Alphaape said...

Alphaape at 03:57 AM JST - 10th May

nukefree83, One more thing, the reason that US ships don't visit NZ is not because they are nuclear powered, but because of the US policy to not inform other nations if the vessels are carrying nuclear weapons. The offical policy is that the "U.S. will not confirm or deny the…

Posted in Yokosuka residents call for referendum on nuclear-powered aircraft carrier at 03:57 AM JST - 10th May
Alphaape at 03:41 AM JST - 10th May

nukefree83,

I think if you have been on this forum long enough, you will see that Japan has benefitted a lot from the US presence here. They do pay a fair share to keep us here, and it is a lot less than keeping a larger military to fend off…

Posted in Yokosuka residents call for referendum on nuclear-powered aircraft carrier at 03:41 AM JST - 10th May
Alphaape at 03:30 AM JST - 10th May

Nyein, As someone who knows how military operations occur, a 3 ship Amphbious Group is not enough to get the population moving to start a revolt. With the war in Iraq and Afg, the US is not looking to take on another "liberation job.'

After the tsunami in 2004, US…

Posted in U.N. halts aid to Myanmar after junta seizes supplies at 03:30 AM JST - 10th May
Alphaape at 01:41 AM JST - 9th May

Back in the 60's & 70's, the Japanese maritime industry did have a nuclear powered cargo vessel. The Mutsu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutsu_%28ship%29) was the name of the vessel and it was developed in the 70's and made a few voyages in the 90's. So this whole idea that Japan doesn't want any…

Posted in Yokosuka residents call for referendum on nuclear-powered aircraft carrier at 01:41 AM JST - 9th May
Alphaape at 08:31 AM JST - 8th May

Glad to hear that they were safe. I wonder did they make them "convert to Islam" while they were held captive like they did to the South Koreans that were captured in Afghanistan a few years back.

I hope there will not be any "blame the victim" as rjd mentioned.…

Posted in 2 Japanese women kidnapped in Yemen freed at 08:31 AM JST - 8th May
Alphaape at 02:03 AM JST - 8th May

I think that the term "western" refers to the group of contries that trace many of their cultural ties (artistic, philosophy, medicinal, literature) to the Ancient Roman/Greek influence. True, these societies probably had interaction with "eastern" groups from China and what we would consider India and the Arabs, but for…

Posted in Why is Japan considered Western and China not? There is no map of the West. at 02:03 AM JST - 8th May
Alphaape at 06:57 PM JST - 7th May

Nyein Chan, Though I am not a strong "bell ringer" for Pres. Bush, I can tell you that with the state of the art communication equipment, he could be on the toilet at his ranch and still have better command and control capability to reach out and connect with the…

Posted in Myanmar cyclone death toll leaps to 15,000; Laura Bush urges junta to let U.S. help at 06:57 PM JST - 7th May
Alphaape at 04:28 PM JST - 7th May

kag: Japan is to the east of China, so by going geographically, China is western and Japan is eastern.

Posted in Why is Japan considered Western and China not? There is no map of the West. at 04:28 PM JST - 7th May
Alphaape at 01:38 PM JST - 7th May

Here's a quick primer on what Article 9 does to Nippon. It was a good idea when it was first introduced (right after the occupation and the Korean War was on, the US wanted to keep a better lid on things in this region and a rising communist movement in…

Posted in Article 9 conference concludes with call for Japan to keep pacifist constitution at 01:38 PM JST - 7th May
Alphaape at 07:02 PM JST - 6th May

I read a story a few years back on how one of the past military rulers of this country had to go to Singapore for a medical condition. He was reported to have openly wept when he saw the conditions of Singapore and his country, since they pretty much gained…

Posted in Myanmar cyclone death toll leaps to 15,000; Laura Bush urges junta to let U.S. help at 07:02 PM JST - 6th May