Japan's PM Koizumi gone if Japanese hostages in Iraq killed?

[Cascadian]

There seems to be a lot of outrage from the Japanese people over the taking of three Japanese nationals in Iraq. The Prime Minister Koizumi is going to be under a lot of pressure by the people of Japan if harm comes to those people taken hostage. A resignation perhaps?


John

[Must_B_Free]

1. That dumb fuck should have stayed out of it.

I guess that's the message there.

Side with a criminal and you get fucked...

[Cascadian]

2. What is disturbing is that these people are probably doomed.

All because Japan refuses to withdraw it's troops from Iraq. Donald Rumsfeld praised Japan for making the "right decision" in keeping it's forces in Iraq. The majority of people in Japan opposed the Iraq invasion and it is certain there will be anger in Japan. Koizumi will have to resign from all of this or call for new elections.


John

[Art_from_Ark]

3. Japanese TV networks were covering this extensively

this morning, and through much of the early afternoon. There have been biographies of the three abductees, interviews with their families, and repeated showings of the videos of the victims with and without blindfolds. I don't know what sort of firestorm there might be from political circles, since I heard one of the top opposition leaders say that he would support Koizumi. However, if the abductees are murdered, I imagine that Koizumi will have hell to pay-- a lot of people are going to be very, very angry.

[Art_from_Ark]

4. Tokyo TV "man in the street" interview of 50 people

27 supported withdrawal.

Currently on Tokyo TV,
Koizumi's giving evasive answers

"What will you do if the hostages are killed?"
"They will not be killed"

He doesn't want to withdraw Japanese troops because he thinks that somehow they will be able to help restore stability to Iraq.

[booksenkatz]

6. "They will not be killed"... oh, really, Koizumi?

The abductors have absolutely NOTHING to lose at this point. What are you going to do to punish them... bomb their homes? Kill their mothers? Mutilate their children? Loot and pillage their country? How do you "negotiate" with people who have lost absolutely everything, thanks to GW Bush?

[Muddleoftheroad]

8. You don't do what kidnappers want

Just because they threaten to murder.

[Justitia]

5. he signed their death warrant today, God help them - eom

[tkmorris]

7. I think he's gone anyway

But if they kill those hostages he's out right away. He went out on a limb bigtime sending anyone there and it is getting sawed off behind him.

[Disturbed]

9. Burn them?

I heard on TV that the hostages would be burned in 3 days if Japan doesn't withdraw it's troops. That would be startling if they did burn them and video taped it. I don't think they will do it. They do have something to lose. They will lose a lot of sympathy for their cause if they burn the hostages. If they don't they lose a little credibilty but maybe even some respect from some if they don't harm them and just let them go.

[cleofus1]

10. I don't think they care...

They're Iraqis they're bad and they're pissed off. I will cry for those poor Japanese if they get torched. They don't deserve it and that bastard PM should commit suicide if they get killed.

[Loonman]

11. Koizumi doesn't know that these guys don't bluff

They don't need to.