Thank you, DB, for your in-depth reply to my questions about your book. Reg is correct in that school just becomes all consuming at times, but I erred in not offering a prompt thanks! Honestly, I can't wait to dig into your book. I imagine others here feel similarly.  Your efforts are especially timely as we witness Japan pivoting to a more muscular defense posture by soon devoting 2% of GDP to defense. North Korea's missile development, China's actions in Hong Kong, and the concerns over Taiwan will do that to a neighboring country.  We have over 50,000 troops on Japanese bases. Going forward, will Japan simply continue to act as a staging area from which our troops can project power or will they play a more active role? But that's your next book! 

Peter T.