Posted on 11/21/2009 9:18:54 AM PST by AmericanInTokyo
"(Japan Prime Minister) Hatoyama Vs.Obama -- The Scandal That Nobody Will Report" (由紀夫 vs オバマ「書かれざるスキャンダル」）
Reporters at the weekly Shukan Bunshun news magazine here in Tokyo, Japan have written a rather caustic report about President Obama's 23 hours in Tokyo last week, from a frank Japanese perspective, exclusively in the Japanese language, and released to the newstands just now. In that sense this is more or less an *FR Exclusive*. A number of eye-opening claims, pieces of information and details emerge about Obama's brief stay in Japan as part of his disastrous Asian trip--over and above the very controversial, near-"dogeza" bow delivered as a Head of State of a superpower to the Emperor of Japan. There is criticism in this article for both the Obama Administration and their behavior, as well as within the Japanese government either in response or through their own incompetence. Either way, it does not make for a very pretty picture and is squarely at odds with the Administration which announced upon arrival in the US that the Asian trip was a "success". By what benchmark?
This Japanese magazine is a major weekly publication in Japan. I have as a courtesy provided a synopsis English translation, not word-for-word, of the main gist of the article. As always, the original Japanese authors' Japanese language version of the article prevails over the English. For general discussion, research and historical purposes.
I wonder if he takes his Teleprompter to the meetings.
There is indeed an effort to reduce, or reduce the appearance of, "American Exceptionalism" in foreign policy circles, particularly among the elites. To me, the photograph encapsulates that very succinctly.
The pleasure is all mine, bronxville. You are too kind.
Indeed, that is what all the bowing and scraping is all about -- sending a message that America is now submissive, rather than assertive.
There are protocol officers at the State department, at the embassies and there are protocol officers attached to the White House. He knows better. But he does it anyway.
This is a studied effort to reduce America's standing in the world. I wonder if the incessant rudeness and patent incompetence are part of that same effort -- or just another manifestation of Zero's inexperience.
There was a question from the US Press Corps traveling with the White House, very important in my mind, as to if Obama got some protocol advice along these lines to do it. Their answer would tell is a) State Department incompetence--or maybe even a "set up", or b) deliberate effort by Obama to humiliate the USA on the world stage through imagery.
And yet, they laughed off the question.
Or maybe it was one of those "we will have to get back to you on that" kind of Gibbs-thangs. They never did address this. To me it is a pivotal question.
But it's not the kind of question that this press corps is prone to asking. Nor is it the kind of question this administration is keen on answering.
Accordingly, like all "pivotal questions" about this administration, it will remain unanswered (if not unasked).
Three...more...years...of...this...crap.
Translation?
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Thanks!
I’m not very good about that. Apologies in advance,
Emperor: "Who is this fool?"
Empress: "I think perhaps a shoe salesman?"
Thanks for both!
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