Posts in "Occupation"

By Bonnie Kristian at 10:11AM

Jan 31, 2010

Surprise, Surprise: Japan Doesn't Like Endless Occupation

If you've read Blowback, you're well acquainted with the long and less-than-honorable history of the American occupation of Japan since WW2. If you haven't, read it. In the meantime, here's the situation to which these protestors object:

Some 47,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Japan, with more than half on the southern island of Okinawa.
Residents have complained for years about noise, pollution and crime around the bases.

Not surprisingly, many Japanese object to this long-term American military presence on their land -- and what looks like their government's possible willingness to sell them out to curry favor with Washington. The Japanese cabinet will announce its decision in May.

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By Jihan Huq at 7:44AM

Dec 31, 2009

Taliban Calls 2009 "Successful"

That's right. Your eyes did not deceive you.

In an official written statement, the Taliban or "students" declare 2009 " a successful year for the mujahadeen."

The Taliban also claimed that it is working on driving the coalition forces out of Afghanistan by next year:

Last year the guerrilla warfare, frontline war, attacks and road mines against the invaders increased as the enemy began to cry out for reconciliation. The enemy does not have a constant policy. Sometimes they talk about sending more soldiers and other times they speak of an early withdrawal. Their thinking is irrational.

The Taliban also launched a new website with multiple languages, including English. It also included a 37 minute footage of a captured American soilder and mentioned the year's disastrous elections which had little voter turnout.