Comments on: “Well, at least it’ll get the lush off the front page …”

By: seanf

seanf — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:25:50 +0000

Sorry for the messed up post above!

Another explanation – which one do you think is more likely?

From: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20090218TDY01301.htm

According to observers, by choosing Aso to be the first foreign leader to meet him at the White House, Obama is signaling that his administration puts priority on the bilateral relationship…

Clinton described the two countries’ ties as a “cornerstone.”

Concerning issues relating to North Korea, (Japanese Foreign Minister) Nakasone said: “I believe it’s necessary to comprehensively resolve the abduction [to North Korea] of Japanese nationals and Pyongyang’s development of nuclear weapons and long-range missiles. To denuclearize North Korea, Japan will work on the issues in cooperation with the United States and South Korea.”

By: seanf

seanf — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:24:28 +0000

Another explanation – which one do you think is more likely?

[From: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20090218TDY01301.htm

By: Verity

Verity — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 23:42:39 +0000

Obama’s a very insecure individual with a chip. He grew up (later childhood and teens) in Hawaii, where there are seriously large numbers of Japanese. His junior high and high school were probably fairly heavily populated with Japanese. Therefore, as “foreigners”, he may feel easier with them than with Brits or Europeans or, God forbid, Latin Americans.

I see this as a panic move. A comfort zone. The President of Indonesia as first visitor might have been a bit de trop.

By: Brett_McS

Brett_McS — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 23:31:36 +0000

I thought there’d be a mad scramble to get in before the aura fades. It’s starting to look a bit sickly already, to some people at least.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:49:16 +0000

I think Shannon is right.

By: Lexington Green

Lexington Green — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:14:18 +0000

It’s Japan because Obama wants some really fresh sushi.

By: Shannon Love

Shannon Love — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:30:06 +0000

Well, I think the presumption is that the order of meeting communicates which countries or which issues involving which countries hold the highest priority in the current administration.

Since its Japan, I think it communicates that the Obama administration would rather just ignore the rest of the world.