I don't really get it. couldn't diesel generators and equipment be choppered in from elsewhere in the country or from our aircraft carriers?

Also of the backup generators are susceptible to flooding why aren't they 30 feet off the ground on a gantry or some such?

Read your own links, please.

I agree with ROC. Given the danger, do whatever it takes, by whomever, to get more pumping equipment onsite. I used to be a project manager, and sometimes, during the execution of the project, you get pretty much free reign to any and all available resources. I would HOPE that any country asked would help here. I am beginning to wonder if there hasn't been more of a coverup than let on, or maybe wishful thinking. On BBC website, there is an article that claims reactor 2 rods were exposed because the fire truck pumping seawater ran low on diesel. Are you kidding me? What is going on that someone in charge could not have called the top dog somehwere and had copious quantities choppered in before it ran out? I realize many of the workers may have lost their homes and/or families, and may be distracted, but this is so big you bring in relief from wherever you can.

Human advancement requires risk. There is no leftist utopia, where over burdensome rules and regulations, with statist oversight over everything can guarantee complete safety and bliss for everyone. The structures were built to withstand the strongest earth quake scenario Japan had previously experienced since modern measurement protocols were established. Just as it would be impossible to foresee a comet falling from space, as the prior comment suggested, so too was it unreasonable to expend the resources which would be necessary to construct a facility able to survive a 9.0 earthquake undamaged; given no prior earthquake had come close to this magnitude in Japan’s history. The Japanese are an honorable people, who will persevere; all we can do if pray for the best outcome and be diligent not to let the left use this tragedy as a red herring to thwart future human progress.

From what I'm reading now, it looks like the nuclear plant has been hit unbelievably hard, even worse than I thought before The sensors are off line, and all of the work needs manual inspection to determine what is actually going on. That's why it is so chaotic - a flammable mixture can accumulate without them knowing, a radiation leak can occur and they don't notice until later.

Also, I'm really worried about local chem plants and refineries in the area. If the quake did this to a nuclear plant with a containment and redundant systems, other large facilities are probably toast.

This "nuclear bother" will have lasting impact long after the damage from the earthquake and tsunami are cleaned up.

Frankly I can't work up any sympathy for Japan. They spent much of the 20th century brutally enslaving Asia. They attacked us in 1941. After we defeated them at tremendous cost, we rebuilt them at tremendous cost. How did they repay us? By stealing our industries and jobs.

No sympathy.

WPA38,
Japan didn't "steal" our industries and jobs. No one "steals" jobs. They may have performed those jobs more efficiently, but they didn't steal them.

And what would you have had Japan do? They adopted a democratic form of government. They embraced capitalism (and "stole" those jobs). They renounced their formerly militaristic ways (too much I'd say - Germany too - but I understand the social dynamic). They've become a dependable partner of the U.S.

Your lack of sympathy shows a lack of compassion, not outraged righteousness.

I am afraid the tsunami defense does not hold water.

What is the difference between a 30' tsunami and a 30' storm surge from the confluence of a typhoon and full moon?

And submerged diesels? They have these things called metal tubing and seals which allows them to run under water just as in submarines. This in conjunction with a sealed room and sump pump should have made the backup generator not only tsunami proof but rapture proof.