NZFF

Interesting read , and why not .

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/03/opinion/...itary.html?_r=0

I think the country and like you Marty know many Japanese , fact is they get a lot off respect keeping "Self-Defense Force" just based on history and people respect for them and that history, funny thing is with the two I see, they were impressed with what I knew and really could believe what I had on the shelf here ... Tonomi went to Japan and dug all these JSDF books and brought them over for me, Self Defense, the aircraft are ships are capable of being very 'Offensive'.

I guess it the times with N/Koreans and recent Chinese clash's you maybe want to change the its name, but I think keeping it "Japanese Self-Defense Force" really throws more weight than it would if it was to change to - IJAF .

Yeah... things change, but there are still those alive who remember.
First time I saw a JAL 747 pull up to the gate with that red spot on the wing, I heard a fellow passenger say under his breath: "Banzai"

WWIII is by many accounts to be centred around the South China Sea, starting in the Spratley Islands and working northward.
Players are: Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Korea, and of course, Japan.

Maybe President Obama reads the same pulp fiction: the US is now focussed on a military build-up in that very region.
Darwin will be a busy US naval hub in the future.

Charl wrote:

QUOTE (Charl @ Jul 4 2014,2:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah... things change, but there are still those alive who remember.

I never went a warring world other than getting to understand it , I got damn good at it and got to learn both sides ... the ones that pretend to remember and still hold a hate/grudge - most use that as an Excuse ! , that's were learning is suppose to teach not to return but understand both side's .. its the Gov's and policy/religions that cause most of it - especially the idiot's today.

Darwin would be a nice place .. Warm .. great military presents.

A lot of people remember Europe as well Charl .... however , i agree with those on the Spratley Islands .

Ive been living and breathing (and eating) Japanese culture , politics, news, for the last 10 or so years , and i think i have a pretty good handle on what the younger (20-40) are thinking and feeling.
They are very nationalistic .... i can only speak for those Ive had contact with (but there are lots) and all very well educated and up to date .

We had a lengthy discussion about this last night with 3 of them , and the general consensus was 100% for the change . There wont be another Pearl Harbour , and anyone who thinks that is a complete and utter fool , they (Japan) have too much to lose for that to happen.

I watched with interest the reaction of a Chinese "expert" on CNN .... condemning the whole thing , sighting the rise of a new and aggressive Japan .... who the hell are they to talk ... lets talk about Tibet !

All it means is (and its not law yet) that Japan will be able to react to a threat , without having to wait and CONFIRM a nuclear attack, or whatever ... just like the rest of the world.... and support whom ever they see fit militarily.

Back to the Spratley islands ..... yes , this is a political hotbed, but over shadowed by the middle east and those barbarians .... but i really believe Japan wont initiate hostilities there , but now they can support any nation whom they think has similar interests .... my guess would be Taiwan , not much love lost between the rest even now ... but who knows .

This opinion is only based on my own experience with Japanese .... we did have a member living there who may be able to offer more enlightened comment.

Just my 10cents worth .... shoot at will .... and if you really want to protest, Mr Abe will be in CHC this weekend .

Charl wrote:

QUOTE (Charl @ Jul 4 2014,1:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah... things change, but there are still those alive who remember.
First time I saw a JAL 747 pull up to the gate with that red spot on the wing, I heard a fellow passenger say under his breath: "Banzai"

WWIII is by many accounts to be centred around the South China Sea, starting in the Spratley Islands and working northward.
Players are: Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Korea, and of course, Japan.

Maybe President Obama reads the same pulp fiction: the US is now focussed on a military build-up in that very region.
Darwin will be a busy US naval hub in the future.

"First time I saw a JAL 747 pull up to the gate with that red spot on the wing, I heard a fellow passenger say under his breath: "Banzai" ..... wonder if he waited for Lufthansa to arrive ?
maybe not , those types cant read ....just set off by the red spot i guess , too many war comics ... visual stimulation is big among the great apes .

Splitpin wrote:

QUOTE (Splitpin @ Jul 4 2014,8:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

We had a lengthy discussion about this last night with 3 of them , and the general consensus was 100% for the change . There wont be another Pearl Harbour , and anyone who thinks that is a complete and utter fool , they (Japan) have too much to lose for that to happen.

With many books here one specific is the search for the USS Yorktown , veterans from both sides were invited onto Dr Bob Ballard's search/research vessel so it showed time proved what the reason they were fighting for.

Pearl Harbour , have a couple superb DVD sets about the history and in the documentary a survivor from the BB39 .. Yes the USS Arizona and Japanese level bomber pilot who bombed Battleship row , in the the doco the Japanese vet was invited to Pearl harbour Remembrance day in the mid 1980s it into the 1990s that more and more met from both sides.

It is amazing history, people are going die .. its war, but comment mention from that series 'Band of Brothers' had we not gone to war we could have been fishing buddies ... people think I am a war monger but that is the sort reading and history and comparing notes .. going 85 years back to the change after WWII , .. suppose one way off looking at it after the Berlin wall come down and tensions eased, SAC was demobbed and gone into history.

Splitpin wrote:

QUOTE (Splitpin @ Jul 4 2014,7:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A lot of people remember Europe as well Charl .... however , i agree with those on the Spratley Islands .

Ive been living and breathing (and eating) Japanese culture , politics, news, for the last 10 or so years , and i think i have a pretty good handle on what the younger (20-40) are thinking and feeling.
They are very nationalistic .... i can only speak for those Ive had contact with (but there are lots) and all very well educated and up to date .

We had a lengthy discussion about this last night with 3 of them , and the general consensus was 100% for the change . There wont be another Pearl Harbour , and anyone who thinks that is a complete and utter fool , they (Japan) have too much to lose for that to happen.

I watched with interest the reaction of a Chinese "expert" on CNN .... condemning the whole thing , sighting the rise of a new and aggressive Japan .... who the hell are they to talk ... lets talk about Tibet !

All it means is (and its not law yet) that Japan will be able to react to a threat , without having to wait and CONFIRM a nuclear attack, or whatever ... just like the rest of the world.... and support whom ever they see fit militarily.

Back to the Spratley islands ..... yes , this is a political hotbed, but over shadowed by the middle east and those barbarians .... but i really believe Japan wont initiate hostilities there , but now they can support any nation whom they think has similar interests .... my guess would be Taiwan , not much love lost between the rest even now ... but who knows .

This opinion is only based on my own experience with Japanese .... we did have a member living there who may be able to offer more enlightened comment.

Just my 10cents worth .... shoot at will .... and if you really want to protest, Mr Abe will be in CHC this weekend .

Good post. That also aligns with my experience with Japanese culture and people and their thoughts on war. When I was there there was huge protest at even sending support medical staff to Iraq. I think this is simply, perhaps worryingly, because they genuinely feel threatened.

Hey the Japanese managed to reinterpret "Whaling for scientific purposes" as "whale meat for domestic" consumption. Despite the obvious sham the world just looked on.
The same will happen with this. It will be an incremental ramping up of Japans military might.

cowpatz wrote:

QUOTE (cowpatz @ Jul 6 2014,10:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hey the Japanese managed to reinterpret "Whaling for scientific purposes" as "whale meat for domestic" consumption.

That is one area which i don't agree with is that so called "Whaling for scientific purposes", that is the RICH dictating to a Gov, i believe use the eating off the meat as stature .. "Oooo look at me I can afford to eat this" metal fix,

Whole dang world no's in this area is in serious threat ... New Zealand is suppose to police it in this region ? .... All the top brass could say the other night .. least half greenie "I am ashamed to be a man" .. after that to finish it off, one running around planning doctoring Moa's .... our Military might are to scared to police International sanctions .... what bloody chance do the Whales have.

It is a crazy mixed up world...thank god for flight simming.

cowpatz wrote:

QUOTE (cowpatz @ Jul 6 2014,1:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It is a crazy mixed up world...thank god for flight simming.

Only place that seem's to makes some sence, Oh .... off course the nutters encouraging nuttier peoples here