Posted on 03/30/2009 5:47:22 AM PDT by AmericanInTokyo
From earlier today, our time:
And, if you keep your eyes peeled, you may spot one of a number of Japan Self Defense manned PAC-3 Patriot missile batteries out in the open in downtown Tokyo these days.
Video might be good for another 12 hours or so.
It’s good practice, but I doubt NK is insane enough to start something serious.
The Japanese sound pretty fired up over this.
I dearly hope that they aren’t counting on Hussein to do anything about it. - other than wasting fuel dispatching warships that he will never allow to be used...
The current conservative LDP administration, which has not been too popular, is seeing its approval ratings start to rise in the last few days, probably because the DPJ's inner problems, but also, the Japanese People (except for a few assorted Communists and Socialists on the fringes) starting to pull together mentally.
日本*ピング* (kono risuto ni hairitai ka detai wo shirasete kudasai : let me know if you want on or off this list)
They are starting to wake up.
I have even noticed some of the optimism and excitement about him wearing off in a number of personal discussions, after all their ebullience following what the Western and their own liberal media told them to believe about that fool.
As a sensitive, studious people, they sense weakness like a shark senses blood in the water. He is liable to lose a lot of respect over this--one hopes he makes the right moves. He is going to have a full plate in a few days.
I have to say, Japan has moved a good deal of distance in the last 20 years in terms of crisis management, although they have a ways to go, I have seen real improvements. One can only hope.
Wouldn't the exhaust blast from a missile launch in downtown Tokyo be somewhat "messy"?
Or are they just driving through town?
Emplacing the radar anywhere town would also produce all manner of RF unpleasantness.
PS not only Japanese are getting worked up these days, this photo (below) from downtown SEOUL, South Korea just this afternoon with some fairly tweaked folks:
there are some operational aspects of this i prefer not to go into, but, not to worry ;-)
Ping.
I’ve been reading your posts on FR for quite some time.
Your posts are always interesting and provide an unique perspective about the events in the Far East.
I live in New England, and the media here seems to ignore the important stories from your part of the world on a consistent basis.
I’d like to thank-you for posting, and I hope you continue to do so.
Maybe not, but better safe than sorry. If nothing else, the Patriot batteries could be useful if the missile malfunctions, or some of the junk (spent stages?) gets a little too close to Japan.
I don’t think Comrade Ronery is going to launch a missile strike on Japan, but on the other hand, that’s not exactly a Mercedes out on the pad. More like a mid-80s Hyundai, before they actually started making good cars. Keeping the JSDF on alert just in case the stupid thing messes up (a high probability) is the prudent thing to do IMO.
}:-)4
N.K.’s Dear Leader is dieing, and he wants to go out with a bang...a very big bang. Bringing on a world war would insure him a great and grand place in history.
thanks for that seal of approval! ;0)
I would not be surprised if one of our US officers fell on his sword and fired off a counter-missile if the nunbers lined up.
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