Celebrations Muted As Japan-US Pact Turns 50

President Obama and Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama of Japan at a joint news conference in the Kantei, which houses Mr. Hatoyama's office in Tokyo. Stephen Crowley/The New York Times

From AFP:

TOKYO — Japan and the United States on Tuesday marked the 50th anniversary of one of the Cold War's defining security pacts, but an unprecedented level of mistrust between the allies kept celebrations muted.

No major state events or ceremonies were planned in Tokyo to mark the milestone treaty, in which the former World War II adversaries in 1960 stood united against communist Russia and China.

Half a century on, the alliance has been strained since a centre-left government took power in Tokyo four months ago, vowing more "equal" ties with Washington after more than five decades of almost unbroken conservative rule.

Read more ....

My Comment: Of course the celebrations are muted .... the Japanese have another political scandal on their plate, and President Obama has a list of problems that are far more important to him than focusing on U.S.-Japanese security arrangements that are not going to change in the foreseeable future.