[AmericanInTokyo]

To be balanced and fair here, in private I am sure Japanese officialdom, in the majority, are fuming about the “new” Rice, Dr. Susan Rice, and of course, over Teleprompter-in-Chief as well. They might be a bit muted since these are actually in power in D.C., but time will tell. Maybe after a few cold Kirin beers, most J. politicians will give you their “honne” about the Messiah and his foreign policy staff in the aftermath of this fiasco and failed test.

[ScaniaBoy]

Thanks for the post. Very interesting. Obambi may downsize the US nuclear forces but unless he changes the US foreign policy towards NK and Iran post-haste, we will probably see many more countries join the nuclear arms race.

Barack Obama, the rabbit in North Korea's headlights, is Jimmy Carter II

[MimirsWell]

It’s likely that the new and traditional allies in Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and the Caucasus will leave America behind and forge their own alliance.

Maybe in 2012, the US can catch up if it is still standing on both its legs.

[philly-d-kidder]

I prefer Sapporro beer.. and My sake heated in a Cedar box!

[cookcounty]

"To be balanced and fair here, in private I am sure Japanese officialdom, in the majority, are fuming about the “new” Rice, Dr. Susan Rice, and of course, over Teleprompter-in-Chief as well. They might be a bit muted since these are actually in power in D.C., but time will tell. "

For the always diplomatic Japanese, a bold way to warn Obama that he'd better take the NORKs more sereiously, orthey might go nuclear (which for them is simply a matter of deciding to do it + 12 months of work).