Maybe my posts suck because I’m too close to the center to say anything controversial. I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t get a lot of comments on what I blog. And I know the reason. It’s just that I just can’t change my personality or the fact that maybe I’m not cut out for this.
But even I know Panglossian rubbish when I see it.
I found a link to this via my daily check of NewsonJapan.com. The story, “US Asks Japan For Half A Billion Dollars For Missile Defense,” originally appeared in the Daily Yomiuri, and was later posted on this site.
Let’s have a look at some of the comments in response to this article:
While the real problems on Earth like poverty remain unresolved.
Great, why don’t you fire up another doobie, and maybe things will all work out in the end. Of course poverty remains a problem! But don’t you see that the world isn’t that simple a place? It’s terrible that problems like poverty remain unsolved, but bemoaning TMD ain’t going to make things any better. Do you honestly think that the sole reason poverty continues is because no one in the system cares about them?
The US has formed alliances with a corrupt Japanese administration in order to counter their paranoia with regard to China since ww2
Sure, that was a huge mistake we made to ally ourselves with the LDP rather than the socialists and communists back in the early 1950s. Maybe if we had only changed our minds Japan could be like North Korea is today, where paranoia towards China is the last thing on anyone’s mind.
The US’ strong reaction to the European near-decision last March to lift their arms embargo against China shows how little the US wants its military position undermined. An armed to the teeth China might lead to a situation it no doubt considers among the worst of worse case scenarios in any future Far East developments.
You’re damned right the US reacted strongly. And why do you think that’s the case? Why is it that you seem to have no problem with arming China, or with Europe’s arms peddling, but cannot stomach the thought of a defensive missile system (yeah, that’s what the D stands for) for Japan and the United States?
The US is relentless however in working on Japan for it to become its Britain of the Far East with their joint research on the theater missile defense (TMD) system. This is intended to be in a developmental stage next year. The TMD is to target North Korea’s Nodong and Daepodong missiles and will also have a capability of reaching China’s Dong Feng nuclear base.
Say what you will about TMD, but trust me, “Nodong” and “Deapodong” aren’t Korean for “love thy neighbor” and “come here and give me a hug you big galoot!”
And what do you think a Dong Feng is? Have a look at this.
The I in ICBM stands for “Intercontinental.” As in, from one continent to another. As in, they can _attack_ other countries. But that’s okay, because they’re not the hegemon, right? They just need them to protect themselves from the US. Maybe so, but does that make the US any worse? Balderdash. Maybe if you actually read the pages of your history book rather than roll joints from them, you’d agree with me.
You know, now that I think about it, I’ll bet the Chinese could have fed, clothed, and housed a lot of people for the cost of those. Maybe if we set an example, they’d follow suit. Whadda ya think?
US hegemony continues -but does it make the world a safer place?
Safer than what? Sure the U.S. makes mistakes. Sure the U.S. pursues misguided policies. But what makes you think that any other hegemon would act differently? No, what makes you think they would act any better?
Don’t get me wrong. I normally don’t like to ruffle feathers. But the point of this is not to argue in defense of TMD, or US foreign policy, or anything else. And anyone who has a problem with the strength or character of my argument — which admittedly is not based on fact and is somewhat polemical — might want to reread those arguments against which it is directed.
It’s fine to criticize the United States and fine to criticize U.S. policy. I won’t call you anti-patriotic for that. But for the love of Zeus please consider the other side of things before doing it!
Failing that, just stay out of the fray and keep your mouth shut. In spite of however well meaning you are, or how correct the underlying direction of your argument is, you are making it really difficult for those of us here in reality to defend our own sensible arguments from the far right.
UPDATE:
More insanity…
What would it cost Japan if the US decided to pack up and go home?
Having lived in Japan for 12 years (including time in the Army), let me say 90% of the Japanese would love to see the US PACK UP AND GO HOME. They don’t want our bases there. They don’t want our GIs running around raping. They don’t want our arrogance.
The real reason we are still there is that Japan’s Prime Minister is just as big a dumbfuck as our President.If the people voted on it tomorrow, our ass would be out the door.
It isn’t a question of whether they want our bases there or not. It’s a question of what they will do if we leave. They may not like US bases in Japan, but something tells me they will like the alternative of having to pay for their own military expenditures as well as remilitarization even less. Not to mention the fact that they are then going to have to deal with an even more wary China and South Korea. And at some point they would have to face the question of nukes…
If the people cared about this issue as much as you say, and actually did vote (on anything), the LDP would have been out the door a long time ago. So I’m not really buying that.