AN EYE FOR AN EYE: WE OUGHT TO HELP JAPAN SEIZE THE KURIL ISLAND CHAIN FROM RUSSIA

BBC; (TWO YEARS AGO TODAY):

The island chain known as the Kurils stretches north across the Pacific Ocean from the Japanese island of Hokkaido to the southern tip of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula.

Four islands - which Russia calls the Southern Kurils and Japan calls the Northern Territories - are the subject of a 60-year-old dispute between the two nations.

They are Kunashir (known in Japanese as Kunashiri ), Iturup (Etorofu), Shikotan and the rocky Habomai islets.

The southernmost islet in the Habomai group lies only a few kilometres off Nemuro on the Japanese island of Hokkaido.

Because of the dispute, Russia and Japan have not yet signed a peace treaty to end World War II.

... A 30,000-strong Russian community now lives on the islands and there is also a Russian military presence on Iturup.

THE ISLANDS ARE STILL IN DISPUTE.

REUTERS:

MOSCOW, April 14 [2008] - Japan pressed Russia on Monday to end a territorial dispute over a chain of Pacific islands which has prevented the two countries from formally ending World War Two hostilities and strengthening ties.

The dispute over the islands, known as the Southern Kuriles in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan, has overshadowed Russian-Japanese relations for more than 60 years.

Japan says a resolution of the dispute would attract a new wave of Japanese investors to Russia.

• WE OUGHT TO EMBARGO THE ISLAND UNTIL THE RUSKIES GET OUT OF GEORGIA. AIR AND SEA.

• IF BUSH HAD BALLS WE WOULD.

• BUT DUBYA STANDS FOR WIMP.