Posted on 04/30/2015 9:28:59 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
WASHINGTON (AP) — Prime Minister Shinzo Abe offered condolences Wednesday for Americans killed in World War II in the first address by a Japanese leader to a joint meeting of Congress, but stopped short of apologizing for wartime atrocities.
Abe came to Capitol Hill after a morning visit to a Washington memorial to more than 400,000 American service members who died in the conflict. His remarks to a packed chamber a day after meeting President Barack Obama were warmly received by lawmakers.
"My dear friends, on behalf of Japan and the Japanese people, I offer with profound respect my eternal condolences to the souls of all American people that were lost during World War II," he said, prompting his audience to rise in applause.
But he skirted another issue that some U.S. lawmakers had also been urging him to address in what is the 70th anniversary year of the end of war — the sexual slavery of tens of thousands of Asian women by Japan's military, which remains a sore point with another staunch U.S. ally, South Korea. One of 53 surviving Korean victims, Yong Soo-lee, 87, was in the gallery to watch Abe's address, seated in a wheelchair.
Instead, the Japanese prime minister expressed "feelings of deep remorse over the war." He acknowledged that "our actions brought suffering to the peoples in Asian countries, we must not avert our eyes from that." That won't satisfy his critics, who want Abe to do more than "uphold" the apologies for wartime abuses made by his predecessors.
Democratic Rep. Mike Honda, who invited Yong to attend, said it was "shocking and shameful" that Abe was evading his government's responsibility over atrocities committed by the Imperial Army against so-called "comfort" women.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
I was scolded so bad for asking for this. “oh he wasn’t alive blah blah” well he did the right thing and I am VERY grateful. I shall probably not be around long as there is a cantankerous group calling me a troll and probably trying to get me kicked off. Whatever. That’s a good way to keep enrollment and funding up s/
I m a hardcore conservative Cruz supporter but you can’t disagree with a said few on this board, and that is patently absurd. I hope Jim at least reviews past posts before deciding if someone is a “Troll” or not.
Jesus Christ I have five thousands posts supporting cruz
I’m ticked off.
South Korea is was not impressed with Japan’s Prime Minister remarks.
I've never thought any apology was necessary......War is war, always has been and always will be. We won, Japan lost and paid dearly for their actions and life goes on.....
This clearly shows difference between Turkey and japan. One has become a civilized society the other refuses to.
War is war yes. But you can’t move on without recognizing what took place as with the Ottomans (turkey)
Does it matter if he was alive then? He represent Japan. President of Turkey represents Turkey yet he refuses to accept their actions.
you’d be surprised at the responses I got. Wow. But everyone’s entitled to their opinion. Next apologize to China and Korea and we’re set.
And you are right. Those who don’t want Abe to apologize should leave Ergoden alone to deny the genocide of Armenians.
No worries, Lord Foul will apologize for America daring to defend itself, but most especially for winning the war. He will further make sure to point out his feeling that there was nothing exceptional about America or those who sacrificed their lives in the Pacific theater.
Why?
That war has been over for almost 70 years. Unless he’s apologizing to a living veteran, widow or orphan of that war, ENOUGH.
The biggest lesson of that war isn’t about the actions of the enemy, its our own naivety and unpreparedness.
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