Japan Ups Diplomatic Pressure on Mexico

WINS News ^ | 3/11/03

[DontMessWithMyCountry]

Actually, they were quite cooperative and supportive when we were planning to go to Afghanistan; it was their Constitution which proscribed their offering up more direct assistance (i.e., militarily). And, for some odd reason, of the world leaders who came to view the NYC site post-9/11, and to offer their condolences, Prime Minister Koizumi's visage is the one that remains, to this day, etched in my memory. I think he had sincere sympathy...and to a great degree, possibly given Japan's own history...great empathy, for our losses.

[happygrl]

A timely reminder of the perfidy of our neighbor to the south.

Now, nearly a century later, I wonder if it will be revealed to us that the Chinese have 10,000 troops in Mexico ?

[doug from upland]

Amazing how geopolitics changes in a generation or two.

[thinktwice]

Mexico today thinks they will soon own California.

They've forgotten that the 1914 Battle of Vera Cruz was a one day affair.

[Red Dog #1]

In addition to being a good friend Japan isn't stupid. They know that how Iraq plays out is a major factor in solving the Korean problem. Ditto for give France's seat to Japan. There much more of a economic world player than France and have the potential for becoming an even bigger military power. I beleive they're already in the top 5 world military spenders.

[Red Dog #1]

Maybe we should let the French have a special small role to save their pride. How about sharpening the pencils and taking out the trash.

[emt_27]

Now the B-2 flights begin!

[DontMessWithMyCountry]

Maybe we should let the French have a special small role to save their pride. How about sharpening the pencils and taking out the trash.

How narrow-minded of you to overlook their full capabilities! With all the sniffing they're so fond of (wine corks, cheese, despot butts), I can't believe you didn't think we could entrust them to clean the bathrooms, too ;-)

[Red Dog #1]

I though about that. But have you ever seen a French restroom? We should have respect their pride, but there's no reason to endanger our health either.

[FryingPan101]

WOW! Thanks very much,Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi!

[Britton J Wingfield]

ping

[Britton J Wingfield]

Thanks for theinfo. I sent them a nice email.

[Pragmatist]

It's true that Japan is aware that a strong US is needed to deal with the North Korea problem, and they have a vested interest in supporting us. The North Korea problem is really China using North Korea to create problems for us, and get us out of the far east. Japan obviously doesn't want us out of the area.

I must add that believe it or not, however, the country whose UN voting record has historically most closely mirrored our own is Japan. Japan has been a very consistent and WILLING ally of the US since WWII. While not a major military power, they are a powerful friend because of the enormous size and technological prowess of their economy (second only to our own). This gives us additional leverage around the world with many nations, including Mexico.

It's also worth noting that since 1854, Japan has been friendly to the US with the exception of the years 1924 to 1945. In 1924, Congress passed the Japanese exclusion act which prohibited further Japanese emigration to this country, and which the Japanese found highly offensive. Even a cursory examination of FDR's behavior toward Japan reveals that he was deliberately prodding Japan towards war with us. Hoover later wrote that "If you put enough pins in a rattlesnake, it will bite." Pearl Harbor didn't happen in a vacuum. FDR had in the months previous seized all Japanese assets in the US (a recognized act of war), and refused to sell them oil or other raw materials. While Japan was stupid to bomb Pearl Harbor (a military installation unlike WTC), FDR had backed them into a corner where Japan felt war was inevitable. FDR has as much or more to blame for Pearl Harbor as Japan did.

Pragmatist

[hchutch]

Japan has good reason to. They have first-hand experience of what we do when we are EXTREMELY ANGRY.

I still don't think the Russians will veto. I don't know what Ivanov's been smoking, but Putin was saying "no veto".

[js1138]

Japan knows how profitable it is to get your butt kicked by Uncle Sam.