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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| George Washington patrols the Pacific |
| 2009-03-25 |
| Anchored by its nuclear-powered carrier, the Seventh Fleet protects global trade. On a gorgeous morning this autumn, at Yokosuka, south of Tokyo, I was expecting a huge popular demonstration, maybe even a riot. The U.S. aircraft carrier George Washington was about to enter Yokosuka's harbor, the base of the Seventh Fleet in the Pacific. Never before had a nuclear-powered vessel been based in Japan. It was a clear demonstration of how the U.S. was reinforcing its presence in this part of the world--a danger zone, with China, Korea, Taiwan, and Japan itself, all historical rivals, ranged around it. Japan has a long tradition of pacifist, antinuclear, and anti-American protests, and until now, the only country to have been bombed with nuclear weapons had always opposed hosting nuclear ships. Yet no riot erupted; in fact, there was no trace of protest. Yokosuka was quiet. The only crowd on hand was on the base: 1,000 Japanese--mostly local dignitaries, politicians, and representatives of the Japanese Navy--joined a group of American officials to attend the majestic and complex maneuver of the George Washington from the high seas to the pier. |
| Posted by:tu3031 |
| #8 ION PAKISTANI DEFENSE FORUM > LET ATTEMPTS HUGE INFILTRATION [across LOC]INTO INDIA: KASHMIR ON RED/FULL ALERT. LET covertly sends 300 MIL-TERRS in support of Peace + Curry-Mania. Also on PDF > RUSSA [Ivanov]: PAKISTAN MUST BE STABILIZED [read, but SSSSSHHHHHH NOT by Russia]. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2009-03-25 22:12 |
| #7 I dunno about China's muscle flexing Joe - what was it, a frigate and some fishing trawlers 50+/- miles from port? Sounds more pesky annoyance than otherwise. Now, if they pull a Pueblo, that's a serious escalation well above the forced landing of the recon plane from summer 2001. Chinese muscle flexing will be if they try and send more than a single naval vessel for some port calls around the Indian Ocean, or better yet, to the African Atlantic coast. That would take some doing. Of course, it would also likely accelerate keel laying for the Indian navy, and speed the negotiations for the Indo-Japanese-Anzac South Pacific/Indian Ocean joint patrol protocols. |
| Posted by: Halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division 2009-03-25 19:40 |
| #6 OTOH, WAFF > USA [Navy]:AN UNCERTAIN MARITIME POSTURE PORTENDS FOR AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE. Among other, Article describes the USN as steadily evol towards being a RAPID REACTION FORCE, lean hi-techy and also highly flexible, and no longer organz to fight WW2-STYLE MASSIVE OPEN BATTLES OR CAMPAIGNS. Also, TOPIX > CHINA'S FLASH OF MUSCLE DURING NAVAL STANDOFF MAY SIGNAL A BROAD NEW PUSH FOR POWER IN ASIA + CHINA'S MILITARY EXPANSION SEES THE USA AS THE [SSSSSSSHHHHHHHH, FUTURE]ENEMY. SSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHH .......... |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2009-03-25 19:20 |
| #5 Sounds like a good time to sell the Japanese the "Kitty Hawk", and a full complement of carrier aircraft. I think they have enough ships already to form a defensive screen. Just one more step in Japan's growing roll in maintaining peace in East Asia. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2009-03-25 17:42 |
| #4 Besoeker, you mean sorta like AQ on 9/11? |
| Posted by: AlanC 2009-03-25 11:56 |
| #3 Barry's hands are tied. This is simply another failure of diplomacy which he has inherited. He can do nothing about the missle test. The Norks had this in the planning long before Barry took office, remember? (snark off) |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-03-25 11:33 |
| #2 Bambi will let the Norks test their missile over Japan. That should provoke a good ally. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2009-03-25 11:27 |
| #1 I wonder what Obama has in his pocket to piss off the Japanese. Probably more concessions to China, s'my bet. |
| Posted by: gromky 2009-03-25 11:22 |