the_sicilian comments

Not a new war, but one that has been ongoing. Time to end it.

He was not a good President (I lived through this in upstate NY), but he was a great human being. He truly cared and tried. His tireless work with those less fortunate will never be overlooked. It's more than I can say for quite a few people I know in this world. RIP Mr. Carter.

@The_Beagle - Doesn't go with the narrative. Stop with all the facts.

When you have a tunnel network hiding weapons, operate command and control out of strictly civilian use facilities (schools, hospitals), and use civilians as human shields, this can happen. I don't blame Israel one bit. They didn't start this but they will finish it.

MattToday 04:47 pm JST

Why is everyone forgetting that a huge number of tourists in Japan are domestic tourists?

Come down here to Okinawa. Yes, we have a lot of Japanese tourists, but even more Chinese and Koreans. They are very rude and loud, and generally ruin things for anyone here. Plus the traffic with the " わ " plated cars is disgusting. They drive like they are in China or Korea.

Being the poorest prefecture does mean the money is needed, but the service industry jobs here are paying 1000 yen / hour, which in my mind is borderline criminal.

Same kind of thing happening down here in Okinawa. Rude tourists from "certain" countries, and just ruining things with the locals.

Some dudeToday 07:38 pm JST

I suggest Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba "confronts" these questions, Donald Trump will needs to confirm unequivocally

Article II springs to mind....

ARTICLE II

The Parties will contribute toward the further development of peaceful and friendly international relations by strengthening their free institutions, by bringing about a better understanding of the principles upon which these institutions are founded, and by promoting conditions of stability and well-being. They will seek to eliminate conflict in their international economic policies and will encourage economic collaboration between them.

He'll also need someone to read and explain that to Trump. Preferably using brightly coloured crayons.

At least Trump will speak intelligently, no teleprompter, and not need someone to show him where to sit/stand, etc.

Any country reliant on satellite communications should always plan for depth. Meaning, LEO and GEO together can provide layers of protection from adversarial actions. LEO and MEO fly faster and are tougher targets to hit. LEO being stationary but far away is tough but still stationary. Also multiple vehicles for redundancy.

Anyone surprised by this? I'm not. Hope the perp gets a nice long prison sentence.

BertieWoosterAug. 30 06:44 pm JST

Much as I love this country, the attitude that "I mustn't get involved" and turning a blind eye is not something to love. Other people MUST have been aware of this. Enough people to subdue him at any rate. He is not likely to be very strong. Probably a coward.

Spot on. The feigning ignorance is one thing I dislike.

Why is this written like it's severely slanted on one direction?

tigerjaneToday 12:18 am JST

Just an update, as I indicated earlier, with all of Trump's rhetoric the shooter could be from either side of the political aisle, and it turns out the 20-year-old shooter is a registered Republican.

The people on the Republican side, seem to be more the radicals and have more violent tendencies and that is the side at present that are really are riled up by Trump and his rhetoric.

Even after being shot, he is pumping his fists in the air shouting fight, fight, fight all the while the secret police are trying to shield him with their bodies with no care for their safety, that of those who were there to listen to him and or his own. Selfishness.

To add context that you failed to do, the shooter also had ATIFA screed all over his Facebook profile before it was deleted. He also donated to a Democrat PAC. There are those that register as an opposite party so they can try and help a weak candidate unseat a string one, so seeing this is not unusual.

But in this case you only chose the "fact" you liked, not all of the facts.

Nibek32July 14 06:10 pm JST

Ironically trump is by far more of a threat to democracy than this shooter.

And this is why liberals need to not be in elected office.

BertieWoosterJune 26 11:05 am JST

The problem is that Okinawan people by and large are just so nice and the children are so innocent. And this creep took advantage over this. He couldn't control his animal instincts and has ruined his life as a result. He'll do a few years of jail time and struggle after that to find any kind of employment.

Bertie, I never thought I would agree with you. And I am not understanding the down votes. The people in Okinawa are far more kind than Japanese in mainland. If this guy did this, I hope he gets oh, maybe 30 years in an Okinawan jail.

SpeedToday 07:57 am JST

"It feels like they are making a mockery of the election."

The elections are a mockery. The people are starting wake up and revolt to that.

This. A bunch of Oyaji's that all sound the same / do the same thing. Also, the public has become pretty apathetic, because regardless of who's in nothing changes.

One of the greats has left us. RIP Mr. Sutherland.

Hope he gets jail time.

I think if you have to use terms like MAGA and cult in your statements, you have no argument.

What's sad is I just told my wife about this story, and after reading only the first paragraph I said, "I had no idea what I was carrying". Then that's exactly what happened as I read further. Why would any reasonable person think carrying something through an airport not knowing the contents would be a good idea?

BertieWoosterMay 11 08:30 pm JST

I'm sorry, I don't get it. What's the difference? "non-consensual sex" and "rape"?

Could be that the girl did consent, but under the law she can't? Not saying she did, but maybe that is what the police got out of this? She can't consent at that age, hence the charge? Not defending this at all, I think jail for a long time is what he should get regardless.

TaiwanIsNotChinaMay 9 05:34 pm JST

It's literally a complete rejection that the price should be correlated to what it costs. I guess the extra fee on tourists is the xenophobia tax.

Joe Biden would approve.... j/k

Seriously, Hawaii has been doing this for a very long time, with the Kama'aina discount. So locals prove they are a resident and they get a discount. So have Japanese ID or drivers license, get a discount regardless of nationality. Problem solved.

It's basically racism, just ensuring if you are white you do not get hired. Similar to Affirmative Action programs that are now not allowed at US universities. And how about Harvard having different "scoring" of candidates, where if you are Asian, you have to score higher to get in than, let's say, a black or Hispanic student.

TaiwanIsNotChinaApr. 7 07:44 am JST

Mr GoodmanToday 07:43 am JST

When Trump becomes president the agreement will likely get changed yet again

At the request of Xi?

I guess the fact that Joe's son was doing business with a China state energy firm translates to Xi wanting Trump. Sure, sounds logical.

I think this is a good idea, so the SDF has a peer to go to, as opposed to going all the way to the INDOPACOM Commander.

It's not a real crime until they roll out the blue tarp and lay out each piece of garment. Then they can all analyze and come to their own conclusions.

Pun intended.

The usual suspects at it again.... Anti US is all you have to talk about. But I say without the US presence the South Pacific is learning Mandarin. And looking at China's belligerent actions now, this is not that far fetched.

Desert TortoiseToday 07:03 am JST

For those sad souls who believe DEI is somehow racist

No sadness on my part. Any set aside based on anything other than pure qualifications is racism. When you extol "equity over equality" that is racism. When colleges and universities discriminate when you put "Asian" on a college application because you're "supposed to be smarter" and the school has a higher standard for SAT scores because of this that is racism.

When one group gets a set aside for whatever reason, that is racist. But it's OK in your view because you have some anecdotes about some horrible people and you paint a wide brush against a whole group. That, is racist.

As a gaijin, I would be scared to intervene only because I could be blamed for it. But, I could walk over and get right in the guy's face. Make him uncomfortable. That might help. Oh, and call the police.

Bruce PennyworthToday 08:34 am JST

spineless government, not far off from becoming a us territory if this continues

The relocation was agreed to by the GOJ and the US. This was not exactly unilateral. If Japan wants to rearm their military and take on all adversaries on their own then so be it. Until then, they made an agreement and should stick to it. And the base is in a difficult spot where an accident would be devastating. At least with Kadena, the approach does not go over dense housing and urban sprawl.

Even Tamaki, and all governors before him, love to stand up and shout "Yankee go home", but they then turn around and tell Tokyo, "moto omiyori, kudasai"....

So from the above Form 990:

PROVIDES COMMUNITY WITH ACCESS TO HAES PROFESSIONALS AND ACTIVISTS

What does an "activist" have to do with respect to healthcare? This is more liberal nonsense. If someone is overweight, then a doctor or PA (or the equivalent should prescribe the recommended care that is medically necessary. That would be the proper approach, and telling the patient what they need to do.

TamaramaToday 06:39 am JST

> As a non-Japanese, if I had to evacuate a burning plane, I'd much rather do it with a flight full of Japanese that with my fellow countrymen, that's for sure.

This is a great point. I fly a lot to/from Japan to the USA. And some of their airlines have zero criteria to be seated in an exit row. I see it all the time, old, frail, and people that would have a tough time reaching for their shoelace (or see their own shoe), let alone trying to help the crew.

I try to sit in the exit row whenever I can because I am physically fit and able to assist if the other two in the row can not.