Friday

JSDF runs out of gas!?

I found some surprising and irritating news that the Japanese Self Defense Forces are running out of gas and had to slow down on practice, cram more people on ships etc. Not that I feel really protected by them or even in need of them, but I never heard about a 1st world’s country’s army running out of gas before. Maybe they should talk to the hords of Taxis in Tokyo idling for hours while having their lunch breaks just to keep the air condition running.

Faced with fuel costs that exceed spending plans by 60 percent, the Self Defense Force has scaled back training missions involving jets and ships, vehicles are being run at slower speeds, and more passengers are being squeezed in per trip in order to conserve fuel, a Defense Ministry spokeswoman said on condition of anonymity, citing protocol.

“If fuel prices keep increasing we won’t be able to cover it, and we will have to make a request to ensure we have sufficient funds,” the spokeswoman said.

She refused to say the fuel shortage would affect Japan’s foreign operations, such as dispatches in support of U.S.-led forces in Iraq, but she denied that the country’s defense would be compromised.

It was unclear when the country’s military would run out of gas under current conditions, though broadcaster NHK said the fuel budget would run out in November, over four months before the end of the fiscal year in March.