JAPAN PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR USA AND PRESIDENT BUSH... (New U.N. resolution unneeded for attack)

The Asahi Shimbun ^ | March 18, 2003 | TARO KARASAKI

[sam_paine]

Chirac ....absolute clown...makes those funny facial expressions.

I was noticing that in a bar the other nite with CNN on in the background with the sound off. He does all sorts of silly eye contact and eyebrow-raising...and periodically, he glances over at a camera or someone off stage. I wonder if GW saw into Chiraq's soul?????

[AmericanInTokyo]

This is good, of course, for us at this time. It is greatly appreciated and welcome.

But quite frankly IMHO (and posting here for review a year or two down the line on FR) this is not 100% entirely altruism on the part of Tokyo, though.

Looking further down the line:

--Japan is immensely frightened by bully North Korea and leans heavily on the USA to remove that cancer once and for all from it's own neighborhood later this year.

--Japan will ask for a Permanant Seat on the Security Council. They have wanted and lobbied for this for 10 years. Here is their big break.

--Japan will remain protectionist, and does not want the USA to bring up ANY more trade issues for the next 20 years, no matter how closed Japanese products or markets are for American companies.

Here's where the backroom wheeling and dealing is taking place right now, IMHO.

Not a value judgement, just an assessment of the factors at work here.

[NC Conservative]

This can not be true. We do not have world support. Except for Britain Japan Bulgaria and Spain and others. I guess this list is not good enough for lib blowhards.

[headsonpikes]

Dai Nippon!

Feels a little funny. ;^)

[Hila]

ARIGATO, thank you Japan for doing what is right.

[Smile-n-Win]

this is not 100% entirely altruism on the part of Tokyo, though.

Altruism is certainly not what freedom-loving people expect of one another, IMHO. Japan could be serving her self-interest dishonorably--as France does, for example--or honorably, as she actually chose to do. She can try and look important lecturing the U.S. about sophistication, multilateralism etc. while doing deals with Saddam behind the scene--or she can choose to win the Americans' friendship and goodwill by making a stand for liberty.

Although the second choice is clearly the more positive and rational one, it is not the more popular one in terms of "world opinion" as represented by the media. In other words, Japan has made a rational but bold and "unpopular" decision. That's why I think she deserves a big "domo arigato" and "ganbatte kudasai."