Ah, she's brilliant. Miss, I finally got plans out the group chat. We get it. Four votes for a festival,

three for a city break. It's hard to adhere to everyone's needs. There's Betty with her oversized tent.

Sarah and her six foot eight boyfriend.

All right.

Roger Junior and his dog, Roger Senior.

And don't get us started on Mel.

But, like a marriage counselor, she's the one keeping things together.

All aboard Miss I finally got plans out the group chat. Keep everyone's plans alive when you travel

with us. P. and Dau Ferris, there is another way.

This is John Batcheter. My colleague Grant Newsom, the United States Marine Corps retired, author of when China

attacks, addresses the Japanese Self-Defense Force.

Inadequate, says Grant, and why is very, very specific here as to how the

Japanese Self-Defense Force is treated by the Japanese political class, by the

culture, and by the budget. Grant Newsom, writing at Asia Times, about

our partners in East Asia in a conflict with China, the Japanese Self-Defense Force, and what needs to be done.

More of this later tonight.

It's part of the problem, but it's also an excuse.

Ultimately, they don't need to attract that many people. The bigger

problem is that the terms of service, the conditions if you serve in the military in Japan are not very good.

The pay is low, you live in dilapidated housing, and if you have a family, they're living in

dilapidated housing, medical care for your family basically doesn't exist on base.

There's no GI bill, pensions are not very good, and beyond just the monetary part of it. I can't name a single politician, academic or

...