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Comments

1. #101
   On March 30th, 2009 at 2:52 pm, prendad said:

   Bill Maher is a spineless, useless, waste of skin. Moron, idiot, I cannot think of words to properly denigrate him.

2. #102
   On March 30th, 2009 at 3:04 pm, EMT Bill said:

   I need to offer a word of support for LGM’s comment. He/she is correct in saying there is a movement to remove the US bases in Japan. It isn’t a huge movement, but it is there. Frankly, you can all imagine how some Japanese feel about a foreign military based within their nation.

   There are also incidents of rape by US service men upon Japanese wommen. Those assults make some Japanese more resentful of the US presence in Japan then they otherwise might be. So, LGM has a couple of points.

   The point missed in LGM’s post is whether stationing US military personnel and equipment in Japan meets the stratigic needs of the US and Japan? Considering Japan’s restrictions on which weopons the US may stationed there, I don’t see the usefullness. On the other hand, if a shooting war breaks out in asia, the location may still serve to useful.

   I’m sorry that individuals wearing the uniform of the United States military have committed sexual assults, as well as other crimes. Such aborant behavior does not, by itself, change the stratigic needs of the two nations. If the US government were to ignore these assults and spirit the accused away, it would be reprehensible. However, the US places the accused before the bar of justice.

   Rape is an awful crime, which occurs too often. The fact that the rapist is, at the time, in the US military does not negate nor magnify the crime.

3. #103
   On March 30th, 2009 at 3:05 pm, EMT Bill said:

   Also, Bill Maher is not funny.

4. #104
   On March 30th, 2009 at 3:07 pm, Elm Creek Smith said:

   On March 30th, 2009 at 1:41 pm, undresiege said:

   North Korea, China, and Russia.

   China is not a military threat to us or any ally to the extent that we’d fight with them. Russia is not a military threat to us or an ally to the extent that we’d fight with them.

   Yes, they are military threats. One must use capabilities, not intentions, in evaluating threats. They pose military threats to both us and our allies. See also, P3 Orion “spy plane,” and “Aggressive actions by Chinese Navy in South China Sea.” I do have to agree with your phrasing “to the extent that we’d fight with them” given the current administration.

   Hope is not a plan; not all change is good. WE are the civilian national security force.
   A Nation of Riflemen is needed now more than ever. The resistance is here; the resistance is now. RESIST!!!!!!

   ECS

5. #105
   On March 30th, 2009 at 3:24 pm, sonofdy said:

   undresiege is clearly clueless on this issue. Time to move on because he is not going to get it. Maybe he will get a clue when he starts seeking news sources not found on the comedy channel.

6. #106
   On March 30th, 2009 at 3:28 pm, On-my-soap-box said:

   On March 30th, 2009 at 3:04 pm, EMT Bill said:
   I need to offer a word of support for LGM’s comment. He/she is correct in saying there is a movement to remove the US bases in Japan.

   There is also a movement that says a cop killer is a hero. “It isn’t a huge movement, but it is there.” This “they are raping our women movement” does not give credence to lgm’s point. If lgm were making the point that one rape is one too many, we would all agree. Making a point US soldier(s) are raping Japanese women is why the Japanese want US troops out of Japan is nothing but laughable. Posting a picture of a woman holding a sign is not proof or a good debate tactic.

   On the other hand, there are mountains of other reasons why the Japanese want US troops out of Japan. Let’s be real and admit that and give BM and his ilk a heave-ho under a bridge somewhere.

7. #107
   On March 30th, 2009 at 3:46 pm, happyscrapper said:

   On March 30th, 2009 at 1:34 pm, undresiege said:
   What countries are such immediate threats that we need so many troops in Germany and Japan? And why so many? I’d think that our presence in South Korea and Iraq allow for rapid deployment to fight any plausible country that may strike an ally. Wouldn’t at least like to see these numbers halved, and the rest sent to Afghanistan and Paksitan?

   Well, Under, I will be sure to pass along your excellent, very informed opinion on how to position our troops to our Generals who actually know what they are doing. I’m sure they will appreciate your moonbat theories as much as the rest of us do.

8. #108
   On March 30th, 2009 at 3:46 pm, prendad said:

   I used to fly out of a base in Japan when I was in the Navy. There was a barn near the approach to the runway with “BE QUIET” whitewashed on the roof. No, the Japanese people do not want us there and if you go out in town and attempt to enter one of the “Japanese Only” establishments, you will find this out real quick-like.

9. #109
   On March 30th, 2009 at 4:28 pm, WarEagle82 said:

   I have read several stories that one of the reasons Japanese have “Japanese Only” establishments is because they don’t want westerners to realize how prevalent prostitution is in Japan.

   I have been in countries where I was less than fully welcomed as an American. I have also been in countries where I was shunned when people thought I was a Russian. Go into an establishment in Estonia and try to speak Russian. Speak Russian to the average Romanian. Chances are you will be invited to leave very quickly.

   On March 30th, 2009 at 3:46 pm, prendad said:
   I used to fly out of a base in Japan when I was in the Navy. There was a barn near the approach to the runway with “BE QUIET” whitewashed on the roof. No, the Japanese people do not want us there and if you go out in town and attempt to enter one of the “Japanese Only” establishments, you will find this out real quick-like.

10. #110
    On March 30th, 2009 at 7:12 pm, frontierguy said:

    I sent HBO another e-mail promising to re-order HBO if they drop Bill Maher. I believe BM has the freedom to say whatever he wants, but I do not want to support his wealthy lifestyle. BM’s show is not balanced and is only a bully session whenever he has guests who are supposed to debate. The people who are supposed to debate against BM’s opinion are always weak and never have anything good to say. I could do a better job. Like Colmes to Hannity, Colmes was not a good debater. BM has the right to say whatever and should do so in stand up performances. That way people who think he is great can give their money to him and those who think he is a waste don’t have to. Until that day, I will not have HBO in my house.

11. #111
    On March 30th, 2009 at 7:21 pm, cicerokid said:

    On March 30th, 2009 at 4:28 pm, WarEagle82 said:
    I have read several stories that one of the reasons Japanese have “Japanese Only” establishments is because they don’t want westerners to realize how prevalent prostitution is in Japan.

    Filipinas are bait and switched after taking jobs in Japan in hotels and nightclubs as “waitresses” and end up as hospitality girls. Some Filipinas know what they are getting into when they go, but many don’t. I have personally interviewed these “Japayukees” and have listened firsthand to the stories of abuse.

    This does not make all Japanese men evil any more than a handfull of irresponsible GI’s makes all our armed- service men and women.

12. #112
    On March 30th, 2009 at 9:16 pm, Omu said:

    US soldiers have committed horrific crimes against Japanese women, particularly on the island of Okinawa where the statistics show a staggering, shocking level of rape committed by US soldiers. The right should condemn this, yet they do not out of some kind of misplaced reverence for the military.

13. #113
    On March 30th, 2009 at 10:00 pm, frontierguy said:

    You are so right OMU. I was looking up all of these rapes committed and saw that all of them have been by black and hispanic service members. One of the trials was by a USMC Major Michael Brown (white), he was tried by a Japanese court and was acquitted of the rape charge. The only answer here is for the Department of Navy to bar all black and hispanic Seamen and Marines from being deployable. Obviously they are nothing but savages and should not be trusted with the task of being diplomats of America in foreign countries. The left should condemn this, yet they do not out of some kind of misplaced reverence for people of color.

14. #114
    On March 30th, 2009 at 10:12 pm, frontierguy said:

    Also, google Timothy Woodland. There is a Time article on him asking whether he is really guilty of rape or if he is a victim of Japanese and military racism against blacks. I’m guessing you didn’t know there were other liberal angles here to cry about, could open up a whole new chapter of complaining for you.

15. #115
    On March 30th, 2009 at 10:38 pm, Flyoverman said:

    OMU,

    You cannot find one instance of the military covering up a case of murder or rape aleegedly committed by a serviceman, which I might add is two fewer times than the number of coverups conducted by the Kennedy family.

16. #116
    On April 8th, 2009 at 8:34 pm, Dimsdale said:

    On March 30th, 2009 at 11:49 am, lgm said:

    Individual US soldiers in Japan have been convicted of rape. There is a movement in Japan to expel US troops for that reason. Maher is right to give this as reason not to keep large US forces in Japan. It hurts relations between the US and Japan, and is a waste of money.

    and

    On March 30th, 2009 at 9:16 pm, Omu said:

    US soldiers have committed horrific crimes against Japanese women, particularly on the island of Okinawa where the statistics show a staggering, shocking level of rape committed by US soldiers. The right should condemn this, yet they do not out of some kind of misplaced reverence for the military.

    I believe it was the behavior of Japanese troops in China, the Phillipines etc., during WWII that necessitated our presence there then and now. You know, death marches, POW abuse, raping and pillaging, that sort of thing.

    And frontierguy makes a rather pertinent point (as unfortunate as it may be), as does Flyoverman.

    Why do liberals always blame America for the acts of a few despicable people? Oh yeah…