Posted on 10/15/2004 2:12:59 PM PDT by Thanatos
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Fri Oct 15, 2004 07:35 AM ET
TOKYO (Reuters) - The No. 2 official in Japan's ruling party sharply criticized U.S. Democratic challenger John Kerry's North Korea policy on Friday and said he hoped President Bush would be re-elected, media said.
The comments come a day after Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi made remarks that appeared to suggest he would prefer to see Bush win the Nov. 2 U.S. presidential election.
"I think there would be trouble if it's not President Bush," Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe told a radio program, Kyodo news agency reported.
"For instance, Mr. Kerry wants to handle the North Korean issue bilaterally, which is out of the question. We're now in the era of multilateralism," Takebe was quoted as saying, referring to six-way talks involving North and South Korea, Japan, the United States, China and Russia over the North's nuclear ambitions.
Bush has ruled out bilateral talks with reclusive communist Pyongyang, but Kerry has said this could be possible.
Asked by reporters about the U.S. election, Koizumi said on Thursday: "I am very close to President Bush. So I want him to do his best."
Japan's opposition parties attacked Koizumi for his comments, which they said constituted interference in the internal politics of another country.
The prime minister has not only forged warm personal ties with Bush, but was quick to support the U.S.-led war in Iraq and sent non-combat troops to help rebuild the country despite opposition from the majority of Japanese voters.
Koizumi sought to calm the fuss on Friday.
"Because the Japan-U.S. relationship is vital, no matter who becomes the president, I think we will maintain and develop our alliance," he said.
Many ordinary Japanese, however, prefer Kerry.
A poll published by the liberal Asahi Shimbun daily on Friday showed 51 percent of respondents wanted the Massachusetts senator to win, while 30 percent favored the incumbent president.
Another blow to Kerry's international alliance. LOL
Rots of ruck missa Klerry.
9 out of 10 despots, 10 out of 10 terrorists, and 199 billion out of 200 billion ANWR mosquitos support John Kerry and John Edwards!
Another example of Kerry failing as president even when he's not president
We didn't sign a peace treaty because the Japanese signed an unconditional surrender; there was nothing to treat.
Good article ... nice balance to all the pro-Kerry BS from socialists in Europe.
"We fought against Japan in World War II; therefore, they are our enemy. I believe that we're legally still fighting World War II; we never signed any peace treaty."
ROFL... You must have missed taht event on the USS Missouri.
Not to mention the 1950 deal/treaty that ended the occupation.
"Kerry is a friend--as he always has been--of our enemies."
Yes, his foriegn policy will be quite confusing.
Like Clinton, he will first ask of any intervention - "Does it have anything to do withour national security?" And go ahead and do it, ONLY IF THE ANSWER IS NO.
A pity he's not on Bush's reelection campaign. He scored a point on Kerry, there.
hi, i'm new..
and have an important question:
does this mean Kerry can put in for another purple heart for self-inflicted wound?
the President tried to warn him about this...
"9 out of 10 despots, 10 out of 10 terrorists, and 199 billion out of 200 billion ANWR mosquitos support John Kerry and John Edwards!"
It'd be 10 out of 10 despots supporting Kerry if Robert Mugabe could get past his racist loathing of white people.
The man's plan is quickly falling apart. Not to worry though, I'm sure he has another plan.
Welcome to FR.
thanks for the welcome..
Daschle is falling apart here too (not to change the subject)
and we just know you all are going to love John Thune.
in the lase few tv adds, Tommy is BEGGING for votes.. a whimper in his voice and a tear in his eye.. touching if you want to hire a bottle washer.. but very offish in a statesmen. the dems are self-destructing left and left.
hey Hobson, what are "pings"?
addictive,, yes, i hope to have a life again, starting in early november ... in Bush Country.. God willing.. :)
and closer to home - Thune/Diedrich country. so far Mzz Herseth is not self-inflicting.. but maybe she just hasn't caught the dem bumble bug yet..
any way, i am glad to see Kerry is still, figuratively speaking, blowing up his own grenades in the rice caches of the world..
"..any way, i am glad to see Kerry is still, figuratively speaking, blowing up his own grenades in the rice caches of the world.."
Shades of Maxie Cleland, another devious buffoon.
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