← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · Sertorius
Thread ID: 18858 | Posts: 10 | Started: 2005-06-27
2005-06-27 15:27 | User Profile
June 27, 2005 The Sun Also Rises by William S. Lind
For the first time since 1942, Japan has resumed the strategic offensive. Since the beginning of the year, Japan has claimed the island of Takeshima, now occupied by South Korea; seized control of an area in the South China Sea also claimed by Beijing; and, most ominously, announced that Tokyo might intervene militarily to defend Taiwan.
Taiwan was Japanese from 1895 to 1945, a fact that neither the Chinese nor the Taiwanese have forgotten; if they had to choose, many Taiwanese would rather be governed from Tokyo than from Beijing.
I do not know what has motivated the Japanese government to resume the strategic offensive. I do know it is a mistake. Japan's low-profile, defensive strategy has served her well for more than half a century. It is exactly the right strategy for a Fourth Generation 21st century, where survival will depend heavily on staying off other people's hit lists. As in the 1930s and early '40s, Japan shows an odd sense of timing.
The Takeshima issue offers an example. A divided Korea is very much in Japan's interest. By laying claim to what is now Korean territory, Japan brings South and North Korea together. In fact, North Korea missed an opportunity. Had Pyongyang said that in the face of any Japanese claims, the armed forces of both Koreas were one in defending Korean soil, it would have scored a propaganda triumph.
While a united Korea would be no danger to the United States, it would be perhaps the most dangerous state threat to Japan. Even today, South Korea's navy and air force are structured more for a war with Japan than for a conflict with North Korea. Any war with Japan, including an aggressive one, would be wildly popular with the Korean people. Asian memories run deep, and Japan's current military weakness offers an opportunity that may not last forever (although given Japan's demographics, it might).
Taking the offensive against China is an even greater blunder on Tokyo's part. Here, the danger is less Chinese aggression than internal Chinese dissolution and the regional instability that would result. Any humiliation of China by Japan damages the legitimacy of the Beijing government. A Chinese defeat by Japan and America in a crisis over Taiwan could well bring that government down. Contrary to neocon blather, its likely successor would not be parliamentary democracy but a new "Period of Warring States" within China, which is to say Fourth Generation war throughout the most critical part of the Asian landmass. The resulting chaos would not be good for Japanese interests, especially if nukes started to fly. Putting a few on Japan would be an easy way for a Chinese contender to establish its patriotic credentials.
Predictably, the strategically imbecilic Bush administration is supporting Japan's new offensive posture. In reality, with its military forces tied down in the Middle East, the last thing America needs is a new source of crises in East Asia. The mix there is already volatile enough; adding a Japan on the strategic offensive is the equivalent of smoking in the powder magazine.
American interests require that both China and Japan follow defensive strategies ââ¬â as indeed they require the United States to follow a defensive strategy. China wants to do exactly that, knowing that time is on her side. Only the Taiwan question is likely to push here to take the offensive, which means we should let that sleeping dog lie. As for Tokyo, I suspect the new Japanese offensive would collapse quickly if Washington quietly signaled its disapproval. Without American support, any rising of the Japanese sun will quickly prove a mirage made of hot air.
All that is required is a morsel of strategic sense in Washington. Alas, that horizon remains blank.
[url]http://www.antiwar.com/lind/?articleid=6445[/url]
2005-06-27 16:39 | User Profile
Good info. Sertorious thanks, one thing that the Americans should remember is that "some day" Japan will get even with the US for what we did to them in 1945 and they will indeed get even.
I say this because the mind of people around the world are not the same but the Japanese mind in one of "honor" and of "loosing face" and that was what happened to them in 45 when we used nuclear against their people.
By the way after my own people (Cuba) Japan is the country that I admire the most for what they have acomplished in the past but I really don't see the same thing happening in the future due to the fact that they have become to "westernise" and now they have the same poison that have taken over the US.
It may sound funny to you but the third country in my list is the Zionist state of Israel for what they have done in order to fool the American people and the way that they fight tooth and nail in order to acomplish their mission of taking over the world....they will succeed.
Today the Supreme Court voted that The Ten Commandants cannot be shown in a court room.....another check mark for the Jews. :caiphas:
2005-06-27 16:50 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Ponce]I say this because the mind of people around the world are not the same but the Japanese mind in one of "[B][I]honor[/I][/B]" and of "[B][I]loosing face[/I][/B]" and that was what happened to them in 45 when we used nuclear against their people..[/QUOTE]Dropping the atomic bombs was in America's interest. Truman was determined to save American lives - not Japanese lives. That the Japanese "lost face" in the extermination of 35 million Chinese does not bother our resident intellectual very much. I have written much on this before and will write more when the 60th anniversary comes about. In the meantime Ponce please seek a new definition of honor.
2005-06-27 17:24 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Ponce]By the way after my own people (Cuba) Japan is the country that I admire the most for what they have acomplished in the past but I really don't see the same thing happening in the future due to the fact that they have become to "westernise" and now they have the same poison that have taken over the US.[/QUOTE]
What are these Cuban achievements you're so proud of?
2005-06-27 19:01 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Ponce]Good info. Sertorious thanks, one thing that the Americans should remember is that "some day" Japan will get even with the US for what we did to them in 1945 and they will indeed get even.[/QUOTE] [COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]Ponce: I usually like to read your posts. They are honest, forthright and frequently amusing. Now, that having been said, I feel compelled to state that on this issue, you are so far out in left field that you'll have to take a bus to get back to the ballpark. Please explain just what it is that "we did" to Japan. Are you referring to the A-Bomb? If so, would you have preferred to see us invade their home island with the result the numerous brave American soldiers would die? Why should we care about the wartime destiny of an enemy that launched a cowardly sneak attack on us and killed numerous innocent civilians and equally innocent (because there was no declaration of war), military personnel? Why should we have shown excess mercy to a nation that murdered millions of non combatant civilians in China alone? What consideration is due to a nation that conducts atrocities so horrific (e.g. the rape of Nan King) that [B]NAZI'S[/B] were were so repulsed, they offered to interce in order to end the carnage?[/COLOR]
[QUOTE]I say this because the mind of people around the world are not the same but the Japanese mind in one of "honor" and of "loosing face" and that was what happened to them in 45 when we used nuclear against their people.[/QUOTE]
[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue][B]They had better not forget it, [/B] if they ever tried to repeat their actions of the 30's and 40's, it is quite possible their nation would cease to exist, ala Germany.[/COLOR]
[QUOTE]Today the Supreme Court voted that The Ten Commandants cannot be shown in a court room.....another check mark for the Jews. :caiphas:[/QUOTE]
[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]Your friends in izreel are winning. Are you happy about that?[/COLOR]
2005-06-28 01:10 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Walter Yannis]What are these Cuban achievements you're so proud of?[/QUOTE]
Well Yannis the fact that they are still around after forty years of US planning the overthrow and or the assesination of Castro.
The fact that the Cuban people share the little that they have and no one goes hungry, the fact that no one lives in the streeets like in the US.
In 1996 I went back after 27 years and then went back four more times and even with nothing they are still a happy people full of dance music and alive like the American people are not.
To the rest of you, you don't have any idea what Japanese "honor" is, trying to explain it to you would be like telling a blind man what the Grand Canyon looks like. Their kind of honor you don't have and you will never have.
Your idea of honor is "you violated my sister therefore I will kill you" and that's it. :tank: fire when ready.
Opera? the fact that the US used a nuclear on a foreign country gives a foreign country the right to use a nuclear on the US and we cannot say that tha's wrong. Do you for a second think that we will win the "war" in Iraq? We are not fighting a country but a whole race of people.
And then you have the backstabbing Jews to conted with.....amen.
2005-06-28 01:36 | User Profile
[QUOTE=edward gibbon]Dropping the atomic bombs was in America's interest. Truman was determined to save American lives - not Japanese lives. That the Japanese "lost face" in the extermination of 35 million Chinese does not bother our resident intellectual very much. I have written much on this before and will write more when the 60th anniversary comes about. In the meantime Ponce please seek a new definition of honor.[/QUOTE]I know you're a japanphobe, but overall of course a lot of paleo's have made the point that in fact we picked a fight with Japan in 41 out of the imperialistic designs of the Roosevelt administration, strongly encouraged of course in this by a core cadre of Mao admirers in its Far East bureau's. Having your homeland decimated from a war is hard enough to accept when its your fault.
QUOTE=SertoriusPredictably, the strategically imbecilic Bush administration is supporting Japan's new offensive posture. In reality, with its military forces tied down in the Middle East, the last thing America needs is a new source of crises in East Asia. The mix there is already volatile enough; adding a Japan on the strategic offensive is the equivalent of smoking in the powder magazine.[/QUOTE]Well both the Bush admin and Japanese are stratigically incompetent. But obviously the Bush administration is desperate for help now, being so tied down in Iraq, and the Japanese are so worried about the present U.S. impotence they're rushing in to helpout.
A power vacuum in the world is a dangerous thing, and that's what our strategic incompetance has created.
2005-06-28 02:31 | User Profile
Okie,
This is just one of many examples of Neocon stupidity and ignorance when it comes to history. The last thing they need is a problem with Red China that could possibly result in a confrontation particularly when you consider the US position economically vis a vis China's. I admit I consider that to be a long shot, but, with the Bush Administration anything is possible except something that actually benefits the nation. [QUOTE]Well both the Bush admin and Japanese are stratigically incompetent.[/QUOTE] You know, the Neocons and the Japanese militarists have surprisingly alot in common with each other when it comes to overestimating themselves, underestimating their opponents, recklessness and sheer belligerence save in one thing. The Japanese militarists would actually practice what they preach a la Samurai whereas, the Neocons are only "sofa samurai" as Taki calls them.
2005-06-28 03:02 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Sertorius]Okie,
This is just one of many examples of Neocon stupidity and ignorance when it comes to history. The last thing they need is a problem with Red China that could possibly result in a confrontation particularly when you consider the US position economically vis a vis China's. I admit I consider that to be a long shot, but, with the Bush Administration anything is possible except something that actually benefits the nation. [/QUOTE]I understand how avoiding an unnecessary confrontation with China is important for both us and the neo-cons, but I'm not convinced that doing nothing in the face of a virtual Chinese promise of invasion if Taiwan declares independence or otherwise completely ignoring Chinese saber rattling is the way to do it. The problem as I see it is the general way they go about it. Everyone knows the best way to maintain peace is to "speak softly and carry a large stick". The neocon's philosophy is to smash our stick to splinters fighting tiny Iraq, then get the equally puny Japanese to shrill loudly to compensate.
The Japanese of course have their own record of strategic stupidity, even if one of the examples of that stupidity undoubtedly was thinking they could ever have negotiated with the communist dominated FDR administration in good faith, or not forseeing their stupid tactics in the Far East were building themselves exactly the trap FDR was hoping they'd fall into.
2005-06-29 03:50 | User Profile
No Body Lives by the Word. The fate of man is again going to be destroyed by God. I have so much hatred towards America, towards the powers that control the world. The element of hatred I have is biblical. To be true is to use the gifts of God. Cows, plants, all we live off. These are all given freely by God. All animals, all plants. I feel such deep sorrow in my owm life for having to live now. I live an age of sin times a million. I live in a world that can only take one more step. That next step is only 10 years away. As it was in the times of Noah shall it be in the dayt of My Coming. Beasts mixed with men. Spirits, like our technology. inbued in creation. I hate this world and I wish to escape it. No fool ever judged Christianity. Because no fool can talk anything about Christianity as it was for 1500 years. Anyone alive today who tells you one thing about it besides the Pope is a liar. That is FACT. I hate your mankind, you have destryed all nature, the Unabomber told it true in 1996. Read the Unabomber Manifesto. I could just want to be apart from you and destroy you. I hate your system of maggots. I despoise your foul mouthed women who are devils !!!!!! I know the government lied about 911. I know that it is all a lie. I just want to save up enough money to get the hell out of your sick machine.