one who was opposed to shutting down Japan's nuclear reactors as a service to his corporate sponsors. And, of course, America is not into revisionist history. To many (most?) Americans, dropping those bombs saved a million US servicemen even though General Eisenhower and other military top brass at the time told Truman the bombs were unnecessary.

the bureaucrats and interest groups will still be pulling the strings.

All other conversation is media-fueled drama for a mostly apathetic public. However, the looming economic collapse (regardless who holds the PM office) will cause people to start paying more attention. At some point, the bureaucracy will be held accountable. Only then will real reform find traction in Japan.

Obama may be hoping for big parcel of petroleum blocks for exploration.

Yes, of course. America is "pivoting" to Asia after leaving the Middle East in ruin. It is about divide and conquer Asia in the same manner that it decimated the ME. When any leader of the US speaks about transforming a sovereign nation into a democracy, the people should be afraid because the record in the ME is that any nation not kowtowing to America gets bombed and invaded.

And it seems to be all about oil and the US dollar (central banking).

Both the US Military and Japanese government have to educate the people in Japan as to why the military is here in the first place AND the media have to be forced (pipe dream) to show the good along with the bad, and even you will be surprised at how much good they actually do here.

After 67 years, the Okinawans have 3+ generations of observations with which to educate themselves. Official proclamations are meaningless at this point. Who should you believe...the government or your lying eyes?

According to this article on Yahoo!Japan (from the Yomiuri Shimbun), it now appears that arrested LT has now changed his statement and has admitted to being out drinking in violation of the curfew. It also appears that the LT has admitted that his statement about being invited to stay at friend's house was not entirely true.

That has to be disappointing to people who were hoping it was all a setup by the deceptive Okinawans against a poor US soldier intended to manipulate the Japan/US alliance or a just simple misunderstanding.

Doesn't matter, he was not arrested during curfew hours.

You're right, it doesn't matter. The damage has been done. Time to move on...until the next incident.

Sanjusangendo Nov. 19, 2012 - 03:17PM JST

Stunning! The police got there within 7 minutes after the drunk soldier walked through the door. And the drunk soldier fell asleep within 7 minutes of walking through the door. Curfew aside, this tells us that the police were quick to respond (kudos to them) and that the drunk soldier was, indeed, a drunk (and sleepy) soldier. Still, none of that matters at this point as it concerns Okinawa's view of the US military.

According to yomiuri newspaper, the incident occured at 7:35am.

So, he was home until 5am and then went out to get drunk? Again, you scratch out minor points and stretch credibility expecting to defend something that has already made its impact on the public and the relationship between Okinawa and the US military. It's a waste of time and I'm done.

basroil Nov. 19, 2012 - 02:35PM JST

You sure don't give up easily. The point is the soldier was drunk and in another person's home uninvited while defying a direct order for curfew. It was wrong and it gives the US military yet another black eye. The minutia you trot out does nothing to mitigate this situation in the eyes of Okinawans and, most likely, the US State and Defense Departments. Lawyers and prosecutors can hash out the legal ramifications, but the damage to the US reputation on Okinawa has been done. Deal with it.

He is urging BOJ to print more Yen. He is out of his mind.

Have you noticed that Obama's Bernanke has been doing the same for 4 years? The US is following Japan down the road to economic oblivion under Obama using the same formula of stimulus, subsidies for politically-favored industries, higher taxes, deficit spending, massive debt, welfare, and monetizing the currency. Can you not see this? I'm not sure I want to talk economics with you for 10 minutes if you cannot see the damage being done to the US by these policies. America is in economic decline and Obama is doing nothing to stop it. Japan survived on exports for two decades because the global economy was on a debt-fueled bubble expansion. Unfortunately for the US (and Japan), the global economy is too weak to support the 1st and 3rd largest economies on exports alone.

In that regard, Japan would be better off to cast away America and deal with China and the rest of Asia which has the potential to replace the West both from a competitive advantage standpoint and a growing consumer base. Obama's push for free trade and the devaluation of the USD are acts of desperation, not revival and certainly not innovation.

If my daughter had left the door open on purpose, I would have downright smacked her over the head for being an idiot. It doesn't matter how peaceful a place seems, you should always follow prudent safety measures.

Poor girl. I guess that teenager from a couple of weeks ago still deserves a beating along with the girlfriend from this incident. But the drunk soldiers? Oh, that's no big deal, right?

basroil Nov. 19, 2012 - 01:28PM JST

Yes, regional tensions must be retained at all costs because it benefits the US interests in the area. Of course, $100 million is a cheap price for peace and a $60 billion increase in trade. Well, it is if you are Japan and not the US, that is. Peace in Asia will not be allowed by the Americans unless it is secured by the Americans. It's as simple as that.

globalwatcher Nov. 19, 2012 - 01:45PM JST

Read my earlier comments. I despise the Japanese media for being mouthpieces for the government rather than protectors of the public. But it is also a mouthpiece for the US in many areas of interest (military, nuclear, foreign policy, etc.). That said, the American media is the mouthpiece for the US government and the liberals in particular (my observation as a somewhat disinterested bystander, except as it relates to Japan). Obama is just another politician. He is not a particularly good one as he seems to represent only half the population. At least in Japan, politicians screw everyone equally.

As for the Yomiuri, it has past ties to both right-wing and left-wing US administrations since the war. Who knows if its ties to US propaganda agencies are still intact. But, I dispute your right-wing slant. They are pro-American military, pro-major business, pro-Japan/US alliance, much the same as Bush and, now, Obama.

It actually makes mountains of difference.

Actually, given the tense situation in Okinawa, it is a distinction without a difference from the standpoint of the community vs. the military. But, you are sure to not recognize that.

As for your no harm, no foul approach, do you expect anyone to believe that you would feel the same if your daughter was the only one home?

This man at no time committed breaking and entering, and at most is suspected of illegal trespassing. In fact, the article headline even states it, and the article made sure to state he never broke into anything, nor thought to have committed other crimes.

Again, you are just nit-picking. Here, I'll correct my statement to fit your criteria.

LOL. Perhaps a better show of pride of service would be not to break curfew, get drunk and trespass in people's home.

It makes no difference. The guy did wrong. You would not condone it if a foreign drunk man walked into your house while your daughter or wife was there alone. Anyone would feel threatened. You are attempting to defend the indefensible.

This is a global site, and I would like to get it streight.

You're just talking your (and Obama's) book. Not to offend, most everyone here has a position to espouse. That said, you might be too overtly Obama to sell your message effectively. Obama is actually no better than Noda or Wen or anyone else.

How about someone setting up a media outlet that serves up only positive news about the US military on Okinawa.

Try Stars and Stripes, the Marines Corps Times or any of the media relations offices attached to the US military. Oh, wait...they also publish stories about the Osprey opposition and these incidents/crimes. I guess it is difficult to find Utopia when life's ugly reality is present.

Redcliff Nov. 19, 2012 - 12:13PM JST

Perhaps a limited FTA might be a step in the right direction. It is certainly a much better alternative to the US-led TPP.

It was put in place at the request of the okinawans

I believe it was put in place because the Americans rightly determined that these acts were not making them any friends in Okinawa and wanted to make a show of good will. Apparently, given these last two drunken soldier incidents, it was only an show of good will.

Tie your economies together even tighter and conflicts will become easier to settle.

Yes, that worked out well for the Japanese companies that require Chinese rare earths because of the 1st Senkaku Islands conflict. They have learned to diversify from that experience. In fact, it is up to each nation to seek advantages for the people represented by elected officials and public servants. The US juggernaut economy did not develop from free trade, nor did Japan's or Germany's or China's.

For instance, why would Japan cede issues of food security to China instead of making sure that Japanese farmers could feed the nation? Why give anyone else that leverage?

Free trade without a free market is a scam against the Japanese public.

Benghazi case has been closed, period.

Really? And the American public knows everything about it....or simply everything that they will be allowed to know? I don't think we've heard the last of it.

In the US, people are smart enough to lock their doors, which means people need to break in, and trespassing is reserved for lawns.

No, they are fearful enough to do it. A smart person would want to live in a place where people had respect for private property and had no reason to fear another trespassing for any reason. Anyway, you're simply nit-picking about unlocked doors and legal definitions. It's simply a wrong act and you should acknowledge that.