Japanese general loses job over essay: claims country was not an aggressor in Second World War
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/…
Japan’s Defence Minister dismissed his air force chief yesterday for writing an essay that claims the country was not an aggressor in the Second World War and was trapped into getting involved by the United States.
Toshio Tamogami’s essay will likely upset relations with China and South Korea, which remain bitter about Japan’s wartime occupation and say Tokyo has failed to properly atone for its invasion of the Korean Peninsula, Taiwan and China.
The claims drew a swift rebuke from politicians, and Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada said he would dismiss the general. “I think it is improper of the air force chief of staff to publicly state a view that clearly differs from the that of the government,” he told reporters after the essay was made public yesterday.
Is this guy full of it when he claims Japan was not an aggressor? Absolutely. Is there some truth in the claim the United States goaded the Japanese government? Absolutely. It’ll never be known how much was known and how much was deliberate but there are some interesting facts concerning the event. A quick Google search also reveals a History Channel special on the topic.
The topic is interesting but the reason for posting this story was what I highlighted above. The idea that a person, regardless of his association, should be dismissed due to his opinion “that clearly differs from that of the government.” Perhaps it’s a translation issue but apparently to say so succinctly that the issue was not that there was just a disagreement or that what he said was wrong but that if differs from that of the government line. Very nationalistic. Very “Country First.” Very unsurprising.
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November 2nd, 2008 at 2:09 pm
I disagree with your point of view on this topic, so I’m going to have to take your job. Please report to your local police office for “reassignment” training.
November 5th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
“Remembering” Wars and War Crimes…
If you do want a point-by-point critique of Tamogami’s work, Norman Markowitz offers one (article posted here at the Political Affairs editor’s blog). There is also a middle ground, of course, of people who think Tamogami might be way off base, but s…
November 6th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Jesus Built my Hotrod??