In news:7164002b.0401170600.2798e1a9@posting.google.com,
Jack Linthicum <jacklinthicum@earthlink.net> radiated into the
WorldWideWait:

> Gernot Hassenpflug <gh@nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:<vc9hdyvc8zr.fsf@nospam.com>...
>> I agree with aa00..., Stephen and Jack on the points they raised.
>> In particular, the subtle economic gamesmanship. Oil from Iraq
>> could be a great boost to the ruling coalition in terms of
>> economic recovery and therefore votes. Any casualties in Iraq
>> would have to be manipulated by the media into more support for
>> the fight against international terrorism and, by extension, North
>> Korea which has been played up a lot in the media here over the
>> last few years (priming). I worry about a terrorist attack inside
>> Japan, which I think the security is not poised to foil. Such an
>> attack would strengthen the government, and make life for
>> foreigners here far more difficult.
>
> On the question of local security against a terrorist attack when I
> lived in Japan, admittedly 40 years  ago, the corner policeman knew
> who everyone was and what their relationship was with his community.
> After the sarin attacks on the subway I would have thought that
> would become even more intense and precise. Has the local cop as
> guardian of the community idea gone? And, as a sort of
> accompanyment is there more and better coordination of government
> agencies? This and the Kobe earthquake were almost simultaneous so
> it would be difficult to change between the two events, but....
> http://pdm.medicine.wisc.edu/Okumura.htm

FLIJ should be able to tell us.