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JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Biden, in Sendai, praises Japan's courage after tsunami

Politics Aug. 23, 2011 - 05:30PM JST ( 20 )

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20 Comments

0

NoripinheadAug. 23, 2011 - 02:19PM JST

Biden. What a straight shooter. He's kind of an old-school college football type person, Isn't he?
2

tajAug. 23, 2011 - 03:40PM JST

“You do not need to express gratitude to us,” Biden replied. “You’d do the same for us. Our only regret is that we could not do even more.”

well-said, Mr. Biden.
-11

AsagaoAug. 23, 2011 - 04:27PM JST

Just a photo opportunity when America needs japan to pay for it's military presence in Chinas backyard. I hate it when people exploit other people misery.
0

illsayitAug. 23, 2011 - 04:36PM JST

I wonder what he means about Japan being a role model-more and more lately I hear about the theiving that has going on, and it makes me wonder.
2

gogogoAug. 23, 2011 - 05:36PM JST

I wish he said it like it was... "why are people still living in shelters?"
-1

GG2141Aug. 23, 2011 - 08:22PM JST

DID you know that Biden's secret service code name is: Mr. Good Times ??? Seriously! Mr. Good TImes!! Good work if you can get it.
0

herefornowAug. 23, 2011 - 09:40PM JST

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday praised Japan’s courage and resolve

Agreed. The residents of Tohoku have shown amazing "courage and resolve". Now if the Japanese leaders and TEPCO had shown the same qualities, things would likely be much better. Instead they demonstrated, incompetence and cowardice in not telling the truth to the people about the situation at Fukushima as it was unfolding. I have always felt that if the "leaders" of Japan were of the same caliber as the people, Japan could be a great country again. Let's hope the new PM and his cabinet begin to demonstrate some of this courage and resolve, and not just more politics as usual.
0

SerranoAug. 23, 2011 - 10:40PM JST

Biden's words are much more encouraging than the Tokyo governor's words.

GG - Mr. Good Times can't be the Secret Service's secret code name for Biden if everyone knows it. :-D
1

CrazyJoeAug. 23, 2011 - 11:10PM JST

The secret code name for U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is Celtic.
2

LagunaAug. 23, 2011 - 11:39PM JST

Biden's the perfect VP: knowledgeable of and hardworking with Congress, old enough not to have presidential ambitions, and a real man: confident in himself and his role and funny as hell. Imagine if this had been Cheney.
-1

realdollAug. 24, 2011 - 02:00AM JST

He's a much better speaker than the teleprompter reader Obama.. Still, it's just a feel good visit to China and Japan in hopes they will continue buying our treasury bonds when we need money, which is continuous. Our economy sux due to too much spending and the fact that 50% of all american adults don't pay taxes. Also, the US is trying to play the Japanese and Chinese against each other and the Japanese and Okinawans against each other.. it's not hard to see. Haven said all that, Biden would have been a much better president than Obama from an image perspective and knowledge and leadership perspective. The media did it's job, to make the news and boost Obama to where he is, we'll see what happens next.
0

herefornowAug. 24, 2011 - 02:09AM JST

.

Also, the US is trying to play the Japanese and Chinese against each other and the Japanese and Okinawans against each other.. it's not hard to see.

realdoll -- I guess I must be dense, because I don't see that as all. In fact, the issues between the Japanese and Okinawans go back many generations, and far proceed any U.S. involvement there. Maybe a quick review of Japanese history would clarify that for you. And, further, it is hardly in the U.S.'s best interest to pit Japan against Okinawa. The turmoil that Hatoyama created and Kan could not fix has only delayed a much-needed re-deployment of U.S. troops.
-1

Juan RodriguezAug. 24, 2011 - 03:06AM JST

As expected, a late attempt at getting brownie points & early votes for their 2012 campaign."Politicians are like diapers, they need to be changed often, and for the same reasons"
0

FadamorAug. 24, 2011 - 03:16AM JST

Just had a 5.8 (current estimate) magnitude earthquake a few minutes ago that was centered in the Richmond, VA area and it was easily felt up here in the DC area. Ol' Joe Biden wouldn't be so impressed with how the news people are handling it so far. "So far there are no reports of damage or injuries coming in..." I already remarked to co-workers as to how the Japanese are going to make fun of us over our response to this. That said, that's the first one I've felt in this area of ANY magnitude in over 20 years of living here. Must be due to global warming.
0

globalwatcherAug. 24, 2011 - 05:51AM JST

Joe Biden is a solid heavy weight champion of US congress before he became VP. He is very humble and can do an eyes-to-eyes talk to a garbage collector to a king with no hesitation. What a class!!
-1

AsagaoAug. 24, 2011 - 12:57PM JST

And tried to Kan to sign a base deal before he goes...
1

voiceofokinawaAug. 24, 2011 - 09:35PM JST

“You do not need to express gratitude to us,” Biden replied [to Kan]. “You’d do the same for us. Our only regret is that we could not do even more.” (Japan Today, August 23, 2011)

To rephrase U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's words, the Operation Tomodachi relief operation was carried out in the belief that "charity is a good investment." It may wind up bringing in more lucrative returns to Washington.

What are those returns? First, it will guarantee the continuation of "the sympathy budged" or host-nation support to be provided by Tokyo for the support of U.S. bases in Japan in the amount of $11.35 billion over the next five years. Tokyo has already provided more than $30 billion since this bilateral arrangement started in 1978.

Secondly, it may solve the long-stalled Futenma issue in Washington's favor; that is, to help move the facilities of Futenma to Henoko as Washington wishes. The relocation involves reclaiming of the offshore waters of Henoko Point, construction of V-shaped runways and military port facilities. Tokyo must foot all the bills for the new base plus dismantling of the old facilities and recovering of the status quo ante of the land.

Thirdly, it will result in the free and stable use of U.S. bases in Japan (84 bases and facilities in all Japan; 32 in Okinawa alone) and thus help perpetuate the U.S. presence in Japan forever.

So Operation Tomodachi must be set aside as something very different from genuine philanthropy shown by the American people through such charity organizations as American Red Cross.
0

TorafusuTorasanAug. 24, 2011 - 11:38PM JST

Although it is only updated once a week, the website japanupdate.com has some interesting articles about Okinawan politics and U.S. presence. Several articles from the 19th are worth reading:

"Japanese White Paper says moving Futenma could hurt USMC"

"Alleged fuel incident at Kadena stirs remediation demands"

"U.S. military crime indictment levels higher, rising in Okinawa"

The last article had some interesting stats such as 67% of Americans indicted (722 cases) were charged under the Cannabis Control Law, and there were 57 indictments for negligent homicide by car last year.

Hey, I just noticed Yuri Otani is a frequent commentor on that site too--small world.
0

globalwatcherAug. 25, 2011 - 10:22AM JST

Just a photo opportunity when America needs japan to pay for it's military presence in Chinas backyard. I hate it when people exploit other people misery

And tried to Kan to sign a base deal before he goes...

@Asagao, the base issue was on on agenda. He was in Japan assuring the Japan/US Peace Treaty. .
0

globalwatcherAug. 25, 2011 - 10:25AM JST

correction to the above. the base issue was NOT on agenda.