Posted on 07/10/2006 3:01:30 PM PDT by Mobile Vulgus
Well, the Japanese are finally starting to return to adulthood. Since the end of WWII and their subsequent loss of the war to the US, Japan has been slowly evolving from the dependent child to the loud but unsure teen. Now they are about to become adults, once again, ready to step out fully on their own.
And we have the psychotic, idiot that China allows to oppress the North Koreans, Kim Jong-il, to thank for this transformation.
Japan has announced that it is considering the prudent step of preemptive strikes against North Korean missile launches.
“Japan has warned it would launch a pre-emptive military action against North Korea if it had firm evidence Pyongyang was planning a missile attack.” ( Source BBC )When Japan reformed its civil government after WWII, it placed a measure in its Constitution that prevented it from forming an army that might be used for aggressive purposes. That was a necessary measure to take at the time as the Japanese had been among the most vicious and violent cultures of the world previous to that time. The Pacific Rim as well as the rest of the world needed reassurance that a militant Japan would never again threaten the world.
But, that day is long passed. Japan, in many substantive ways is a different nation, a different, more civilized people.
So, it is sensible and right that they begin to look to their own defense with a stronger and more vital military force. And it is right that they take on the preemptive strike ideas of the Bush Doctrine. North Korea is NOT a sane, civilized nation and it will NOT observe up to diplomacy and discussion.
It will only know overwhelming power lined up against it.
“Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba said it would be "a self-defence measure" if North Korea was going to "resort to arms against Japan".Exactly the sane logic that Bush has used to reverse decades of Democratic Party weakness and Vietnam Syndrome fear to tell the world that a threat will be dealt with before it harms the US.Mr Ishiba said it would be too late if a North Korean missile was already on its way.”
Japan is coming into its own Bush Doctrine with the realization that the world isn’t a nice place where love and flowers greet you at all turns. North Korea is a threat to the world, but even more dangerous to Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the rest of the region. It is even a threat to China and only Chinese hardheadedness keeps them from admitting it.
So, good for Japan. Welcome to adulthood again. It’s been a long time.
The last time Japan "grew up," it sneak bombed Pearl Harbor, ravaged Northeast and Southeast Asia, and invented the kamikaze (the predecessor of the modern suicide bomber).
You live in a dry, wooded area and your neighbor is lighting bottle rockets and sending them over your property.
You would have to be flat-out-nuts not to be making it real clear his actions are not going to be tolerated.
Watch what happens after Shintaro Abe becomes Prime Minister in September. He's a Reaganite Conservative. He's the odds' on favorite to replace Kouizumi later this year.
Japan is the wild-card in that area, and I think they're at their breaking point with this mafia midget in north korea.
They have to arm up, or the chicoms will eventually squeeze them all, and they know it.
The Japanese already have the most advanced military outside of the US in the Asia-Pacific region. The Chinese military is large, but outdated. And how will the Chinese squeeze the Japanese without a navy?
Yep and a one time half of the United States fought to keep the right to own other human beings.
Times change. I don't worry about the Japanese at all. They're a damn good ally.
Japan's military is about to get stronger, fortunately. :)
Agree...get 'em Japan.
Which is why I would want them shootin' with us...not at us.
Japan can be our ace in the hole vs. China. Very few cultures have produced a population with as much intelligence and ability.
This guy makes a number of assumptions not the least of which is that the Japanese have simply abandoned centuries of tradition and belief and can now be completely trusted to exercise military power responsibly. I have no idea how they will exercise military power. I believe they have the technology to rival our own military if they wish and that they can become a nuclear power very quickly. I also believe that once they have this power we can only hope they will exercise it prudently and as an ally because once they have it we challenge it at our peril. The last 60 years may be enough to uproot all those ancient beliefs and traditions. But the Japan is not the U.S. and they have their own ideas and ideals and may discover they also have old ambitions that need only the hope of fulfillment to reawaken.
Ping.
His son, Shinzo Abe, is the man who is likely to become the next Prime Minister.
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