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Japan rejects US calls for apology over 'comfort women'
Guardian ^ | Tuesday July 31, 2007 | Justin McCurry

Posted on 07/31/2007 4:02:22 PM PDT by indcons

Japan today said it regretted a US congressional resolution demanding that it formally apologise for the use of tens of thousands of Asian women as sex slaves during the second world war, and insisted it had already made amends to the victims.

The US House of Representatives passed a nonbinding resolution calling on the Japanese government to "formally acknowledge, apologise and accept historical responsibility in a clear and unequivocal manner" for the sexual enslavement of as many as 200,000 "comfort women" in the 30s and 40s.

The victims, mostly from Korea, China and the Philippines, were taken from their homes and sent to an estimated 2,000 frontline brothels across Asia, according to some historians.

"The resolution is regrettable," the Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, told reporters. "I explained my views and the government's response on this matter during my visit to the US in April."

Then, Mr Abe said he stood by an unofficial 1993 apology made by the then chief cabinet secretary that acknowledged the military had coerced the women.

Previously, however, he had claimed there was no evidence of coercion and aligned himself with nationalist Japanese MPs who insist the women were procured by private contractors.

The resolution, proposed by the California Democrat Mike Honda, had threatened to damage relations between Japan and its closest military ally.

(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; Japan; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 110th; apology; japan; mikehonda; sexslavery; shinzoabe; ww2
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Posted earlier today: Japan sex slavery apology sought
1 posted on 07/31/2007 4:02:24 PM PDT by indcons
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To: indcons

How is this the US Congress’ business?


2 posted on 07/31/2007 4:03:56 PM PDT by pissant (Duncan Hunter: Warrior, Statesman, Conservative)
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To: pissant

I was wondering the same thing. I think it’s a terrible thing to have happened, but it’s our business to demand an apology....why????


3 posted on 07/31/2007 4:06:01 PM PDT by PinkDolphin (It's the work of true education to train youth to be thinkers, not mere reflectors of other men.)
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To: indcons

Gee. This will make us more popular. And when our Japanese ally turns against us, of course, it will be Bush’s fault.


4 posted on 07/31/2007 4:06:56 PM PDT by Blogger
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To: pissant

Once again the democrats feel the necessity to harass, embarass and insult our friends and allies. How about passing a non-binding resolution against our enemies in Venezula and Iran, Pelosi and Reid? Oh I forgot, they are allies of yours!


5 posted on 07/31/2007 4:07:35 PM PDT by jrooney (The democrats are the friend of our enemy and the enemy of our friends. Attack them, not GW!)
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To: PinkDolphin

Just fine tuning my tagline.


6 posted on 07/31/2007 4:07:55 PM PDT by PinkDolphin (It's the work of true educ. to train youth to be thinkers,not mere reflectors of other's thoughts.)
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To: indcons
Oh yea, isolate our second strongest ally over something that happened over 50 years ago that they’ve already apologized for..
7 posted on 07/31/2007 4:07:55 PM PDT by mnehring (Ron Paul is as much of a Constitutionalist as Fred Phelps is a Christian)
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To: indcons

This happened over 60 years ago, and Japan has already apologised on numerous occasions.

What this is is a Democratic Congress trying to sour relations with a steadfast ally of a Republican administration.


8 posted on 07/31/2007 4:07:59 PM PDT by Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus (Fred Dalton Thompson for President)
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To: PinkDolphin

Exactly. If they had used Americans as “comfort women” I would understand.

If anything, let the Koreans and Chinese demand the apologies.


9 posted on 07/31/2007 4:08:11 PM PDT by dfwgator (The University of Florida - Still Championship U)
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To: indcons

How about China Korea and everyone else get this ‘apology’ from the Japanese? WTF business is it of the UNITED STATES Congress to stick up for these people?


10 posted on 07/31/2007 4:09:26 PM PDT by Centurion2000 (Killing all of your enemies without mercy is the only sure way of sleeping soundly at night.)
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To: pissant

It’s nothing more than racial pandering by the race-obsessed Democrats. Trust me, if there weren’t Asians in this guy’s district, this wouldn’t have happened.


11 posted on 07/31/2007 4:09:46 PM PDT by A_Former_Democrat
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To: Blogger
Dig deeper. These “hearings” have been going on for months. The rep from the Samoans is the head of the entire sham, and looking to stir the pot.
12 posted on 07/31/2007 4:10:21 PM PDT by ishabibble (ALL-AMERICAN INFIDEL)
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To: indcons

Why is the US Congress inserting itself into this issue?


13 posted on 07/31/2007 4:11:11 PM PDT by silverleaf (Fasten your seat belts- it's going to be a BUMPY ride.)
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To: pissant
1. Democrats are anti-American.
2. Congress is controlled by Democrats.
3. Japan is a loyal, steadfast ally of the United States.
4. Therefore, why miss an opportunity to embarass one of our friends?
14 posted on 07/31/2007 4:25:55 PM PDT by Vigilanteman (Are there any men left in Washington? Or are there only cowards? Ahmad Shah Massoud)
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To: pissant
How is this the US Congress’ business?

It is the business of the democrats to demand apologies from everyone except themselves.

15 posted on 07/31/2007 4:35:37 PM PDT by taxesareforever (Never forget Matt Maupin)
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To: indcons

I have just unanimously adopted a resolution calling on Bill Clinton to apologize for using White House interns as “comfort women”, and to apologize for raping Juanita Broaddrick.


16 posted on 07/31/2007 4:37:16 PM PDT by advance_copy (Stand for life, or nothing at all)
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To: indcons

Goes anyone know the vote count and voted for this useless resolution designed to embaress Our Ally sixty years later!
Bugeyes strikes AGAIN!


17 posted on 07/31/2007 4:37:53 PM PDT by True Republican Patriot (God Bless America and The Republicans)
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To: taxesareforever
"It is the business of the democrats to demand apologies from everyone except themselves."

Except our enemies, whom they love to visit to assure them they are on the same page against the GW administration.
18 posted on 07/31/2007 4:38:44 PM PDT by jrooney (The democrats are the friend of our enemy and the enemy of our friends. Attack them, not GW!)
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To: indcons
When are the liberal Democrats going to apologize for centuries of “middle class slavery”?

Millions of white middle-class men forced to work 5 days a week to support their families until many of them dropped dead from coronary heart disease.

19 posted on 07/31/2007 4:47:53 PM PDT by Fido969 ("The hardest thing in the world to understand is income tax." - Albert Einstein)
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To: Blogger

I have the feeling this has more to do with pleasing China than combating President Bush. Keep an eye on China this election cycle!


20 posted on 07/31/2007 5:12:07 PM PDT by Tai_Chung
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