Hatoyama: move Futenma to Guam?

Despite heavy U.S. pressure, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama appears to have given up on resolving the controversial relocation of a U.S. Marine base in Okinawa before year's end and is now floating Guam as an option.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20091205a2.html

Comment: Moving this portion of the Marine Air Wing to Guam, though in my opinion as a long term future solution, is ultimately the right move. However, in the short term, this would essentially mean moving all of the Marines currently in Okinawa to Guam and the Northern Marianas too. The Marine Corps mission means having helicopters near the troops. Guam is 2000 Km away and thus out of range for continuing training as well as, should the worst possible scenario take place, providing air support in actual combat.

This would mean the closure of many U.S. bases on Okinawa which, in the immediate, would please only the anti-U.S. fanatics. However, in their myopic shortsightedness, they do not see the harm this will cause the Okinawan people economically. In short, though idyllic, it will do far more harm than good for the people of Okinawa!

If the Marine bases on Okinawa were to suddenly close, thousands of Okinawan’s would lose their livelihoods. In addition to the rent monies that land owners receive, thousands of local people depend on the bases for their jobs. Secondarily to this are all of the local businesses whose main source of income is the U.S. service personnel and their families. Not only would many lose their jobs, many would be forced into bankruptcy. This is a recipe for disaster.

 

Okada visits; presses for Kadena-Futenma solution

Japan Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada spent two days visiting Okinawa, studying plans for building a new Marine airfield to replace the controversial Futenma Marine Corps Air Station in downtown Ginowan City.

http://www.japanupdate.com/?id=9931

One has to remember that Mr. Okada was once the former head of the DPJ until his party lost in a landside to former Prime Minister Koizumi’s Liberal Demagogue-Rat Party (LDP) a few years back. Back then, some attributed the landslide loss to Mr. Okada’s tunnel vision, a trait that he seems to still posses to this day.

Mr. Okada’s plan is a band-aid solution that the locals rightly see as giving them short shrift on the deal, something they’re used to getting from the former ruling party, the (LDP). As such, it’s likely that such a move could result in big wins for opposition parties in the next go round of elections. Unfortunately for all concerned, that could end up being the communists.

The general Okinawan position on the issue is sort of an, “oh well, it’s been real, it’s even been fun at times, and except for a handful of nimrods, we really don’t hate you but, it’s come time for all you American’s to pack up their toys and go home.” When it comes to the situation on Okinawa, one can liken the Americans to the bad party guest who’s normally fun to be around when they’re sober but, unfortunately gets too drunk and then refuses to leave even after everyone else has left and gone home. That’s sort of what Okinawan’s are like when they party which may in a small way explain why they’ve tolerated the American military presence here for as long as they have.

The hard line Okinawan position, represented by a growing minority of Okinawans, a majority if you are foolish enough to believe what you see and hear from the mainstream media, is for ALL of the AMERICANS here TO pack up their toys and LEAVE no later than YESTERDAY! This is just as, if not more, unrealistic as Mr. Okada’s plan. Similarly, the American plan of keeping so many bases in Okinawa in perpetuity is likewise unrealistic, maybe even immoral!

With all of the sides dug in deep and digging themselves in deeper, a much needed compromise is becoming more in doubt. For that to happen, all of the sides will have to give up something if we are to reach an agreement that is equitable. The U.S. must consider a more serious drawdown of forces, as well as a more significant consolidation of the bases in Okinawa. But this is a long term project that will take decades to accomplish. That is where the Okinawan’s must be willing to compromise.

Lastly, If America does agree, Japan as a sovereign nation must step up its own self defense. They already have a capable Navy and more must be done by Tokyo to wean them off of reliance on the U.S. for this all important national responsibility. That does not mean that the alliance will go away, nor does it mean that all of the bases on Okinawa will go away. Quite simply it means that Tokyo will have to do a better job of taking care of its own and stop playing both sides (Americans vs. Okinawans) against each other while they try to remain unscathed and above the fray. That position didn’t help the LDP in the last election and it won’t help the DPJ keep the helm either.

As far as filling in the bay to build the runways at Camp Schwab, in my opinion, that’s not such a good idea. In the interim, the handful of fixed wing assets still left at Futenma (A few C130 refueling tankers) could be moved to Kadena but, a sizeable heliport on the peninsula at Camp Schwab large enough to facilitate all of the rotary assets would allow for the Marines to continue their mission.

What is needed here is a long term plan for Japan to step up to its responsibilities to its people and as that happens, a withdrawal of most American forces to its own territories in Hawaii, Guam and the Mariana’s leaving only a small footprint in Japan. To make that happen, the political rhetoric has to tone down and the warring factions need to listen to, instead of shouting past each other.

 

Hatoyama, key ministers split on Futenma

Japan’s defense and foreign ministers seemingly are in agreement that Futenma Marine Corps Air Station—or its replacement to the north—should remain on Okinawa, while the Prime Minister continues to signal there’s no rush on deciding what to do about the controversial air station.

http://www.japanupdate.com/?id=9897

Comment: With a mayoral election looming in Nago City, where the replacement field is proposed to be built, they’re now resorting to making it look as though Governor Nakaima is waffling on the issue. It’s a political maneuver to make him look weak and nothing could be further from the truth! I agree with Mr. Okada that certain fixed wing operations could be shifted to Kadena and a smaller facility could be built to facilitate helicopter operations at Camp Schwab. Even then, this would be a short term solution and not the one size fits all that he apparently envisions.

I seriously doubt that the citizens who live in and around Kadena Air base could ever be convinced to go along with this plan. Short term in this situation would likely mean several decades! Eventually a larger, more significant, portion of U.S. military forces could be moved out of Okinawa to Guam, the Northern Marianas and even to Iwo Jima. The latter was recently thrown in as a last minute proposal. But even if such a grand long term plan were to be implemented, don’t think that all U.S. military operations will be moved completely out of Okinawa.

For the life of me, I can’t ever see Kadena Air Base closed, at least not in my lifetime, nor can I foresee training facilities like Camp’s Hansen and Schwab closed either. In regards to the latter, they would make excellent joint training facilities for U.S. and Japanese forces as well as a place to preposition material for contingency operations in the Far East theatre. As such, I can’t ever see them being closed down either.

 

Okada claims air base merger plan was his idea

Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said Thursday that the plan to integrate the functions of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station with U.S. Kadena Air Base was his idea.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20091030TDY01301.htm

Comment: And AlGore invented the internet! I could just have easily said that he stole my idea. I’ve written on this very subject extensively in previous posts. But for me to do so would be a lie, just as it is for Mr. Okada. I don’t know who it was who proposed this idea first but it happened many years ago. Both the U.S. Air Force and the people of Kadena town answered with an emphatic NO! Don’t expect any changes just because of Mr. Okada’s overinflated ego makes him think that because the “good-guys” like him are now in charge that he can win them over on the strength of his personality. What vanity!

Kadena plan a no-go: U.S.

WASHINGTON (Kyodo) The United States said Thursday it can't support the idea of transferring U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa to nearby U.S. Kadena Air Base due to operational difficulties.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nn20091031a3.html

Comment: The real reason is the Air Force doesn’t like it is because the Marine Corps will steal their girlfriends away from them! Though not ideal, the move could work as a temporary solution till either the Nago replacement facility is built or a suitable replacement facility is found outside of Okinawa. The Marines can’t perform their mission on Okinawa without helicopter capabilities in Okinawa. Guess that means they’re either moving the air base to Nago or the Marines are leaving Okinawa. Who wants to take a bet on which way that will go?

How’s that “Hope and Change” working for you Okinawa? A lot of people here thought that an Obama presidency meant the U.S. military was soon to leave Okinawa altogether. Guess again! Mr. Obama railed against the Bush Administration for a host of different reasons, but once in power, they decided to stick with many of the very policies they so vehemently opposed. More than likely, in addition to all of this talk being just that, talk! This whole thing is just about making noise to appease the locals. My bet is after all the “smoke and mirrors,” a synonym for “Hope and Change” clears, the replacement facility will be built in Nago as planned!

Japan wants a SOFA change; right to keep criminal suspects

Japan and the United States may be gearing up for another bruising battle involving changes to the Status of Forces Agreement, as the new Prime Minister thinks his government should have the right to arbitrarily demand U.S. military personnel suspected of committing crimes in local communities be handed over to Japanese police.

http://www.japanupdate.com/?id=9891

Comment: The argument can be made that this certainly would go a long way in reducing the number of crimes committed by U.S. personnel stationed in Japan. Being non-SOFA myself and as such not afforded its extraterritorial protection, all I can say is abide by the law of the land that you’re in and more than likely you’ll have no trouble what-so-ever. That is especially true in a country like Japan that adheres to the rule of law. Lately it would seem that they adhere to it more than the U.S. does.

Sure there are concerns over questioning methods and protecting the rights of the accused. But that just strengthens my point! Don’t do the crime, if you can’t do the time. If more of these individuals who presently think that the SOFA agreement is a get-out-of-jail-free card had the fear of incarceration and jail time placed in the back of their heads that might deter some of the crime that takes place. Go ahead and put in a few safeguards for the rights of the accused, then turn the criminals over to the Japanese authorities expeditiously and watch the crime rate drop!

Quote of the Day:

“If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without blood shed; if you will not fight when your victory is sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves.”—Sir Winston Churchill

 

Note: This is a news and opinion blog on the happenings in Okinawa Japan and the Far East. The opinions expressed here are my own. I don’t comment on every article linked here but, ask that for the sake of context please read the articles, in there entirety, first.

Okinawa in the News:

Okada acknowledges U.S. ties, but cites need for talks

TOKYO — Japan’s new foreign minister on Wednesday again stressed the need for renewed talks about a long-term plan to realign troops on Okinawa.

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=65252

Urasoe City anxious over Camp Kinser’s 2014 return

Camp Kinser’s a quiet, idyllic logistics base in Urasoe City, and it’s on the list of six bases the U.S. military would like to return to land owners in 2014.

http://www.japanupdate.com/?id=9840

Senior citizens getting more adept at stealing

The number of senior citizens arrested and prosecuted for stealing is up more than 10% over a year ago.

http://www.japanupdate.com/?id=9846

Comment: I would think given the economic downturn that the number of seniors doing this because they’re hungry is higher than the 17% number given. I would venture to say that a good portion of the 70% when asked were just too proud to say they were starving! Unfortunately this is an indication of shifting values in Okinawa and not for the better. This is a culture that has always prided itself on taking care of the elderly.

Hatoyama Cabinet confirms U.S. base relocation accord must be reviewed

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's coalition government said Friday it will stick to its initial pledge to review plans to relocate U.S. forces within Okinawa, backtracking on earlier comments.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nn20091010a5.html

Comment: It’s looking more and more like Japan got “Hope and Change,” the sequel! Just like all of Obama’s statements have an expiration date, so too it would seem does any statement coming from the Hatoyama cabinet.

DPJ's budget-waste watchdog: ¥3 trillion in fat just a start

The Democratic Party of Japan will pare wherever possible wasteful government spending and also attempt to enhance the quality of the annual budget, state minister Yoshito Sengoku said Friday in an interview.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nb20091010a2.html

Comment: This is one of the areas in which I agree with the DPJ. There is far too much government waste. I further agree with the policy to end “amakudari.” But it’s probably pretty safe for me to say that every politician and party at every election since the dawn of democracy has vowed to end such practices. When parties in charge change, as we saw in the last election, history has shown us that what we usually end up with is a new fox running the hen house.

The DPJ is also using words like “transparency” to describe how they will govern. My sincere hope is they actually practice it. Transparency is precisely what the new American administration promised but they surely haven’t delivered on it. Nor, for that matter, have they delivered on any of the other promises they made. A recent Saturday Night Live skit addressed this rather appropriately. Is this what we have to look forward to here in Japan?

http://mashable.com/2009/10/06/snl-obama-accomplishments/

If Japan is to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent from 1990 levels by 2020 as targeted by the government, it would have to build one nuclear power plant every year, International Energy Agency Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka said Friday.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nb20091010a6.html

Comment: This is a good example of the law of unintended consequences in action. People seem to forget that all actions/decisions have consequences. Going green means going nuclear if you want to maintain your present level of comfort and lifestyle. If you forget all about the problem of what to do with nuclear waste, it’s the cleanest and most reliable source of energy anywhere. If that gives you the willies, there is always option “B” which is akin to living in third world squalor.

This whole “going green” and Japan “nuking up” issue reminded me of a man off the street interview I saw recently where some housewife up in mainland Japan said she thought that we should all switch to all electric cars because they don’t pollute! That’s the problem with the whole “Going Green” scam. It’s the old shell game. You know the one where the huckster has three shells and you have to guess which one has the pea under it. By the time most people figure out there is no pea under any of them, it’s too late.

The problem with “all electric” or even hybrid cars for that matter that people can’t see is they do pollute and in some cases, much more! First of all, the electricity from which they derive their power has to be generated at a power plant. That means coal, gas, or nuclear fuel is burned to make the electricity that is put into the car batteries. That means that electric cars are not “carbon neutral!” The second thing is the toxic chemicals that are in those car batteries are not easily disposed of after they are fully spent and can no longer maintain a proper charge.

In addition to the heavy metals and toxic materials in those batteries, let’s not forget all those lightweight composite and synthetic materials that are used to make the car lighter and more efficient. Don’t forget all of that electronic stuff like your car navigator and the onboard computers. That is made with heavy metals too. These materials are extremely difficult to dispose of and in many cases, they are likewise extremely toxic. So you just can’t bury them in the ground or burn them. Leaving them in a junkyard could result in those metals leaching into the ground and poisoning the groundwater.  

Lastly, even with an “all electric” car, you just can’t get away from petroleum products. There are plastics used throughout the vehicle for a wide variety of different parts and just in case you didn’t know, plastics are made from petroleum. You’ll also need petroleum products for the different fluids to lubricate the moving parts of your “all electric” car. Then there is the synthetic materials that make your tires last longer and don’t forget that asphalt to pave the roads and your driveway are all made from petroleum derivatives.

Thank you “Greenies,” in addition to all of the other stuff that we already had, your zealous adherence to your faith in Gaia has given us a host of new and potentially more toxic poisons to worry about! Who’s going to save us from them?

The Democratic Party of Japan has finally revamped its internal leadership framework after arduous negotiations following its resounding victory in the Aug. 30 House of Representatives election.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20091010TDY03105.htm

Comment: I wonder what Mr. Hatoyama will think when he finds out that he’s really not running the show? I find it funny that in eight years of George W. Bush, the press made fun about what a dolt he was and how Vice President Cheney was the power behind the throne. Here we actually see it happening in Japan (and most likely in the U.S. too) and nary a peep out of the press about it. At least nothing in a negative sense!

Japan, China, S Korea discuss North Korea's nukes

Leaders of China, Japan and South Korea began talks Saturday in Beijing amid signs that pressure on North Korea to rejoin nuclear disarmament negotiations may be yielding results.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/japan-china-s-korea-discuss-north-korea-nukes

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- The leaders of South Korea and Japan stood united Friday in saying North Korea should not be offered aid until the communist regime takes concrete steps to dismantle its nuclear weapons program.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20091009p2g00m0dm003000c.html

Scientist: Carbon Dioxide Doesn't Cause Global Warming

A noted geologist who coauthored the New York Times bestseller Sugar Busters has turned his attention to convincing Congress that carbon dioxide emissions are good for the Earth and don't cause global warming.

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2009/10/07/scientist-carbon-dioxide-doesnt-cause-global-warming.html

Comment: Well Duh!

YOKOHAMA (Kyodo) Police have turned a case over to prosecutors on an Ehime Prefecture man who allegedly threatened to shoot Kanagawa Gov. Shigefumi Matsuzawa for setting Japan's first local ordinance that bans smoking inside public facilities.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nn20091012b4.html

Comment: The above story is just a sign that things are getting stoopid on this side of the big pond too! The anti-Smoking Nazi’s have gone global and good intentioned though some of them may be, they are reaching farther and intruding more and more into people’s private lives. What should it matter to them if someone wants to smoke or not? In reality the only one being hurt is the smoker and it’s their choice as well as their responsibility for what happens to them as a result of their behavior.

I will readily admit that threatening bodily harm to anyone, regardless of whether that person is a public official or not, is something that the authorities should take seriously. Clearly the manner in which this man expressed his displeasure was over the line. Even if he isn’t prosecuted, this is Japan and he’ll likely lose his present job as well as his ability to find a new one as a result of this. There is an old Buddhist proverb that says “the nail that sticks up will be hammered down!”

Unfortunately that principle is not always practiced in equal measure across the board. When someone on the left makes idle threats against someone from the right side of the political isle, like making a movie about the assassination of a sitting President of the United States or wishing that the wife of a Supreme Court Justice would deliberately feed high fat food to give them a heart attack, this is too often excused by the press as a bad joke regardless if the person who said it was joking or not. But when the tables are turned, they don’t seem to be able to laugh quite so hard.

“Usually this prize is given to someone after a lifetime of achievement or at least after having some tangible achievements to their name. To give some idea, Theodore Roosevelt won it for having negotiated the end to the Russo-Japanese War. I have no doubt that there are worthy individuals and organizations who have toiled for much longer and achieved much more than Obama has been able to do in the past nine months. They have rewarded words over deeds and this is a bad precedent to set.”

~~~~~ Mr. Rick Blaine – Commenting to a blog thread in our Joke of the Week below.

“DingleBarry was given the Nobel prize for his excellence in handling the Skip Gates affair. Getting the professor and the cop together for a beer was pure genius and defused a potentially explosive situation. The prize money can be used to buy more beer to settle disputes in the future. All he is saying…… is give peace a chance.”

~~~~~ Mitch - Whose comment is immediately below Mr. Blaine’s in the afore mentioned thread.

“Shaken up the lines of cleavage”?? And this is worth the Nobel Prize? Did Regan and Thatcher get it for winning the cold war and liberating most of Eastern Europe??”

“Don’t make me laugh. I read that the closing date for nominations was 1 Feb – so go figure what Obama achieved in 11 days.”

~~~~~ Flightpath – Further down the thread.

“Never in the course of human events has one man done so little to have been rewarded so much!”

~~~~~ Me!

As usual, the real  joke of the week isn’t a joke but as always, the joke is on us!

Obama's won the Nobel Peace – WTF?!

Barack Obama has won the Nobel Peace prize and I’m still reeling at the shock. Most of us are, I should think.

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100013074/obamas-won-the-nobel-peace-wtf/

There was a time when the Nobel Peace Prize meant something. It went to men and women who earned their stature with lives of courage such as Andrei Sakharov who openly opposed the oppression of the former Soviet Union and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who gave his life for the cause of equality in which he believed.

Giving the prize to Barack Hussein Obama has rendered it a joke.

http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/15598

Obama wins the Heisman Trophy after watching a college football game!

Japan entered a new political era last week after Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) head Yukio Hatoyama took over as prime minister. The long-dominant Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is severely and possibly permanently crippled, and facing a leadership crisis.
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/eo20090924a3.html

Commentary: Excellent editorial above that takes an honest look at the challenges facing the new Hatoyama government. Mr. Morrison is absolutely correct in that the DPJ is a badly fractured party that was swept in to power by “Hope and Change,” the sequel! Already factions within the party, bolstered by the historic shift in power are flexing their muscles. The danger for them is if they overreach, they could possibly rip themselves apart and give the LDP a chance at being reborn. Look at the uproar with “Hope and Change” in the U.S.

Here on Okinawa the anti-base rhetoric is well on its way toward reaching fever pitch and will probably only grow stronger in the coming months. Within days of the election, victorious members of the DPJ, feeling their oats, practically stormed into the governor’s office and all but demanded that he sign on with them and call for the immediate halt of all U.S. base construction no later than yesterday, sooner if possible.

By that I’m not saying the anti-base movement doesn’t have legitimate beef’s against the U.S. military presence on Okinawa. They do. The problem with them is their approach which is visceral and acerbic. That is a problem with the political left worldwide. They think with their hearts and not their heads. Most are good intentioned people but we all know that the road to hell is paved with the afore mentioned intentions.

Furthermore, unlike the left whose emotionally based theology tells them that they need to destroy the political right and abolish them from the face of the earth, those on the right do not wish to destroy them. My personal thoughts are that there is a place for them in political discourse. Unfortunately that place is not in positions of leadership.

Why do I say that? Because presently their leadership across the globe is imperiling life as we know it. Discourse between the factions is no longer balanced. In the west, in the press has abandoned their constitutional duties and taken sides. As a result, society is step by step becoming less free and open. As of late, that transition has been happening at breakneck speed.

We haven’t quite reached that point in Japan but already signs are showing of a shift in that direction. The press on Okinawa is decidedly one sided when it comes to reporting on the U.S. military in Japan and revelations of Japan’s First Lady being an outright loon didn’t see the light of day until after the election.

My personal thoughts are that political discourse in the houses of government, no matter the particular topic, needs long in debate and to be slow to action. This is how we best assure the greatest good for the most people, protect the rights of the minority and prevent or at least minimize mistakes that cannot be easily undone. More importantly the press must recommit itself to fair and balanced reporting of the day’s events.

What has been happening in the U.S. regarding the speed of legislation is indeed frightening. The checks and balances installed by the founding fathers are gone as a result of the current one party dominance which is further aided by a compliant media. One great danger in democratic societies is single party dominance by those who do not have the rights of the minority in mind and the silencing of dissent. When this happens, Fascism is surely waiting in the wings for its cue to assert itself.

My sincere hope is that this doesn’t take place in Japan but I’m not silly enough to hold my breath on the matter. While they are not quite to where the U.S. and Europe are now, they are moving in that direction and they also have a history of making quantum shifts in ideology very quickly. Just remember that they made the shift from feudalism to a constitutional monarchy to fascism to democracy all within the last 150 years.

 

Note: This is a news and opinion blog on the happenings in Okinawa Japan and the Far East. The opinions expressed here are my own. I don’t comment on every article linked here but, ask that for the sake of context please read the articles, in there entirety, first.

Okinawa in the News:

U.S., DPJ firm in Futenma disagreement

U.S. State and Defense Department representatives are quietly but firmly reiterating that plans for a Futenma relocation will continue as scheduled, even as Democratic Party of Japan political leaders promise to shake things up.

http://www.japanupdate.com/?id=9767

Noise data tests conducted near Marines’ Camp Schwab

American Marine Corps helicopters conducted special flight surveys over Camp Schwab in northern Okinawa yesterday as part of a project requested by Okinawa’s governor.

http://www.japanupdate.com/?id=9769

Okinawa to be model for DPJ changes

Okinawa has been chosen by the Democratic Party of Japan as the prefecture model for implementing changes to its financial and other systems plans in the new government.

http://www.japanupdate.com/?id=9768

Comment: I actually think that this proposal by the DPJ is one that I could actually support. For one, I believe that the local government has a better feel for where money needs to be spent than does the national government. I don’t favor bloated, ineffectual, unresponsive centrally controlled government anymore than I support centrally controlled economies and the malaise they generate. The problem will be where the money was originally supposed to be spent and how vs. who has their hands on it and what they will eventually do with it.

The governor is correct in that Okinawa is a special place as a result of the many military bases here. Projects and money that was/is earmarked for projects concerning the defense of the nation should be controlled by the national government. Given the antimilitary bent of many of the local politicians who are in positions where they might find that they might suddenly have access to funds that were originally supposed to go to national government related projects, there is the opportunity for monkey business with the people’s money.

Japan in the News:

Hatoyama firm: MSDF tour to end

Democratic Party of Japan President Yukio Hatoyama, who is expected to be voted in as prime minister next week, indicated Thursday he remains firm on his plan to end the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, despite Washington's calls for its continuation.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090911a2.html

Comment: This of course will not set well with the U.S. but, the current U.S. administration, other than saying "screw you" to the Okinawan's isn’t doing much to help the situation either.

China, Taiwan, Korea in the News:

China Moves to Retaliate Against U.S. Tire Tariff

China unexpectedly increased pressure Sunday on the United States in a widening trade dispute, taking the first steps toward imposing tariffs on American exports of automotive products and chicken meat in retaliation for President Obama’s decision late Friday to levy tariffs on tires from China.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/14/business/global/14trade.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper

Comment: Don’t do it! This is the first step toward repeating the mistakes of the Smoot Hawley Act of the 1930’s that deepened the Great Depression. China probably thinks that they can withstand a protectionist trade war and if they pulled the “nuclear option” of forcing the U.S. to make good on their markers, it could be the beginning of the end for civilization as we know it. I don’t know who said this but they were right when they did; “borders where goods do not pass, armies will!”

Liberal Fascism in the News:

This category is dedicated to the coverage of a host of issues that demonstrate the long armed reach of intrusive “fascist” government policies from around the globe or anything else that limits individual liberty and freedom.

Conservative Grassroots Protest Obamacare, High Taxes, and Big Government

The numbers of conservative protesters at the March on D.C. on Saturday, September 12 wasn't entirely clear. But if numbers for the inauguration were around 2 million, eyeball estimates for the crowd would have been about half that.

http://townhall.com/columnists/JillianBandes/2009/09/12/conservative_grassroots_protest_obamacare,_high_taxes,_and_big_government?page=full&comments=true

Comment: I was surprised to find that this event made the Japan morning TV news. I was in the next room checking email and enjoying my morning coffee before heading off to work so I didn’t hear what the Japanese MSM commentary regarding the event entailed. Unlike the story attached above, it probably branded the participants of the event as rouges and scalawags, which has been the American MSM template. But it’s important to note that they, the Japanese media, didn’t ignore it. That in itself is a sign that hope and change is loosing its flavor on this side of the pond too. Are Japanese voters seeing what is happening in America and as a result, getting a dose of buyer’s remorse?

It will be interesting to see what Japan’s new leadership does as a result of this. Are they seeing that “Hope and Change” isn’t all its cracked up to be, and will as a result actually decide to follow through with their economic policies as promised vice just the lip service they likely gave it during the campaign? For Japan’s sake, and for their political future, they had better be able to read the tea leaves here. If they were just following the American Demagogue Rat Party model of promise everything and deliver nothing, they could be in for a big surprise. Are protests like this in Japan’s not too distant future? It’s going to be fun to watch.

Svensmark: “global warming stopped and a cooling is beginning” – “enjoy global warming while it lasts”

Indeed, global warming stopped and a cooling is beginning. No climate model has predicted a cooling of the Earth, on the contrary. This means that projections of future climate is unpredictable, writes Henrik Svensmark.

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/09/10/svensmark-global-warming-stopped-and-a-cooling-is-beginning-enjoy-global-warming-while-it-lasts/

Quote of the Week:

"My favorite poem is the one
that starts 'Thirty days hath
September' because it actually
tells you something."
~~~~Groucho Marx

Joke of the Week:

Clunkers...

-I guess I must be on the wrong page. A vehicle at 15 mpg and 12,000 miles per year uses 800 gallons a year of gasoline.
-A vehicle at 25 mpg and 12,000 miles per year uses 480 gallons a year.
-So, the average clunker transaction will reduce US gasoline consumption by 320 gallons per year.
-They claim 700,000 vehicles were traded in so that's 224 million gallons a year.
-That equates to a bit over 5 million barrels of oil or about ¼ of one day's consumption.
-At $75/bbl., 5 million barrels of oil costs about $350 million dollars.
-So, we all contributed to spending $3 billion to save $350 million.
-How good a deal was that???

Once again, the joke is on all of us! 2010 is just around the corner; this time around let’s throw all the bums out!!!!

Bonus Joke:

A man is sitting in a bar in Arizona and far from home when Barack Obama comes on TV. The man looks at the TV and says, "Obama is a horse's behind."  Out of nowhere, a local jumps up and punches him in the face, knocking the guy off his bar stool, then stomps out.

He gets back up, rubbing his cheek and orders another beer.  Shortly after, Michelle Obama appears on the TV.  He looks at the TV and says, "She’s a horse's behind too!" Out of nowhere, another local punches him in the other side of the face, knocking him off his bar stool again.

He gets back up and looks at the bartender, "I take it this is Obama country?" "Nope." replies the bartender. This is "horse country."

If you believe what you see and hear in the mainstream media, the election in the U.S. is over and the junior senator from Illinois has won it. From what I’ve seen on television, the press in Japan is pretty much excited about the prospect. After all, this will mark the moment when the sea levels begin to fall and the planet will miraculously start to heal.

In Okinawa, home to a major contingent of U.S. military personnel and a large number of U.S. bases, the interest is also quite high. Many who I’ve engaged with on the internet forums pertaining to the subject are convinced that this means the end of the “alleged” new bases, soon the U.S. military will leave their island paradise and all lands that have been appropriated for U.S. military use will be returned.

Before anyone gets too excited, let me remind you that the world’s economy has been brought to the brink by social engineering in the U.S. Congress. By creating policies and laws that made it virtually unlawful not to loan monies to people who otherwise couldn’t qualify, the Congress of the United States along with the Carter and Clinton Administrations have brought the Capitalist system to the brink of collapse. The recent bailout attempts, in countries around the world (not just in the U.S.) have compounded the problem by putting the very foxes who threatened the chickens in charge of the coop.

Furthermore, Obama and his minions intend to raise taxes in order to pay for more social engineering, not just in America but around the world. Common sense tells you that when people have less of their own money to spend, they will do their best to hold on to what little they’ve got. This means less money circulating in the economy purchasing goods and services. This means lower profits to businesses both large and small and at a minimum, means slower if not a complete halt in job growth.

The socialist solution will be to create make work projects to expand infrastructure. Just like the “New Deal” under FDR, in the “Raw Deal” of an Obama Administration, we’ll see the economy driven more by the government instead of the free market. But government has to have money in order to create such projects. In an economic down turn such as we are on the verge of, that probably means borrowing more money. If so, where will they borrow it from?

If the government prints more, that means inflation, if they borrow more, that means more debt (either foreign, national or both) or they can tax the people even more which means even less money in the domestic economy chasing goods and services than before. If the Obama team chooses the latter, and it’s a very good bet that this option is high on their list since that is what they say they will do, the economy will be further stifled. Can you say Jimmy Carter II? Is there anyone else out there as old as me who can remember the “misery index?” Heaven help us all!

So now you’re probably asking me, what the hell does all this have to do with the situation here on Okinawa? Lots! First of all, Okinawa isn’t even on the presidential radar screen. It’s a speck on the map that is only valuable to world security as a result of its strategic location. From this location, America can quickly respond to regional threats. For the Japanese, it serves as a buffer zone to protect the nation’s southern flank. Sadly, Okinawa is for the most part an afterthought to both the American’s and the Japanese!

So when it comes to changes on Okinawa as a result of an Obama victory, here’s my predictions of the probable outcomes.

-Regarding the reduction of U.S. troops here, no change.

-Regarding the proposed closure of the Marine Air Base at Futenma and the construction of the “alleged” new base at Camp Schwab, no change.

-Any other miscellaneous issue you can think of regarding the presence of U.S. forces in Japan, no change.

In short, for the people of Okinawa, don’t get your hopes up that an Obama presidency means the answer to your prayers. Senator Obama probably doesn’t even know where Okinawa is let alone the problems you face. He will be saddled with a lagging economy caused by the very policies he and his party espouse. With a great deal of luck, he may avoid turning a major market correction from a potential recession into a major economic depression. If you were betting on an Obama presidency as being your hope for salvation, you bet on the wrong horse and you made the mistake of listening to the talking heads in the media.

There’s still hope. The division in the electorate is a whole lot closer than the Democratic Party Propaganda Ministry officials, aka the mainstream media are telling you! The heavily skewed polls being released now are beginning to tighten just as they always do. Both Gore and Kerry were up at this point in past contests.
Even with all he has going for him in this election, the Junior Senator from Illinois hasn’t closed the deal. He fizzled toward the end of the primaries against Hillary and he’s showing signs of fizzling now. This election is going to be a lot closer than the media is telling us.

Lastly, should the undesirable thing happen and enough fraudulent ACORN generated votes put him over the top. We still have the teachings of great economic scholars like Walter Williams and Thomas Sowell to learn from and take that into the 2012 elections. Remember that it took a Carter to give us a Reagan.

Speaking for myself alone, I’m going to hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Admittedly, McCain was not my choice for the party nomination. But like many of you, I’m going to hold my nose and mail in my absentee ballot today. An Obama presidency will be an abomination. Not just for the U.S. but for the world.