Posted on 02/01/2015 7:05:19 PM PST by SeekAndFind
TOKYO — When Islamic State militants posted a video over the weekend showing the grisly killing of a Japanese journalist, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reacted with outrage, promising “to make the terrorists pay the price.”
Such vows of retribution may be common in the West when leaders face extremist violence, but they have been unheard of in confrontation-averse Japan — until now. The prime minister’s call for revenge after the killings of the journalist, Kenji Goto, and another hostage, Haruna Yukawa, raised eyebrows even in the military establishment, adding to a growing awareness here that the crisis could be a watershed for this long pacifist country.
“Japan has not seen this Western-style expression in its diplomacy before,” Akihisa Nagashima, a former vice minister of defense, wrote on Twitter. “Does he intend to give Japan the capability to back up his words?”
As the 12-day hostage crisis came to a grim conclusion with the killing of Mr. Goto, the world has suddenly begun to look like a much more dangerous place to a peaceful and prosperous nation that had long seen itself as immune to the sorts of violence faced by the United States and its Western allies.
Some described a level of shock not unlike that experienced by the Americans after the 2001 terrorist attacks, or the French after last month’s assault on the newspaper Charlie Hebdo and the murders in a kosher supermarket.
“This is 9/11 for Japan,” said Kunihiko Miyake, a former high-ranking Japanese diplomat who has advised Mr. Abe on foreign affairs. “It is time for Japan to stop daydreaming that its good will and noble intentions would be enough to shield it from the dangerous world out there. Americans have faced this harsh reality, the French have faced it, and now we are, too.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
That sounds pretty insane, you should ask the moderator to remove it.
The diaperheads should be much more worried about the Russians. Ever see a Russian get beheaded?
Japan’s military is greatly curtailed in size and scope due to the unconditional surrender agreement signed in 1945, we all know that. The big question is, given those constraints, what can they do? Send in some candy-ass ‘peace keeping’ mission that will be taken as more hostages?
Mothra, ninjas, yakuza, godzilla, speed racer...
Isis is doomed.
You left out the Sumo wrestlers.
I remain puzzled that Russia did not aggressively and decisively take this issue on. Maybe it happened behind the curtain but retribution in this case should have been dynamic and conclusive with few remains left.
“They always vow revenge but it never happens. ISIS always wins.”
The Japanese are the folks who put the ‘rape’ in the Rape Of Nanking”. Along with an “Off With Their Heads” routine that the Mad Queen would have envbied.
Muslims, historically speaking, have a long history of snatching defeat from the jaws of certain victory.
;-)
I long for someone who has respect and love for this Country and who will defend it to the end; the dude in the well and those related be damned
Russia will manipulate the situation for all it is worth.
It's getting old seeing bad, but in no way comparable acts, being compared to 9/11.
Uh-oh. ISIS may have opened a can of worms.
Does the heart of the Samurai still beat in Japan? It seems ISIS might find out.
“Islam will do what it wants in the US and the fed’s and local gov’t will go along with it. 9/11 to them never happened.”
It is said that a nation’s humor reflects is culture and past, so in that spirit:
A flight is delayed and an American Indian, a Cowboy, and a Muslim are waiting at a table in the airport when the Indian morosely said, “Once we were many, now we are few”.
The Muslim said, “Once we were few, now we are many, soon you will all be converted. What do you think of that?”
That’s when the Cowboy said, “We ain’t played Cowboys and Muslims, yet. But it’s a comin’.”
America is unique in that we are both heavily armed AND we see our leaders as elected servants, not masters.
IMHO, the last election was their last warning.
I’m assuming Japan has access to weapons grade plutonium and yellow cake. Am I incorrect? They had a reactor at Fukushima.
Will soon come the time ... seems though that 0bama is on their side ....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.