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taikan said...

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  taikan at 05:48 AM JST - 4th September

  Given the fundamentally conservative and nationalistic base of the LDP, one should expect that whoever is elected LDP president will reflect those views, and all of the leading candidates do. Thus, one can expect that Japan's relationship with China will suffer somewhat. However, what really counts is whether any of…

  Posted in LDP local execs in 22 prefectures support Aso as Fukuda's successor at 05:48 AM JST - 4th September

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  taikan at 08:49 AM JST - 8th August

  The recent report from the GAO concluding that Iraq is likely to end the year with a $79 billion budget surplus (the report can be found at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04902r.pdf) is likely to add to the pressure on the Bush administration to reduce the US presence in Iraq, because it shows that…

  Posted in Iraq says it is close to deal on U.S. troop withdrawal at 08:49 AM JST - 8th August

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  taikan at 10:43 AM JST - 7th August

  The question asks whether Japan is part of the West as a matter of geopolitics, and not as a matter of culture or geography. On most geopolitical issues (e.g., Iraq war, WTO, NKorea, etc.), Japan tends to side with the US and/or the EU, rather than with other Asian nations.…

  Posted in In the world of geopolitics, do you think of Japan as part of the West? at 10:43 AM JST - 7th August

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  taikan at 01:54 AM JST - 7th August

  If the purpose of the shrine is to memorialize those who died in war either to protect the Emperor or to advance the Emperor's interests, then one can argue that logically the spirits of the Class A war criminals should not be included at Yasukuni because none of them actually…

  Posted in Fukuda says he won't visit Yasukuni on Aug 15, but justice minister will at 01:54 AM JST - 7th August

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  taikan at 01:37 AM JST - 7th August

  Police and prosecutors generally have what is known as "prosecutorial discretion." This means that they get to make the initial decisions regarding whether to go forward with criminal charges. In many countries, including the US, if the police decide the evidence is not sufficient to prosecute then the matter never…

  Posted in Police say JR West president culpable over fatal derailment at 01:37 AM JST - 7th August

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  taikan at 02:21 AM JST - 6th August

  Although generally it is a good idea to eliminate deficit spending and use any budget surplus to pay down existing debt, the urgency of the need to do so depends in part on who holds the government's debt securities.

  If most of the Japanese government's debt is owed to its…

  Posted in Fukuda to stick with 2011 budget surplus goal at 02:21 AM JST - 6th August

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  taikan at 02:06 AM JST - 6th August

  Part of the problem is related to the date. Visiting on the anniversary of Japan's surrender in WWII implies that the visit is designed primarily to show respect for those who died in connection with that war, including those classified as Class A war criminals. Because the shrine originally was…

  Posted in Fukuda says he won't visit Yasukuni on Aug 15, but justice minister will at 02:06 AM JST - 6th August

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  taikan at 01:34 AM JST - 1st August

  failure to report income is tax invasion

  Betzee, I suggest you read the indictment. The only charges are for violations of Title 18, section 1001 of the US Code. That section prohibits the making of a materially false statement in connection with a matter under the jurisdiction of the government.…

  Posted in Longest-serving GOP Sen Ted Stevens indicted at 01:34 AM JST - 1st August

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  taikan at 04:31 AM JST - 31st July

  The indictment of Stevens is just the latest in a string of indictments (and guilty pleas) arising from an investigation into contributions and gifts of various types made by VECO and its executives to a number of Alaska state and federal office holders. Do not be surprised if Congressman Young…

  Posted in Longest-serving GOP Sen Ted Stevens indicted at 04:31 AM JST - 31st July

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  taikan at 11:34 AM JST - 30th July

  When the Peace Treaty with Japan was being negotiated, this issue was addressed and the US refused to support South Korea's position, and instead concluded that the islets in question belonged to Japan. Therefore, "remaining neutral" about the dispute at this time actually represents a change in the US' position.…

  Posted in U.S. stays neutral on territorial row between Japan, S Korea at 11:34 AM JST - 30th July