June 29, 2006
YOU EVER NOTICE...:
Koizumi, Bush trumpet new global-scale alliance (Japan Times, 6/30/06)
Japan and the United States declared Thursday a new alliance for the 21st century, agreeing to work with China to maintain stability in Asia and to stand united in pressuring North Korea to back off on its missile threat and to resolve the fate of abducted foreigners.In a joint statement issued after talks in Washington, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and U.S. President George W. Bush reaffirmed the strengthening and expansion of the bilateral alliance to a so-called global scale, based on "common values and interests," including areas outside of traditional security cooperation.
Celebrating a close friendship, Bush welcomed Koizumi with the pomp due a leader whose country gives the U.S. a crucial bulwark against a rising China and a volatile North Korea.
...that the conventional wisdom holds George W. Bush to be particularly stupid, yet the Left, Right and the press still think it's Europe and the Atlantic Alliance that matter? Posted by Orrin Judd at June 29, 2006 9:43 PM
Not a big surprise OJ. Those are the languages and cultures they studied. Taking time out to learn new stuff would take them out of the running in the Red Queen's Race that is the Upper class.
Posted by: Robert Mitchell Jr. at June 29, 2006 11:42 PMI was particularly struck, watching their press conference on CSPAN, by their Elvis/Memphis riff. Can't recall Bush's reference, but Koizumi's parting comment about 'Love Me Tender' spoke volumes. I don't mean to overemphasize their personal regard. And I didn't think I'd ever say this. But, thank you Elvis. Between you and Walt Disney, we have a built-in advantage in entertaining visiting heads-of-state.
Posted by: Fred Jacobsen (San Fran) at June 29, 2006 11:57 PM