Israeli sinks to even greater depths of depravity. Israeli drones lure Palestinians with crying chil... 21:39 Apr 18 0 comments Israel Continues to Shoot Itself in the Foot 20:25 Dec 16 0 comments Is the Gaza-Israel Fighting “A False Flag”? They Let it Happen? Their Objective Is “to Wipe Gaza Off... 00:48 Oct 21 1 comments Israel Confesses War Crime 23:49 Oct 10 0 comments Ukraine and West prepare media space for their potential false flag attack on Zaporozhye NPP 23:34 Jun 26 1 comments more >>Blog Feeds
Anti-EmpireThe Wholesome Photo of the Month Thu May 09, 2024 11:01 | Anti-Empire In 3 War Years Russia Will Have Spent $3... Thu May 09, 2024 02:17 | Anti-Empire UK Sending Missiles to Be Fired Into Rus... Tue May 07, 2024 14:17 | Marko Marjanović US Gives Weapons to Taiwan for Free, The... Fri May 03, 2024 03:55 | Anti-Empire Russia Has 17 Percent More Defense Jobs ... Tue Apr 30, 2024 11:56 | Marko Marjanović
Human Rights in IrelandIndymedia Ireland is a volunteer-run non-commercial open publishing website for local and international news, opinion & analysis, press releases and events. Its main objective is to enable the public to participate in reporting and analysis of the news and other important events and aspects of our daily lives and thereby give a voice to people.Julian Assange is finally free ! Tue Jun 25, 2024 21:11 | indy Stand With Palestine: Workplace Day of Action on Naksa Day Thu May 30, 2024 21:55 | indy It is Chemtrails Month and Time to Visit this Topic Thu May 30, 2024 00:01 | indy Hamburg 14.05. "Rote" Flora Reoccupied By Internationalists Wed May 15, 2024 15:49 | Internationalist left Eddie Hobbs Breaks the Silence Exposing the Hidden Agenda Behind the WHO Treaty Sat May 11, 2024 22:41 | indy
Lockdown Skeptics
Will Trump Ever Admit Lockdown Was a Mistake? Mon Jul 22, 2024 19:35 | Jeffrey A. Tucker
Joe Biden Out in Apparent Palace Coup Mon Jul 22, 2024 17:30 | Eugyppius
Who Will Guard Us Against the Guardian?s ?Fact Checks?? Mon Jul 22, 2024 15:34 | David Craig
Biden Delayed Stepping Down as He ?Doubts Kamala? as Senior Democrats Fail to Back Her Mon Jul 22, 2024 13:19 | Will Jones
The Office of Budget Intractability Mon Jul 22, 2024 11:00 | Andrew Colllingwood
Voltaire NetworkVoltaire, international editionNetanyahu soon to appear before the US Congress? It will be decisive for the suc... Thu Jul 04, 2024 04:44 | en Voltaire, International Newsletter N°93 Fri Jun 28, 2024 14:49 | en Will Israel succeed in attacking Lebanon and pushing the United States to nuke I... Fri Jun 28, 2024 14:40 | en Will Netanyahu launch tactical nuclear bombs (sic) against Hezbollah, with US su... Thu Jun 27, 2024 12:09 | en Will Israel provoke a cataclysm?, by Thierry Meyssan Tue Jun 25, 2024 06:59 | en |
Japan’s Embrace of a Phoney War on Terror
international |
anti-war / imperialism |
other press
Sunday May 31, 2009 15:05 by Maidhc Ó Cathail
A recent book by Gavan McCormack documents how Japan has become a "client state" of the United States, an indispensable ally through its uncritical support of the global American empire. However, a closer examination of the forces driving recent US wars in the Middle East suggests that America may in fact be serving the interests of one tiny country in the region. Japan may be “in the American Embrace,” as Gavan McCormack’s Client State cogently argues, but in whose embrace is America? |
View Comments Titles Only
save preference
Comments (1 of 1)
Jump To Comment: 1There I was on a balcony in the western suburbs of Tokyo, taking in the scene. Immaculatley planned, all of the residents of the many 14 storey appartment complexes live within 15 minutes walk of a train station, shopping centre, primary, secondary and third level schools. Overhead, a steady stream of helicopters interrupted the everyday noises of everyday people.
I asked my host about the choppers. "Americans, flying to Yokohama," I was told. Later that night over a few beers at a Yakitori restaurant downtown, I learned more. There has been a permanent US military presence in Japan since the Second World War. Warships in US designated harbours. US Air Force bases. Military bases. Nuclear weapons on submarines operating out of US bases on Japanese land. Approximately 40,000 US troops are stationed there, though ex President Bush reduced the numbers during the invasion of Iraq. The Japanese taxpayer foots the bill, part of the post war treaty that gave the US responsibility for "protecting" Japan.
It is little wonder that Japan supports US policy. The two nations are the leaders in corporate globalisation. US culture exerts the strongest foreign influence on Japanese life, much like in Ireland. And a permanent US army occupies the country. While the two nations retain separate identities, they have many common interests. Despite past conflict, citizens and business people from both countries have sought and discovered common ground, and successfully sustained peace and commerce.