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Japan lacks the necessary forces for an overseas rescue. They aren’t organized or equipped or trained for such missions, even if they were ordered to undertake them. That requires a lot resources in t

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Grant Newsham, senior research fellow at the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies, in Tokyo, saying that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has no military options for dealing with hostage situations. (TIME magazine)

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"Burning Bush" I like your name... even if he left office six years ago....

Of course Newsham is correct. The whole thing is a silly idea, but looking at the articles and comments in Japanese media, silly stuff like that seems to to come natural to most at this far end of the world here. The americans fail when they try to do this... just twoi weeks ago in Yemen. Imagining that the japanesecoiuld do that only shows the complete lack of any understanding of the situation. Which seems to be the normal in Japan, when it comes to almost anythind going on in the rest of the world

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

No Newsham is ignorant of the subject lacking knowledge of the JSDF organization. Within JGSDF there is the Special Forces Group stationed in Chiba that are trained for counter terrorist activities and deter guerrilla-style attacks.

They lack intelligence resources but manpower, equipment and transportation is at their disposal.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

No Newsham is ignorant of the subject lacking knowledge of the JSDF organization. Within JGSDF there is the Special Forces Group stationed in Chiba that are trained for counter terrorist activities and deter guerrilla-style attacks.

Samurai -- sorry, but IMO, it is you who is "lacking knowledge" in this case. Rescusing hostages in Syria or Iraq, far-off locations where Japan has no experience whatsoever, is totally different than domestic-focused counter terrorism activities, and detering guerrilla-style attacks. The U.S. and many other Western countires -- France, Germany, UK, Australia among them -- have highly-trained, and experienced special forces teams for this very kind of task. And they are supported by air, land, and sea resources experienced in this regard as well. Ask yourself, even if Japanese Special Forces thought they were capable of mounting such a raid, where would the supporting resources come from? Japan has no air or sea resources anywhere near the Mid-East.

They lack intelligence resources but manpower, equipment and transportation is at their disposal.

Really? But even if you were right about the manpower, equipment and transportation -- which, as I said, I doubt -- actionable intelligence is the most important aspect. You cannot launch a raid without it. Just look ar what happened a couple of months back when the U.S. raid failed because they had moved the prisoners again.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

jerseyboy

They already operated in Iraq as contingent under the Japanese Iraq Reconstruction and Support Group and trains with the US Special forces annually for the past 10 years. They can be sent in utilizing the C-2 via India and be dropped HALO into Syria. They are all selected from personnel with ranger badge having extensive experience in parachute drops.

As I said they have the necessary equipment at their disposal but lacks the intelligence resources, Newsham's comment is "They aren’t organized or equipped or trained for such missions, even if they were ordered to undertake them." which is completely wrong.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

You know who does have the ability to create a burnt spot anywhere in Syria on demand? The US...

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

As a Ranger I can say with 100% certainty that we absolutely do not train with other SOF units, in any way shape or form.. We wrote the book on SOF, there is no reason and nothing to learn from others, regardless of Tier 1, 2 or 3 (theres lots of interoperability in the field though with adjacent SOF). I am sure the Japanese guys (they are not SOF as they have never operated) have the potential since they can get their hands on the basic kit, but training in a passive environment and DA are 2 totally different things. Basically, I agree with the senior analyst, wouldn't trust these guys in a DA.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Not in the 21st Century, but never say never.

The Battle of Port Arthur Feb 8th 1904......

http://www.historytoday.com/richard-cavendish/japan%E2%80%99s-attack-port-arthur

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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