Specifically for John Thorlin:

“On June 2, 2010, Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama resigned. Though he poetically (or just strangely) claimed that a Japanese songbird he had seen during a recent trip to Korea had signaled to him that it was time to go . . .”

Strangely?!
John – Japan is a very unique country.
And what will be especially interesting for you, John, is that, with centuries-old culture—culture so unique and self-sufficient, it is more likely that all other nationalities and, especially, American [slang] “young politicians” will view its background better than strangely . . .
It is not clear whether or not you understand, John, that American girls stripping for male eyes in peep-shows and films in the “horrors from Hollywood”—and overlooking many other of achievements of “the American image” of life —is not “culture” for all.
For Americans maybe . . .
And for everyone trying to resemble them . . .
But no more . . .

“. . . Russia and Ukraine have come to an agreement extending Russia’s lease on Sevastopol, a port city in Ukraine, to 2042 . . . ”

John! . . .
Sevastopol is not a seaport like Hamburg or New York.
Sevastopol is a naval base of the Russian Federation, not in Ukraine, but in Crimea.
And the territorial status of Crimea is an open subject matter. And we are not even speaking of Sevastopol.

“. . . There had been considerable anxiety on the part of Russian strategists that if the lease expired later this decade as planned, Russia would lose the primary base of its Black Sea Fleet and, potentially, some of its ability to project force in the region.”

John! . . .
The considerable anxiety up till now resides with the U.S. government, for “the Russian strategists” would not leave Sevastopol under any circumstances.

“. . . These bases, each in a region of vital importance to the respective countries involved, illustrate two totally different approaches to similar problems. The Japanese difficulty in negotiating an end to the U.S. presence on Okinawa shows the success of alliance and basing agreements based on the self-interest of the host country. Given the ongoing crisis regarding North Korea, the Chinese navy’s rapid expansion, and ongoing Chinese encroachments on Japanese territorial waters, it should not be surprising that the Japanese public has responded tepidly to proposals that would lessen the protection that the U.S. military base provides.”

John! . . .
The approaches are distinctly separate.
The Japanese society therefore “. . . has cooly apprehended the offer. . .” because all the “heat” around it is created especially by efforts of the special services of the U.S. with the cause of deliberately forcing fear into Japanese society, and thus, is the blank-check for the military presence on the Japanese islands.

“. . . hardball Russian foreign policy. . .”

Hardball!?
The destruction due to bombing in Yugoslavia is the pinnacle of “good form”?? . . .
The crushed Iran [sic—the author likely means Iraq] is an “embrace of love ”?? . . .
By the way, John, have you found there the weapons of mass destruction that were used as a pretext to search, kill and continue to kill citizens of Iran [sic] and to this day?? . . .
Or Afghanistan, John, after the “peacekeeping operation” armies of the USA, did it not become the leading manufacturer of heroin in the world?? . . .
You are a “clever boy”, John—continue the list of successes and “not rude” foreign policy of the USA . . .

“. . . The Black Sea has been a focal point of Russian strategy for centuries, and Sevastopol has been the key to Russia’s Black Sea influence. Indeed, the city was founded as a base for a naval squadron in the same year (1783) that Prince Potemkin founded the Black Sea Fleet.”

John! . . .
Is this translation “from the goblin” or do you actually express yourself in this way?

“. . . In the recent Russia-Georgia War, the Russians sortied elements of the Black Sea Fleet to fight Georgian naval units and land Russian troops. . .”

So this is what we can infinitely “enjoy” from the Americans, a total absence of education at “their” average American school.
John!!. . .
If there was a war of Russia with Georgia—then there would be no Georgia.
And about battle with the Georgian fleet (!?!?), John, you have seen enough in a computer game—the fashionable cultural enjoyment of the American youth??. . .

“. . .Replacing Sevastopol would be hugely expensive and send a strong symbolic message that the Russian navy is slowly ceding its power in the Black Sea.”

John!! . . .
Where’s the logic?
Any additional, especially new base, at any expenses, is not a fading of forces, but an escalation.

“. . . After U.S. forces took the island near the end of World War II, it played in important role in plans for a potential nuclear confrontation with the Soviets.”

Played!?
So stop “playing” and return to the Japanese what is Japanese. There is no more advice to be given.

“. . . the U.S.-Japan alliance. . .”

John!! . . .
This alliance is a cat and mouse.
And no one in the world questions who is the cat and who is the mouse.
Or are you in doubt, John, of this whole exposition?

“. . . The Sevastopol agreement, by contrast, represents a partisan political victory that may not have happened at all had the last Ukrainian elections turned out slightly differently.”

John, this “democratic” world does not depend on elections of anything.
It all depends on national economy, forces, and protection.

“. . . President Victor Yanukovych represents the pro-Russia mentality.”

As well as any president, John, Yanukovych represents someone’s financial interests.
These are distinct from Yushchenko’s interests and, for present purposes—but already changing—those that represent Timoshenko . . .

“. . . potential for separatism in the majority-Russian Crimea. . .”

John!! . . .
In Crimea separatism maybe only “galichano -Ukrainian” and Crimean-Tatars. Or “American-Americans” . . .

“. . . A closer alignment with Russia lowers the likelihood of a future conflict with that nation. After Georgia’s recent disastrous defiance of Russia, it is not surprising that Ukrainians feel the need to placate its neighbor.”

A second year student at Harvard Law School? . . .
Young generation of Americans??
Truly—My God, rescue America . . .

“. . . The diametrically opposed views on alliances held by the major Ukrainian parties suggests the ephemeral nature of any Russia-Ukraine agreement.”

Even Ostap Ibragimobich with the help of Ilf and Petrov would not phrase it that way . . .

“. . . What will happen to the Russo-Ukrainian alliance in two years when the pro-West party returns to power?” . . .

John, will they come back?
Did you go to a psychic?

“. . . While the U.S.-Japan alliance ebbs and flows in strength, the fundamental alignment of those two countries’ interests have proved enduring in the face of political change.”

Yes, John, this fundamental union—having received two nuclear bombs—with full parity of interests . . .

“. . . John Thorlin. A second year student at Harvard Law School. House of Representatives of Massachusetts. Republican. Area of interests: military history, aircraft, politics, Russia . . . .”

No, John—stripteases and horror films are better—don’t torture yourself.

To you and the people . . .