Fukushima And The Kennedys

ט"ו לחודש התשעי תשע"ד

Washington Post: Caroline Kennedy sworn in as ambassador to Japan
Emily Heil, November 12, 2013

No more “Sweet Caroline” — you can call her Madam Ambassador now.

Caroline Kennedy was sworn in on Tuesday to be the U.S. envoy to Tokyo. Kennedy is one of the highest profile (if not the highest profile) members of the U.S. diplomatic corps, and her new role was marked in a fashion one might expect. Secretary of State John Kerry administered the oath at a private ceremony at the State Department headquarters, followed by a reception at the Japanese ambassador’s residence at which Kerry — and plenty of other dignitaries interested as much in the swank company as the fine sushi sure to be served — was slated to attend.

The event comes 10 days before before the 50th anniversary of the assassination of her father, President John F. Kennedy, an anniversary that has prompted much reminiscence lately of all things Kennedy. She’s expected to take up her post by the end of the month.

Caroline Kennedy's Wikipedia Page:
United States Ambassador to Japan nomination
On July 24, 2013, President Barack Obama announced Kennedy as his nominee to be Ambassador to Japan, to succeed Ambassador John Roos. The prospective nomination was first reported in February 2013 and, in mid-July 2013, formal diplomatic agreement was reportedly received from the Japanese government.

On September 19, 2013, Kennedy sat before the the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and responded to questions from both Republican and Democratic senators in relation to her potential appointment as the US ambassador to Japan. Kennedy explained that her focus would be military ties, trade, and student exchange if she was selected for the position.

On October 16, 2013, the U.S. Senate confirmed Kennedy by unanimous consent as the next Ambassador to Japan. She is the first female American ambassador to Japan. On November 12, 2013, she was sworn in by Secretary of State John Kerry. Kennedy arrived in Japan on November 15, 2013.

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
Unlike most, I am not writing this to point anything related to political reward for being an early Obama supporter, or anything at all related to the legends of "Kennedy Royalty."

Rather, I am writing this in order to ask one, and only one, question:

Why on earth would Caroline Kennedy, or anyone else for that matter, want to spend even three days in radioactively contaminated Japan, let alone three years?

No, the following video is not alarmist or conspiratorial, albeit a compilation of various sources. I highly recommend that you take the 10:21 minutes to watch it.


(Video Tip: Ya'akov The Meteorologist)

Ambassador Kennedy "explained that her focus would be military ties, trade, and student exchange."

Military ties makes sense I guess, albeit chiché. Student exchange also makes sense. Let's glean radioactive Japan for its best and brightest, who would be happy to take any deal to get out of Tokyo, and into a prestigious American, academic program or position.

But, trade? Trade American products in exchange for what? Radioactive fish? Radioactive seaweed? Radioactive rice? (Did you listen to the young, guilt-ridden farmer speak at time marker 1:24?)

I wish I had an answer to this very puzzling question,...but I don't.