Far East Cynic

I receive e-mail notices from the Economist weekly, its an adjunct to my print subscription and serve to wet my appetite for the brain candy the actual magazine represents each week. I’m a big fan of their coverage of American politics, because as a British magazine, they tend to be more objective in their coverage. In a blogosphere full of morons people who turn to the Weekly Standard or the Washington Times and Fox News for an objective view of the world, it is an escape into sanity.

So when the e-mail dropped into my box this week containing this little gem-which was pointedly on the mark, my head nodded up and down in agreement:

With the Democratic convention taking place next week, we look at Barack Obama’s loss of momentum. Unless the party can unite convincingly and Mr Obama show the sort of courage that John McCain has, the Democrats will lose the presidency. If that happens, after Katrina, Iraq and an economic crisis, they should consider an alternative line of work.

You think so? NS-Sherlock.

After all, McCain is helped by an electorate that will not take the time to understand anything in detail. Which is why John McCain is able to get away with what amounts to blatant deception-whether it be about the so called “surge” (which was never a surge, in any sense of the word) in Iraq, and how he was for it all along ( he was not till well into 2006-he was on his knees agreeing with Bush for the first three years); obscuring Obama’s position on Iraq by saying he was for defeat-even though the Bush Adminstration is on the verge of negotiating an agreement that is almost identical to that advocated by Obama. ( “The situation on the ground will govern troop movements-any coincidence of timing of agreeing to a timeline is just that, a coincidence”-So sayeth Saint Petreaus); to a bellicose policy against Russia without one smidgen of explanation on how he would back up that rhetoric. (Going to revive LANDCENT and put a few divisions in the Ukraine John? What is that you say? The Army and Air Force are not big enough to do that, because we have too many Soldiers out defending useless Arabs? I thought so.) And I’ll skip the economy for another post, where the Economist has done an excellent job explaining the risks of the “We’re fine.  All is well! There are no real hard times that Americans have not brought on themselves” philosophy of so many conservatives. After all tax breaks increased revenue. ( That last statement can be shredded to pieces with just a little analysis, but I have not the time here-stay tuned.)

But the point is, people are buying it, Mainly because Obama is doing nothing to counter it. Its a Democratic problem that is not unique to Obama. The compromises to all the wrong groups that a Democratic candidate has to make to get nominated ( Feminists and the rest) make it hard for the candidate to build a coherent narrative-or get fighting mad and stick it right back up the old man’s kiester.

Which is exactly what Obama needs to do now. You know you are in trouble when Peggy Noonan and James Carville are saying exactly the same thing. First up? Noonan:

This is what they see:

An attractive, intelligent man, interesting, but—he’s hard to categorize. Is he Gen. Obama? No, no military background. Brilliant Businessman Obama? No, he never worked in business. Famous Name Obama? No, it’s a new name, an unusual one. Longtime Southern Governor Obama? No. He’s a community organizer (what’s that?), then a lawyer (boo), then a state legislator (so what, so’s my cousin), then U.S. senator (less than four years!).

There is no pre-existing category for him.

Add to that the wear and tear of Jeremiah Wright, secret Muslim rumors, media darling and, this week, abortion.

It took a toll, which led to a readjustment. His uniqueness, once his great power, is now his great problem.

And over there is Mr. McCain, and—well, we know him. He’s POW/senator/prickly, irritating John McCain.

I’ll say it again, the whole Saddleback media appearance was a disaster for Obama and not for the “above my paygrade” reasons that so many of my reactionary right wing fellow bloggers may think. The quote has been taken out of context, and if you look at the whole reply Obama was sincere. However, nuanced,  intelligent commentary is not the forte of most of Rick Warrens parishioners. Other wise they would be smelling the same coffee as Charles Templeton. He should have thought that one through.

Which gets to Carville’s point. Like Clara of 24 years ago, Carville says it’s time for Obama to show the people where the beef is:

Quite simply, he needs to create a more compelling narrative on change, use history as a context for the economy, and get mad about something.

First and foremost, Obama must bring a narrative to his position as a change agent. You can’t simply seek change for change’s sake.

The argument must be made that this is an election with two choices: the change-seeking good guys or the status quo-clinging bad guys. The campaign needs to brand every negative attack by the Republicans as just another desperate attempt of the status quo clinging to power.

Obama’s campaign should argue that all of our political friends have the courage to break from the same old game in Washington in order to provide the change we need, while all of Sen. McCain’s friends in Washington refuse a new direction for America.

McCain keeps trying to claim he’s a “change Republican.” I don’t really know what that means, but Obama and his team must continue to highlight the “McSame” that he offers: more of the same failed Iraq policy, more of the same tax breaks for oil and drug companies, more of the same Swift-boat-style tactics, more of the same on education and healthcare.

And he certainly offers more of the same failed Bush economic policy, which leads me to my next point.

Damn right! One of the reasons that I am not ready to climb aboard the straight talk express is that while McCain says repeatedly in his ads that America is worse off than it was four years ago ( a true statement), just like his arguments about the surge-he refuses to say that the occupant of the White House should be held to account for allowing the situation to deteriorate to the point that action had to be taken. Screwed up policy in Iraq?-not GWB’s fault. ( But don’t blame the Iraqis either.). Middle class pays through the ass for things they need?-that too is not GWB’s fault. ( But don’t blame the Iraq war for creating an unstable world economy). And whatever you do, don’t call the Chinese the lying bastards they are.

But at least it is a starting point of agreement. Only George Bush thinks the country is still in great shape. But now ask yourself, can Obama explain why GWB and by extension his clone party’s nominee is wrong? Carville again:

The campaign needs to say that, since 1900, Democratic presidents have not only “won” but dominated on every economic front: GDP growth, employment, deficit and income equality. Need more? How about a better performing stock market and a more fiscally-responsible spending.

There’s no need to listen to McCain’s marginal rates, death tax, deregulation, trickle-down, supply-side shenanigans because historically Democratic presidencies have produced better economies. And with the economy still in the forefront, it seems like a no-brainer for Obama to talk about the historical supremacy of economies under Democratic presidents.

And my last piece of advice to Obama and his team is to just get mad about something. Obama’s campaign seems so intent on branding him as a “cool and calm” leader.

Well, voters want to see a sense of urgency and outrage in their president: Outrage over our dependence on foreign oil; outrage over our increased cost of living, health care and education; outrage over declining incomes; outrage over an endless war and an idiotic foreign policy; and outrage over our country’s loss of prestige over the last 7½ years.

To put it bluntly, Obama needs to get outraged over something other than “attacks on his patriotism.”

Uh, James……….maybe before you do that-you might want to come up with an explanation for Jimmy Carter. Not sure how you keep that whole 15% mortgage rate thing and the Panama Canal giveaway from coming up in conversation. Even if the rest of your assertion is historically correct.

However, he’s right. Obama has yet to make a credible explanation for what he wants to do that’s better than McCain’s.  So while he was in Hawaii getting rays, McCain was pouring a foundation with Republican base.  And don’t forget this Mr Change-man, you still have a shark named Hillary swimming out there at the end of the beach. If McCain were to make good on Peggy Noonan’s idea of a one term pledge, watch how quickly she will jump out of the boat.

That’s what you have to love about the democrats though-they consistently snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

I KNEW IT!

In uprgading to 2.6.1 I screwed up the comments. I will get back to this soonest. Please be patient.

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Update! Thank God for back up files!

Should work now-but the Gucci avatar things and other slick innovations I was trying will have to wait.

The place where I work is very different from any other place that I have ever worked at before. As I have probably mentioned before (and I remind the S.O. every night), I am having a hard time adapting to its manners and customs.  Although purportedly existing to support “the warfighter”, so many of its denizens have very little idea of what is really important to the warfighter-or how to get things done rapidly. To many of occupants of the house named for the Man from Panemunde, tracing the trons right, or having the correct number of meetings, councils, and video teleconferences seems to be an objective unto itself. That’s a hard adjustment considering in my previous employ-results mattered;  did the cargo get to its appointed destination when expected? Everything else was simply horse hockey.

And of course, being a large organization-there is little of what one would call, camarderie. For someone for whom beer with co-workers used to be an integral part of the routine, this is purgatory of a sorts. So too, is kind of the unwritten expectation that I should consume my noon time re-past at my desk. Like the teachings of Brother Bill, that last little custom is one I cannot, nor will not accept. Even it is only 30 minutes- I need to get away from the building at midday. I make up the time on the back side by staying longer, so rest assured the government is getting its pound of flesh money’s worth.

Of course some days, its damn near impossible to get away-so today when a meeting was cancelled-I booked for the elevator and out the door of the gulag building. Jumped in the car,  and headed up to the Yuppie Mall to pay my first visit to the newly relocated Barnes and Noble. In the true tradition of life here in Shopping Mall USA, the store had been relocated from one shopping mall to a bigger shopping mall.

Now, it has been open a month. However during our forays out, I have been unable to persuade the S.O. to go with me. She will drag me to any old stupid garage sale or antique store-but spend a learning hour in a bookstore? Perish the thought. Today I had enough. I needed to wallow amid the smells of coffee and fresh newsprint. Besides, I’m not going to see my little bookstore in Soho anytime soon am I? ( I had to hold back tears when I saw those pictures again-I do miss it so.)

You know the rest, I took longer than I meant too, came back a little later than I should have, and had to rush through the Krystal drive through, after which-wolfing down Crystal burgers with one hand, while trying to show the guard at the gate my ID with the other-I returned to work. A healthy, nutritious lunch!

I also came back some 65 dollars poorer. But I have new additions to my library:

I thought this might be a timely read in light of the current events in Georgia. While I am in disagreement with Buchanan as often as I am in agreement, he agrees with me about Iraq being a drain on American resources that in the long run will hurt the US more than it helps it.

We also are of a like mind in that we both regard the end of the British Empire as one of the greatest disasters of the 20th century, and a big -if not the number one reason-the world is as screwed up as it is today. Pat is unabashedly in favor of the West “uber alles”. I am too.

That said, his theory is a controversial one, namely that the British bungled their way into World War I, and then following that mistake allowed Winston Churchill to, without intending to, pursue course of actions that ultimately cost the British their Empire. His central thesis is that had the British and French not guaranteed the Polish in 1939, over time they could have sat back and let the Germans and Russians kill each other while the west watched-thus doing us all a great favor by ridding the world of both the Germans and the Russians. Or at least weakening them both to the point that we win anyway.

I am not so sure I agree with that premise-Hitler would probably have attacked France anyway -if only for the reason of erasing the stain of Versailles- but it is an interesting premise. We’ll see what he has to say as I read the book this week.

Up next was a book I heard about on NPR by Howard Fineman:

The thrust of the book? America cannot make up is mind about a lot of things:

Shouting is not arguing, Fineman notes, but often hot-button topics, media “cross-fires,” and blogs reflect the deepest currents in American life. In an enlightening book that cuts through the din and makes sense of the headlines, Fineman captures the essential issues that have always compelled healthy and heated debate–and must continue to do so in order for us to prosper in the twenty-first century. The Thirteen American Arguments run the gamut, from issues of individual identity to our country’s role in the world, including:

• Who is a Person? The Declaration of Independence says “everyone,” but it took a Civil War and the Civil Rights and other movements to make that a reality. Presently, what about human embryos and “unlawful enemy combatants?”
• Who is an American? Only a nation of immigrants could argue so much about who should become one. There is currently added urgency when terrorists are at large in the world and twelve million “undocumented” aliens are in the country.
• The Role of Faith. No country is more legally secular yet more avowedly prayerful. From Thomas Jefferson to Terri Schiavo, we can never quite decide where God fits in government.
• Presidential Power. In a democracy, leadership is all the more difficult — and, paradoxically, all the more essential. From George Washington to George W. Bush, we have always asked: How much power should a president have?
• America in the World. Uniquely, we perpetually ask ourselves whether we have a moral obligation to change the world — or, alternatively, whether we must try to change it to survive in it.

Probably be a while till I get to it-but I am interested in his conclusions.

And finally, in tribute to E @ L who is living where I should be-I purchased a Wodehouse collection. I’ve never really read P.G. Wodehouse in depth-just excerpts. Any real man and golfer should have read the man.

Your tax dollars at work! Something tells me I will be back there for lunch-sooner rather than later.

The S.O. is insufferable today. She has not missed an opportunity to remind me of this.

Yukiko Ueno, Japan’s remarkably resilient right-hander, shut down the Americans and handed them their first loss since Sept. 21, 2000 at the Sydney Games. The U.S. had won 22 straight since then, most with outrageously lopsided scores.

Another gold was certainly within reach. Instead, they walked off Fengtai Field with their heads bowed.

Guess I should not point out the Judo results to her, eh?

At least a beach volleyball match anyway!

Back on the right side of the dateline-a monkey wants to get back to Shibuya station as much as I do!

The video is of a monkey above one of the track signs at Shibuya station. The reporter is talking about how the police are trying to keep him contained until they can bring a net. All of the passengers are gawking and takine cell phone pictures. As you will see the monkey leaps over the net-heads out towards Hachiko-mae and then goes up on the Yamanote line and keeps going. The end of the video shows the police hunting him down.

Lots of familiar scenes in that video……Sigh. Lucky Monkey!

The video also points out he escaped from the Ueno Zoo and was in Setagaya for a few days before backtracking to Shibuya.

(H/t to Japan Probe!)

There are not enough hours in the day it seems these days.

Work? Busy.

S.O.’s car? “A hole in the road in which you pour money.”
(P.S. anyone have experience with airbag lights on a BMW that come on mysteriously?)

Life in general-not so hot. She’s sick and now I think she gave it to me. I crashed at 9:pm last night. Was supposed to call my son and slept right through it. Thus no blog post.

And to add insult to injury, Word Press has new version out. So the trip to the FTP server begins again.
(Why can’t they have an auto upgrade?).

I am starting to agree with those pundits who are smelling trouble for Obama. (and I am not an Obama supporter-I just want to know which McCain is on the ballot). The appearance at Saddleback was ill advised if you ask me. Daniel in the Lion’s Den, with a bunch or rabid lions who would never be convinced no matter what he said. McCain did better-but over what? Agreeing with people who are not going to vote for his opponent. Or comfortable with an approach to religon that is suffocating? Lose-Lose for Obama if you ask me.

David Gergen agrees with me.

So does Time Magazine:

But on specific issues, Obama is treading water or sinking a bit. On the number one issue of the campaign right now, the economy, Obama leads McCain 43%-39%, compared to 44%-37% reported by TIME’s poll in June. Despite his highly touted tour of Europe, the Middle East and Afghanistan last month, Obama may be in something of a late summer slump. The poll shows that voters have increased their faith in McCain’s ability to manage the Iraq war, favoring him over Obama by a margin of 51%-36%, a five point jump since June. And voters boosted their belief that McCain would do a better job in managing the war on terror than they did in June, favoring the Arizona Senator over his colleague from Illinois by a 56%-29% margin, up from 53%-33% in June.

And if that is not bad enough, he’s got angels on his side(NSFW):

Funny Videos | Funny Cartoons | More Video Clips

Now if you will excuse me, I’ve got to go lose files.

And I’ll be the first to say it about the girl in the green-Nice Rack!

And why I can never become an engineer………….

Gotta buy more powerball tickets……………

That I really love women’s beach volleyball.

Fit women in bikinis-defending the national honor? What’s not to like about that?

I’ve been watching with interest T Boone Picken’s campaign about getting the US to take seriously the issue that it buys way too much energy overseas. He has quite correctly pointed out that we Americans as group, truly do not understand the implications of transferring so much wealth overseas. Especially at a time that we are racking up a huge debt fighting a so called war against terror-the same terror movement that is being funded by those dollars that are buying oil. Primarily because it funds useless Arab governments, which keeps them afloat in cash, their economies dysfunctional,  and employing too many third country nationals. As a result it fails to do a damn thing about making the lifeblood of the radicals we are fighting, Islam irrelevant. Pickens may be on to something. He’s echoing a theme I have long believed, and which this week the Economist confirms, that the so called war on terror will not be won militarily. It will be won by kicking the Arabs in the teeth economically and making them earn an honest living for a change.

Now I admit, that I never really gave T. Boone Pickens much thought before this. All I knew was that he funded the Swiftboat ads, was obscenely rich, while I was not. So unless he was going to give me some of that money, there was not much his opinion really mattered much to me.

I think from the start it is important to note that Pickens has a financial stake in this, and if wind power takes off he’s going to make a lot of money. But that’s Ok because if Arabs are not making money off me buying gas, I benefit. 

On energy, my viewpoint can be summed up as, ” Nuke the whales and screw the polar bears.” In other words I support drilling in ANWAR and I support nuclear power-with the proviso that it is a tightly regulated utility and has to live by the exacting standards that has made Navy nuclear power so successful over the past 50 years. Indeed it should probably be a semi government utility.  Trons is trons though and its going to take a combination of things to wean the US off foreign oil. Problem is none of those ideas gets me cheaper gas next week.

Pickens plan centers on several things-and for the most part I agree with his points:

America uses too much oil and too much comes from overseas.

As a result of high oil prices, we are transferring too many dollars to nations who do not deserve the use of them.  “Projected over the next 10 years the cost will be $10 trillion — it will be the greatest transfer of wealth in the history of mankind.”

Like me, he believes in the theory of peak oil:

World oil production peaked in 2005. Despite growing demand and an unprecedented increase in prices, oil production has fallen over the last three years. Oil is getting more expensive to produce, harder to find and there just isn’t enough of it to keep up with demand.

Pickens believes that there are technology alternatives. Not suprisingly a lot of them revolve around around wind power-an area Pickens is heavily invested in. However that does not necessarily mean he is wrong. After all he as made 3 billion dollars playing his hunches over the years.

By expanding wind power for electricity it will free up natural gas, which can then go in cars. Less cars burning oil means less oil needed to be bought. He argues that it will create lots of American jobs-I am not so sure about that, because the companies that make the turbines can still outsource the work overseas- however the central theme makes sense.

EXCEPT………

People still don’t have any way to get from here to there-for the most part-except by taking a car. And that is where I worry Picken’s logic breaks down for the long haul. As I pointed out before in a previous post-we still don’t have any other alternatives to get home from the bar.

My big fear is that the US can make a decent change in the pattern of fuel purchased to produce electricity, but without doing something to make the US other than, what the S.O. calls it, a car society-any gains will be for naught.

So I would add something to his plan-a commitment by both Federal and State governments as well as industry, to build, finance, and interlink a modern rail system and improved public transportation. I’m not sure exactly how to do that-but I also believe there are places where it would be a more practical alternative to air transportation. Like on short haul routes that are too short for big jets, but too long to drive. Better to ride a high speed train than ride one of the small planes used now. I think in the West and in the NE corridor, high speed trains could make a real difference. Certainly my trip home would have been different if I could have avoided the commuter leg out of Philadelphia this week.
(Long story).

Now I am biased about train travel, having lived in a country where it was reliable and plentiful. However one has to realize that by reducing car and auto consumption of fuel we all win. And we still can enjoy a good lifestyle. Japan and Europe have proven that.

Now maybe Pickens is right- natural gas will take off for automobiles-but I wonder. Will it make a Mustang go from 0 to 60 in 4 seconds? If not, how many people will buy it?

Still he’s right-we’ve got to do something about our oil addiction. Because it is at the heart of most of the US economic troubles.

The S.O. is watching the women’s marathon at the Olympics.  Had to admit my head perked up a bit when she spouted this little bit of wisdom:

“The Chinese girl is ahead-she must be…..uh….doping.”

Andrew Sullivan points out that for the girls in the red and white dresses,  just getting to the Olympic opening ceremony required a little extra effort……..

I got up early this morning so I would have some time on the way to the airport so I could stop at the Philadelphia Naval Yard. It had been 30 years since I had been there-and I wanted to see how it had changed.

A long time ago in a galaxy far away, a younger, stronger, and thinner version of me stayed there with the other members of my beloved alma mater’s rowing team when we went up for the Head of Schuylkill regatta. Being only a club sport then-and thus not a “real sport” in the eyes of the college, we had to save as much money as possible. Our coach had an in with someone there, himself being an ex-Navy pilot, so we got to stay in the Transient Personnel Unit there for free. Now mind you, this was 1977 and the Navy in those days was much different than it is now-and many of the residents there were in the process of leaving the Navy. Some through their own choice-others were being shown the door by their erstwhile employer. It was also during the time when beer was available in vending machines in the barracks, so the combination of beer and conversation with drug addled Sailors was indeed an education for yours truly.

We also tried to walk up Broad Street to Central Philadelphia, probably not a smart idea even nowadays, but damn near suicidal in those days. We walked probably 10 blocks past the old “Vet” when we realized that it was probably not good for our health to be walking through South Philly at night. We caught a bus soon after. God looks out for fools and drunks and that night we were both.

My real fascination was to walk over to the piers to see the decommissioned ships, tied in groups to the piers. Back in the late 70′s Philly ship yard was pretty full, with mighty vessels of a bygone era:

Not sure when this picture was taken, but the front piers were full of cruisers and either the New Jersey or the Wisconsin was there. For someone who knew he was going to be going into the Navy-but not yet knowing whether I would be flying from ships or driving them, it was a motivational experience. There was history here.  Plus, say what you will, the big gun ships had a beauty to them, that their modern counterparts just don’t match.

One of my professors at the time had Commanded this beauty while he was on active duty. That ship was there in Philly in 1977:

I tell you all this as background to the sad sight that I saw today. The mothball fleet that is currently in Philadelphia- is a sad commentary on the state of the Navy today:

Side by side, are Ticonderoga, an unknown Spruance class, Thomas S. Gates and Arthur Radford
( Spruance class). I do not know the name of the LPD across the way.

As someone who walked the piers of Naval Base Norfolk when this particular ship was new- I was really sad to see the ship looking like it does today:

That is the USS Ticonderoga, first of the AEGIS class cruisers. Hard to believe she is mothballed now-the ship is not that old as I believe she was commissioned in 1983. That’s only 25 years old. I am sure there are hull life issues etc-but I find it just hard to believe that there could not be some use for this and the other 4 Tico’s ( The first four ships of the class had rail launchers for missiles, the rest had vertical launch systems-so the first four ships became sort of unique).

Far cry from earlier days:

Like I said, with a fleet that is only 280 ships, its hard for me to believe that there is still not some place for these cruisers in the fleet. Anywhere but here.

Like I said, you sort of have to have been in the Navy or love the Navy to appreciate how really jarring it is to see that ship in mothballs. Happens to all of them someday-but I would submit these vessels were taken before their time.

Been a busy couple of days learning how really stupid I am and why I am glad I never became an engineer. More on that when I get home. However tomorrow is the 15 th of August (its already that on the right side of the IDL). So here is a re-post about Japan’s Longest Day:

Tainichi sensou kinen-bi

In Japan, August 15 is known as Shusen kinenbi (literally, end of the war memorial day.) This year is the 60th anniversary of the end of taiheiyou dai sensou. The Pacific War). At noon, August 15 1945 Showa (Emperor Hirohito) made the following broadcast:

To our good and loyal subjects: After pondering deeply the general trends of the world and the actual conditions obtaining in our empire today, we have decided to effect a settlement of the present situation by resorting to an extraordinary measure. We have ordered our Government to communicate to the Governments of the United States, Great Britain, China and the Soviet Union that our empire accepts the provisions of their joint declaration.

To strive for the common prosperity and happiness of all nations as well as the security and well-being of our subjects is the solemn obligation which has been handed down by our imperial ancestors and which we lay close to the heart. Indeed, we declared war on America and Britain out of our sincere desire to insure Japan’s self-preservation and the stabilization of East Asia, it being far from our thought either to infringe upon the sovereignty of other nations or to embark upon territorial aggrandizement.

But now the war has lasted for nearly four years. Despite the best that has been done by everyone–the gallant fighting of our military and naval forces, the diligence and assiduity of out servants of the State and the devoted service of our 100,000,000 people–the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan’s advantage, while the general trends of the world have all turned against her interest. Moreover, the enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to do damage is, indeed, incalculable, taking the toll of many innocent lives. Should we continue to fight, it would not only result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization.

Such being the case, how are we to save the millions of our subjects, nor to atone ourselves before the hallowed spirits of our imperial ancestors? This is the reason why we have ordered the acceptance of the provisions of the joint declaration of the powers. We cannot but express the deepest sense of regret to our allied nations of East Asia, who have consistently cooperated with the Empire toward the emancipation of East Asia.

The thought of those officers and men as well as others who have fallen in the fields of battle, those who died at their posts of duty, or those who met death [otherwise] and all their bereaved families, pains our heart night and day. The welfare of the wounded and the war sufferers and of those who lost their homes and livelihood is the object of our profound solicitude.

The hardships and sufferings to which our nation is to be subjected hereafter will be certainly great. We are keenly aware of the inmost feelings of all of you, our subjects. However, it is according to the dictates of time and fate that we have resolved to pave the way for a grand peace for all the generations to come by enduring the [unavoidable] and suffering what is unsufferable.

Having been able to save and maintain the structure of the Imperial State, we are always with you, our good and loyal subjects, relying upon your sincerity and integrity. Beware most strictly of any outbursts of emotion that may engender needless complications, of any fraternal contention and strife that may create confusion, lead you astray and cause you to lose the confidence of the world.

Let the entire nation continue as one family from generation to generation, ever firm in its faith of the imperishableness of its divine land, and mindful of its heavy burden of responsibilities, and the long road before it. Unite your total strength to be devoted to the construction for the future. Cultivate the ways of rectitude, nobility of spirit, and work with resolution so that you may enhance the innate glory of the Imperial State and keep pace with the progress of the world.

There is an interesting account of Japan’s longest day here. I find it interesting that Japan had actually been in surrender negotiations for some time prior to the Hiroshima bombing. However, sadly for Japan, they labored under an illusion that the Soviet Union might bring them some salvation:

Japan was waiting for Russia to respond to their request for negotiations before making any moves. They hoped for a reply around August 6 or 7. Instead, on August 6th an atomic bomb was dropped on the population of Hiroshima. And on the night of August 8th, Russia declared war on Japan.

During this time (Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal) Kido continued to discuss the need for peace with the emperor and members of the government. On August 12th he steered Prime Minister Suzuki back to favoring surrender when Suzuki wavered.

Kido’s final effort for peace was probably also his most harrowing. On the morning of August 14th he received word that U.S. planes were dropping leaflets on Japan containing the U.S. and Japanese peace proposals. Fearing a backlash by the Japanese military, Kido rushed to advise the emperor, in Kido’s words, “to command the government without further loss of time to go through the formalities for terminating the war”. The emperor agreed and sent Kido to make arrangements with Suzuki for the government to meet. The government surrendered that day at the emperor’s request

Click here to see some fascinating correspondence between Japan and the United States regarding the surrender.

Still, when the news was announced the reaction of the Japanese people was shock:

It was August 15, 1945, shortly before noon. What followed would never be forgotten.

Aihara Yu was twenty-eight years old then, a farmer’s wife in rural Shizuoka prefecture. Through the decades to come, the day would replay itself in her memory like an old filmstrip, a staccato newsreel in black and white.

She was working outdoors when a messenger arrived breathless from the village. It had been announced that the emperor would be making a personal broadcast at noon, he exclaimed before rushing off. Everyone was to come and listen.

The news that America, the land of the enemy, had disappeared into the sea would hardly have been more startling. The emperor was to speak! In the two decades since he had ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne, Emperor Hirohito had never once spoken directly to all his subjects. Until now the sovereign’s words had been handed down in the form
of imperial rescripts all as printed texts, pronouncements humbly read by others. Half a century later, Aihara could still recall every detail. She rushed to the village, repeating over and over to herself a line from the Imperial Rescript on Education, which everyone knew by heart from daily recitation during their school years. “Should any emergency arise,” it went, “offer yourselves courageously to the State.” She knew the country’s situation was desperate and could only imagine that the emperor was going to exhort every Japanese to make even greater efforts to support the war. A? to be prepared, indeed, to fight to the bitter end.

The villagers had gathered around the single local radio over which the single state-run station was received. Reception was poor. Static crackled around the emperor’s words, and the words themselves were difficult to grasp. The emperor’s voice was high pitched and his enunciation stilted. He did not speak in colloquial Japanese, but in a highly formal language studded with ornamental classical phrases. Aihara was just exchanging puzzled glances with others in the crowd when a man who had recently arrived from bombed-out Tokyo spoke up almost, she recalled, as if to himself. “This means,” he whispered, “that Japan has lost.”

Or as Douglas MacArthur said three weeks later:
 

Today the guns are silent. A great tragedy has ended. A great victory has been won….

As I look back upon the long, tortuous trail from those grim days of Bataan and Corregidor, when an entire world lived in fear, when democracy was on the defensive everywhere, when modern civilization trembled in the balance, I thank a merciful God that he has given us the faith, the courage and the power from which to mold victory. We have known the bitterness of defeat and the exultation of triumph, and from both we have learned there can be no turning back. We must go forward to preserve in peace what we won in war.

A new era is upon us. Even the lesson of victory itself brings with it profound concern, both for our future security and the survival of civilization. The destructiveness of the war potential, through progressive advances in scientific discovery, has in fact now reached a point which revises the traditional concepts of war.

Men since the beginning of time have sought peace…. Military alliances, balances of power, leagues of nations, all in turn failed, leaving the only path to be by way of the crucible of war. We have had our last chance. If we do not now devise some greater and more equitable system, Armageddon will be at our door. The problem basically is theological and involves a spiritual recrudescence and improvement of human character that will synchronize with our almost matchless advances in science, art, literature and all material and cultural development of the past two thousand years. It must be of the spirit if we are to save the flesh.