Hatoyama's diplomatic skills largely untested in U.S.

By Mariko Yasumoto

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8 Comments

imacat at 09:41 AM JST - 27th September

Hatoyama's apparent Asia-centric policy is great. He doesn't have to worry about the US. It's a sick economy and society. Indeed people around the globe are heartily sick of American foreign policy after years of Bush adventurism.

It's time for America to take a smaller and smaller role on the world stage... one reason being that they simply haven't got the money to back up whatever misguided and selfish policies they intend to pursue.

And it's certainly time for American troops to leave Japan. Their presence here is an anachronism.
semperfi at 10:00 AM JST - 27th September

**Hatoyama **( and his charming wife) DID JAPAN PROUD. He was gracious, intelligent, eloquent, fluent in English, carried himself with dignity and did not try to ingratiate himself to the west ( unlike previous Japanese PM) . If this is this first diplomatic foray . . . WOW !!! This administration has hit the tarmac running with strength.
Sarge at 10:18 AM JST - 27th September

Miyuki Hatoyama is a good singer.

"It's time for America to take a smaller role on the world stage"

What! And cut our foreign aid? Why, that would cause an worldwide uproar!
apecNetworks at 05:00 PM JST - 27th September

A summit meeting of the leaders from Japan, China and South Korea is being planned in two weeks time. And a trip to China will be followed by East Asian summit talks in Thailand in late October, Obama’s visit to Japan and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum—both in November.

PM Hatoyama has a good run up to the APEC Forum, w/ numerous exposure to multilateral settings to accustom himself w/ that type of environment.

I just realized that this November, this would be Pres. Obama's 1st visit to the APEC Forum. Wish him luck, but the US is HEAVILY stuck in a bilateral complex, w/ a serious lack of expertise in multilateral negotiations at this level. I'm on a US "crap list", so I have been neutralized. He is a smart guy, so he might get something going. He will realize that the US uses "bilateralism" w/ several economies at the same time to emulate "multilateralism". I wish both the PM and the President good luck.
imacat at 10:21 PM JST - 27th September

What! And cut our foreign aid? Why, that would cause an worldwide uproar!

You can't afford to pay foreign aid. Stop kidding yourself.
joetheplumber at 12:48 PM JST - 28th September

He is rather ambitious in the area of carbon emission cuts. Too ambitious! Japan cannot reach the goals set by the new PM. To do so will mean economic calamity.
rajakumar at 05:15 PM JST - 28th September

Hatoyama's skills quantum leaps ahead of Taro Aso.
stirfry at 06:23 PM JST - 28th September

largely untested in U.S.

they're untested EVERYWHERE...the guy's never been PM before, and only been at this new job 4 weeks