What is not to like about this guy?

I really enjoyed watching how much Koizumi enjoyed his visit to America.

One of the things I thought was under reported about the Prime Minister’s visit was his statements in the joint press conference with Bush. He spoke with pride of Japan’s partnership with America. He spoke of the enormous, almost unbelievable, progress Japan has made in the past 60 years, post World War II years. He credited Japan’s progress with it’s association with the United States. He also emphasized the importance of remembering and learning from history.

Of course, the American press wouldn’t want that to get out.

Once a sworn and deadly enemy of the United States, as Bush pointed out, their respective father’s had watched each other with great suspicion (my father did too, he fought in the ‘Japs’ in the Pacific). Once there was UNCONDITIONAL surrender of Japan, the United States and Japan began a partnership that has lead to a prosperous Japan and close allied relationship between the two countries.

How many countries completely defeat another country in war and then help them build back their power and economy to the point they are one of the wealthiest nations in the world?

Japan’s very existance disproves the argument that the United States of America is an ‘empire’ or ‘tyrant’ state as the left proclaims.

So, 60 years after a long, vicious, bloody and deadly war we’ve come to this:

During an official toast at a gala dinner later at the White House, Koizumi summed up Japan’s policy toward the United States by citing the lyrics of an Elvis tune he said was the first English song he had memorized as a youth.

“I would like to propose a toast to the further enhancement of Japan-US relations,” the prime minister said lifting his glass. “In the words of Elvis, ‘I want you, I need you, I love you.’” [source]

Now THAT’s how you fight a war. You fight to win, just like the opposing side.

I think my Daddy probably would have enjoyed this too. I think he would have been proud of the work he and his buddies did back then and probably gotten a hearty laugh out of the whole idea.

Y’all did good Daddy, y’all did real good.

More: here, here, here,

Beth at My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy likes Koizumi too.

The Brothers Judd, Hot Air has the video, Michelle Malkin shows the moonbats, In The Bullpen, Unpartisan, Little Green Footballs, Wizbang, Alamo Nation, Assorted Babble of Suzie