Japan PM Abe quits after year of scandal and crisis

Reuters via Yahoo! ^ | 09/12/07 | Yoshiyasu Shida

[Abathar]

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe abruptly announced his resignation on Wednesday after a year in power dogged by scandals, an election rout and a crisis over Japan's support for U.S.-led operations in Afghanistan.

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The hawkish Abe, who took office promising to boost Japan's global security profile, had seen his clout dwindle after a drubbing in upper house elections in July, but the announcement came as a bolt out of the blue.

"I determined today that I should resign," a weary-looking Abe told a news conference.

Senior officials said health was a factor in the decision but Abe said he was going because a new prime minister would be better able to resolve a deadlock over extending a controversial mission to support U.S. military efforts in Afghanistan.

Abe, at 52 Japan's youngest prime minister since the end of World War Two, reshuffled his cabinet only last month to rekindle public approval, but a poll this week showed support was stuck below 30 percent.

"There are many things I reflect on," the soft-spoken grandson of another prime minister said. "It is my responsibility that my old and new cabinet could not secure the public's trust."

Japanese stocks fell and the yen dipped briefly on concerns about political uncertainty.

Abe aides were not available to comment on speculation that an article was about to be published in a tabloid magazine on suspicions that Abe had evaded taxes, and that this had dictated the timing of his departure.

SUCCESSOR RACE

Abe will stay on in a caretaker role until a successor is chosen from his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in a party election that officials proposed be held on September 19.

LDP Secretary-General Taro Aso, a close Abe ally who shares most of his hawkish views on security policy

[edcoil]

Pres Estrada now in jail, Putnam dissolves Russian government, Detroit mayor down, countless “politicians” in jail our under expensive investigations -

politics is truly a corrupt business world wide.

[RoadTest]

It’s pretty interesting that the day after Abe announces his resignation, Putin dissolves his government.

The Great Wall of China was only breached when a guard was bribed.

My point is that they’re waging the war against us, not with external weapons, but by placing key stooges in key places, like Nancy Pelosi and Dingy Harry.

Perhaps a stooge will now be placed in Japan, a very key bulwark in the Western Pacific.

[Abathar]

The likely successor to Abe is also a hawk like him, I don't think this is what is going on. He has had a lot of problems with his cabinet, and honor over there is still something they take pride in.

I think he has read the writing on the wall and is doing what he thinks is best for Japan myself, something we have forgotten in American politics a long time ago.

[lesser_satan]

Thank you for your service to Japan and the world, Prime Minister Abe. You are a wonderful ally and you will be missed. Best of luck in future endeavors.

[RoadTest]

That’s heartening.