U.S. puts off meetings on broader ties / PM's inaction on Futenma issue blamed

Yomiuri Shimbun ^ | 12/08/09

[TigerLikesRooster]

U.S. puts off meetings on broader ties / PM's inaction on Futenma issue blamed

The Yomiuri Shimbun

The U.S. government, reacting to Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's procrastination over the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture, has informed Tokyo it will postpone key bilateral consultations aimed at "deepening the Japan-U.S. alliance," government sources said Tuesday.

The previously agreed consultations were suggested by Hatoyama in summit talks with U.S. President Barack Obama when he visited Tokyo last month.

Expectations on the part of the Japanese government were to see the consultations start before the end of the year, with 2010 marking the 50th anniversary of the revision of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, the sources said on condition of anonymity.

The U.S. decision to put off the consultations indicates strong U.S. displeasure with the stance the Hatoyama administration has taken on reviewing the Japan-U.S. deal reached in 2006 regarding the relocation issue, according to the sources. Given the "alliance-deepening consultations" having widely been deemed as symbolic of future strengthening of Japan-U.S. ties, their deferment is yet another adverse development that could have a serious impact on the entire Japan-U.S. relationship, analysts said.

[TigerLikesRooster]

This development looks as bad as the open clash with U.S. under S. Korea's Roh Moo-hyun government. Probably worse because it is completely upsetting the very foundation of entire U.S. strategy in the Pacific.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[SunkenCiv]

Given the "alliance-deepening consultations" having widely been deemed as symbolic of future strengthening of Japan-U.S. ties, their deferment is yet another adverse development that could have a serious impact on the entire Japan-U.S. relationship, analysts said.

Zero's incompetence extends even to the left-wingers in charge in Japan.

[AmericanInTokyo]

TLR, (and others connected to the region here)....

Sarah Palin needs to return to the region ASAP on an international mission, unofficially representing the "sane" portion of the USA.

I propose two key speeches for her.

One in Tokyo before the Keidanren or the Japan-America Society, or large Japanese university with a major address on the importance of US-Japan relations in the region, with some slight (if not stronger) digs at the amateur-ish Obama Administration screwing everything up out here. This would also be a good side message to this idiot Hatoyama Administration over here, a carbon copy of the Obamanoids it seems. She would pack them to the rafters at a venue in Tokyo; as a side issue, if she gets paid that would be big bucks, too. She would get rock star treatment upon her arrival at the Narita Airport terminal.

And second speech in Seoul, before a similiar such industry group or Korea-US relations group, with the same theme. Finally, I recommend she do as President Reagan did, and don the green winter duty jacket and go with binoculars up to the DMZ to our valiant troops on the front line such as at Camp Oulette, and look into North Korea and make a statement about human right out there.

She does not need to interfere with current US foreign policy in Asia but she would be a well-needed counterbalance for American image out here, sorely needed.

This is going to get worse before it gets better.

This will be a) fundamentally the right thing for Governor Palin to do; and b) will solidify her image as a leader, in the minds of the Asians through imagery and text and charisma and strength.

You in on this idea?

This Barack Obama is BIG TROUBLE for both South Korea and Japan. We have to check mate him soon. Seems like Sarah Palin would be a great assistance in that effort.

JTA, (just thinkin' aloud)...

[fatrat]

I always spelled it “futema” not futenma, am i wrong?

[AmericanInTokyo]

Pardon the interruption, but may I help?

　It is "Futenma", although occaisionally I have seen it as "Futennma". Have never seen it as "Futema", and a hiragana text search with it as that does not pull up anything. (Its a tricky one, I know!) ;-) Cheers,

[TigerLikesRooster]

That is a good idea. She may have to talk directly to Keidanren to make this arrangement. I doubt that Hatoyama's people will help on this deal.

Obama WH will have a hissy fit, if she looks more statesmanlike.

[fatrat]

search of google shows quite a few others spell it like i did but most spell it with the N so guess that is correct. i should have searched before i posted.

[SevenofNine]

OH MANNNNN Obama NK plans are in troubleee LOL!

Even South Koreans and Japan think that Obama is socialist that cold ROFL

[gaijin]

Very strongly approve your idea. Two thoughts:

1. US Military bases might come under pressure from Zero 2 disallow a Palin visit --the ROK's will prolly be WAY nicer.

2. She should bone up on some mlitary stuff, and make it all look great. She tends to do this quite naturally, being hot, athletic, and familiar with guns. She should make sure 2 take the lens caps off of bino's:

Bill Clinton on the DMZ

Ariel Sharon

George W. Bush

Amir Peretz, fmr Def Minister of Israel

My recommendation would be for her to visit the DMZ, then maybe photoshoot of her firing the M-4, palling around with ROK troops, and firing the USAS-12 (which is US sourced but was fielded in the ROK before the USA). And if she was feeling frisky, then maybe the Barrett...? I think maybe she should also visit some ROK churches and maybe an orphanage for mixed-race ROK kids.

The basic objectives would be:

1. Get her seeing doing Prez stuff

2. Shore up confidence, project image of US energy, fronteerism, etc.

3. Do lots and lots of stuff Obama would NEVER DO --outdoorsy, untreacherous, manly stuff but which is vaguely hot when the dooer is a woman.

[DTogo]

Excellent ideas! And as you pointed out she would indeed get absolute "rock star" treatment in Japan (their fascination with attractive "foreign" women, as sexist as that may be in the US, it's the way it is over there).

日本＊ピング＊ (kono risuto ni hairitai ka detai wo shirasete kudasai : let me know if you want on or off this list)

[Eric in the Ozarks]

‘zackly. Japan will go gaga over Sarah.

[Candor7]

Sarah needs to figure this into her travel plans. I mean it would be easy to have a book signing for Ex Pats in Tokyo, and drop by the Japan AMerica Society for a visit and a speech.

This is an ecellent opportunity for Sarah, created by Obama’s failure in the Orient!

[AmericanInTokyo]

No, you are absolutely correct. Prime Minister Hatoyama's people would probably significantly water it down or discourage it, that is why she would need independent channels around them and the US Embassy (although some coordination with both sides would be necessary), but otherwise, Sarah Palin would need to freelance her way in here, and there are plenty of independent, local infrastructures independent of Obama's State Department (Embassy) and Hatoyama's Government to ally with. She might even work with the LDP and some other business/academic/social/community groups directly to do it. Even maybe a stop at a place for Japanese kids with special needs kind of like her young one. That would be a great touch, and again, more importantly, the right thing to do.

I would imagine she would get a better assistance and help in R.O.K. with the (relatively conservative if not occasionally RINO, but at least not Communist like Roh Mu Hyon/Kim Dae Jung) Lee Myung Bak Administration in Seoul to visit up to the DMZ, US bases, Korean meet the people, etc. etc.

[AmericanInTokyo]

EXCELLENT POST AND GREAT PICS. !!!!

[AmericanInTokyo]

Methinks this would be a good FR thread to bring to the attention of the staff of Sarah Palin out there.

[AmericanInTokyo]

[Candor7]

PING! IMPORTANT!

[AmericanInTokyo]

Sorry to have hijacked the thread a bit, but that is easy to do with Sarah Palin.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Not at all.

Actually, I worried that the thread would die a quick death, despite importance of the issue.:-)

You made it come alive.