Posted on 04/26/2013 11:52:16 PM PDT by Olog-hai
Since becoming Japan’s prime minister for a second time last December, Shinzo Abe has done a decent job of keeping his nationalistic instincts in check, choosing to focus instead on reviving the world’s third largest economy. But this week, with his administration buoyant in the polls amid positive signs for the economy, the “other” Shinzo Abe has stepped into the spotlight in dramatic style, angering Japan’s neighbors and possibly fomenting another round of regional tension. …
(Abe) has made no secret of his desire to reinterpret Japan’s wartime past, distance himself from apologies issued by his predecessors, and, critically, rewrite the Constitution imposed by the US-led postwar occupation forces. …
Asked if he would consider revising an apology for Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula first issued in 1995 by then-Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama, he replied: “The definition of what constitutes aggression has yet to be established in academia or in the international community. Things that happened between nations will look differently depending on which side you view them from.”
South Korea responded today by summoning Japan’s ambassador in Seoul to lodge a formal protest, while the country’s new president, Park Geun-hye, warned Tokyo against “aggravating the scars of the past.” …
(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...
Ut oh, I have a dear friend traveling to Japan next month. Why, I have no idea!
You mean go back to a time when the military was operating under a territorial expansion agenda bringing it into conflict with the whole world ? Sort of like China today.
On a purely objective level there is a good deal of similarity between the rationale for British, French, Dutch, German, etc. expansion in the 16th thru 19th centuries, and for Japanese expansion in the 20th.
The Japanese modeled their imperial moves in early 20th century after the europeans.
The Chinese are modeling their imperial moves after the Japanese of the early 20th century.
With Obama in power, I understand perfectly why Shinzo Abe displays resilience and resolve to his enemies, and he is no friend of Obamas, just as Bibi Nethanyahu is no friend of Obama's. They know that Obama is a traitorus pustule on the face pf US history, one who betrays his allies as a matter pf personal campaign imposed on a nation of low information votes, just as happened in Germany pre WWII. Obama's weakness will cause nothing but more war and deeath around the world as it already has. If Obama was a strong traditional patriotic president, Shinzo Abe could afford to be apologetic and meek. Now he cannot.I look forward to Shinzo Abe continuing politely to kick the asses that Obama will not. Abe Samma, gambate O ku desai!
” With Obama in power, I understand perfectly why Shinzo Abe displays resilience and resolve to his enemies, and he is no friend of Obamas, just as Bibi Nethanyahu is no friend of Obama’s. They know that Obama is a traitorus pustule on the face pf US history, one who betrays his allies as a matter pf personal campaign imposed on a nation of low information votes, just as happened in Germany pre WWII. Obama’s weakness will cause nothing but more war and deeath around the world as it already has. If Obama was a strong traditional patriotic president, Shinzo Abe could afford to be apologetic and meek. Now he cannot.I look forward to Shinzo Abe continuing politely to kick the asses that Obama will not. Abe Samma, gambate O ku desai! “
Agreed!
Abe has just been shot.
Yes, and killed.
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