Big News Brewing in Japan?

The American Thinker ^ | April 21, 2004 | Thomas Lifson

[quidnunc]

Almost unnoticed by the American press, the aftermath of Japan’s hostage crisis in Iraq is developing in a direction which may have permanent and serious positive implications for American foreign and military policies.

Prime Minister Koizumi’s response to the kidnapping of the first three Japanese taken hostage in Iraq marked a watershed in Japan’s posture for dealing with external threats. Prime Minister Koizumi simply refused to “go Spanish” in the face of terror threats against his citizens. As the Wall Street Journal notes (link requires subscription), Japan had previously embraced the notion that the lives of hostages must be paramount. In the words of former Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda, who capitulated to Japanese Red Army airplane hijackers, “human life is heavier than the Earth."

Having watched the Red Army metastasize into a far larger and bloodier threat in the aftermath, Japan has learned some lessons. The specter of a nuclear-armed North Korea lobbing missiles over the Japanese Archipelago has also done wonders for the strengthening of the Japanese national spine.

Despite large public anti-war demonstrations and tearful pleas from relatives of the hostages, the public has been strongly backing Koizumi's tough stance.

Now, a steady stream of news, much of it leaked from governmental sources, is hinting that the first three hostages may have faked their kidnapping. If and when these suspicions becomes provable, the public backlash in Japan against the anti-war left could be fearsome, and drive Japan’s foreign policy even further toward muscular collaboration with American defense efforts. Given Japan’s formidable economic and technological resources , the coalition of the willing would benefit substantially for a long time to come.

-snip-

[al baby]

Prime Minister Koizumi simply refused to “go Spanish” in the face of terror threats
Very sucient comment

[SkyPilot]

There were several threads that "outed" one of the hostages as a leftist fascist who hated American and sympathized with the Islamic vermin.

I don't know if the kidnapping was staged between the Japanese fascists and the Islamofascists.

I will say this though: if this is exposed as true, the leftists and Islamofascists will have awoken a Japanese sleeping giant, and filled him with a terrible resolve.

[al baby]

Mark my words- Japan will become a nuclear power by the end of this decade.
Mark my words they will have "pocket" nukes soon Like a sony nuke man

[Republican Red]

I heard this last week. The woman had apparently told friends that something big was going to happen and she's be in the news (or something to that effect). Sent it to Drudge.

Japanese Female "Hostage" Had Recent Contact With Anti-US Iraqi Terrorists in Baghdad? (Breaking)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1115326/posts

ANTI-USA/PRO-ACTIVIST JAPANESE WEBSITE OF JAPAN 'HOSTAGE' FOUND/TRANSLATED
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1113742/posts

[Cicero]

There were early indications that the Japanese hostages were peaceniks. Presumably the government has known that for some time but has deliberated what would be the best way to deal with such a situation. If true, this is good news.

[Skip Ripley]

The "nukeman", it will hold 5,000 mp3's and level a city the size of Wichita...

[livius]

Ping! What are you hearing over there?

[Bacon Man]

Wow I totally missed those. I'm obviously not spending enough time surfing. Need to fix that. ;)

[Iron Matron]

There is one thing I've always said about the Japanese:

They are not cowards!

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

Yukio Mishima would be proud.

[Iron Matron]

There were early indications that the Japanese hostages were peaceniks.

Really? Working againts the coalition?

Too bad they weren't set on fire.

[Tallguy]

Mark my words- Japan will become a nuclear power by the end of this decade.

Is Japan still running those Breeder reactors. If so, they have plenty of plutonium to make bombs. Nukes in 2 years, at the outside, from the day of a decision.

[kevkrom]

The "nukeman", it will hold 5,000 mp3's and level a city the size of Wichita...

Accessories will include stylish but uncomfortable headphones, a DC converter for car charging, and a built-in 30 minute doomsday countdown timer.

[AmishDude]

I wonder, given the English in the signs, who exactly they are trying to convert to their cause.

[Republican Red]

From the American Thinker artcle:

"Kyodo News Service of Japan reports that the Japanese government plans to charge the three hostages for the costs of the chartered airplane which took them from Iraq to Dubai immediately after their release. The government reckons this bill at 660,000 yen (approximately $6000). Meanwhile, the Asahi quotes a senior ruling party official as saying that the total cost to the government of the incident is about two billion yen (approximately $18.46 million dollars), which some influential politicians want to bill directly to the families of the hostages, if only for symbolic value"

Wow, that's some symbolism. Hope her tearful family wasn't in on the scam 'cause it looks like they'll get stuck with the bill.

[ModelBreaker]

Is Japan still running those Breeder reactors. If so, they have plenty of plutonium to make bombs. Nukes in 2 years, at the outside, from the day of a decision.

I strongly suspect that it's nukes in about 2 days from decision.

I would be shocked if Japan does not have all the elements of nukes ready to go in separate parts ready for assembly and, amazingly enough, the nukes just happen to fit on ballistic missles Japan has in the closet that just happen to have enough range to hold all of China and NK at risk.

Any takers on that bet :)

[Centurion2000]

Japan is waking up from it's 55 year slumber. The world is getting more and more dangerous and the US can't protect everyone. The free world needs Japan to step up and take its place as one of the world's great powers.

Mark my words- Japan will become a nuclear power by the end of this decade.

About time. Of course, let us hope that Japan's and the USA's interests always coincide.

[Tallguy]

...amazingly enough, the nukes just happen to fit on ballistic missles Japan has in the closet that just happen to have enough range to hold all of China and NK at risk.

The Japanese already have a rocket capable of lifting a payload into orbit, so by definition, they already have at least an IRBM capability -- all they need in that neighborhood.

[humblegunner]

Cool!
There may be Samurai left after all.

[Bacon Man]

Cool!
There may be Samurai left after all.

Yes it's good to know there's still honor and courage in the Japaneese. Plus you know they make really cool cartoons. :)