Japan rearming

[Yorick]

Did anyone notice this "small news" about Japan saying they would be changing their constitution to allow military to be sent to Afgahnistan?

This was the big condition of Japanese surrender. Now it's going? Without barely a whisper from the west?

Where are the voices of protest?

I know where they are.

They're in Australian RSL clubs, drowning in schooners of beer, distraught that no-one is listening.

Let us hope for two things.

1. That Japanese Imperialism is dead and buried. (I believe this to be the case)

2. That China do not feel threatened by this development.

I have hope that all will be o.k. I'm just shocked that there seems to be little coverage of such a historically huge decision.

Then again, perhaps I am not getting enough balance from my information source eh Ryanamur?

Anyone else?

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[Hiram Sedai]

It reminds me of the fear some people felt when Germany unified once more in 1989. There are still some who fear a unified Germany. Both are still Axis countries in my mind because of all of the WWII reading I do, so I won't give an opinion.

Dontcha just love when some punk jumps in to type "I won't give my opinion"?



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[Yorick]

Originally posted by Hiram Sedai: It reminds me of the fear some people felt when Germany unified once more in 1989. There are still some who fear a unified Germany. Both are still Axis countries in my mind because of all of the WWII reading I do, so I won't give an opinion. Dontcha just love when some punk jumps in to type "I won't give my opinion"?

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[Yorick]

Hiram, it's not as though Germany reverted to it's situation before the war. Eastern Germany (Prussia, Silesia and East Prussia, rather than what we called East Germany) is still part of Poland and Russia, so some effects of the war stand. It's not like Japan lost...actually they did lose some islands above Hokkaido to Russia, and I think Russia still hold them. Not the same relative significance though.

Europe is such a crammed mess, I'm just glad the Germans haven't gottwen territorial about reaquiring those territories. When Europe unifes I suppose it won't matter then anyway.

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[Ronn_Bman]

It seems there was a bit of a story similar to this when Japan wanted to participate in the Gulf war. There was talk of changing their constitution, but the idea was rejected in favor of sending non-military aid. They have a military with all the latest gizmos, but it's required to be strictly a "homeland" force.

Wasn't the UN effort in Bosnia the first time German military units had been outside German borders since 1945? I remember this being a sizable story. To me, these nations have paid their debt.

There are probably few still alive who actually participated in WWII as Axis soldiers. Japan and Germany are an important part of the international economy, and I think they are ready to help defend the world. They may do it better than most because they, especially, know the effects of falling prey to the will of the few, and the price that has to be paid.

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"Your right to swing your fist ends where my nose begins."

[Yorick]

Originally posted by Ronn_Bman: It seems there was a bit of a story similar to this when Japan wanted to participate in the Gulf war. There was talk of changing their constitution, but the idea was rejected in favor of sending non-military aid. They have a military with all the latest gizmos, but it's required to be strictly a "homeland" force. Wasn't the UN effort in Bosnia the first time German military units had been outside German borders since 1945? I remember this being a sizable story. To me, these nations have paid their debt. There are probably few still alive who actually participated in WWII as Axis soldiers. Japan and Germany are an important part of the international economy, and I think they are ready to help defend the world. They may do it better than most because they, especially, know the effects of falling prey to the will of the few, and the price that has to be paid.

Great points. Well said.


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[skywalker]

Well (ducking as I type) America would like nothing better than to have other countries have no weapons of mass destruction at all.

I really hope that past "indiscretions" (the word may be too weak, I know) should be forgiven after all this time. If we can't trust our allies who were former enemies, what kind of future is there?

(This may be a naive statement say be gentle when you respond, ok?)

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Still The Most Humbly Prideful (?) Member Of The Illuminati!

Mark

[This message has been edited by skywalker (edited 10-26-2001).]

[Yorick]

Originally posted by skywalker: I really hope that past "indiscretions" (the word may be too weak, I know) should be forgiven after all this time. If we can't trust our allies who were former enemies, what kind of future is there?

True. Much has been made of the Russo-American relationship that has strengthened during these times.



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[Ronn_Bman]

Originally posted by skywalker: Well (ducking as I type) America would like nothing better than to have other countries have no weapons of mass destruction at all.

I absolutely agree with that! I don't think when they started the Manhattan Project they had any idea of the mess that would be made. I do believe the use of the bomb saved hundreds of thousands of lifes at the end of WWII. The main problem with the bomb today, is too many countries have one.

Our poor secrecy regarding weapons of mass destruction(dating back to the beginning of the Manhattan Project), the ensuing Cold War, and the subsequent fall of the Soviet Union have provided a world where "Super Powers" are no longer the danger. Weapons of mass destruction were a deterrent to nations engaging in direct conventional warfare for the last half century. They prevented these conflicts, and everyone was always smart enough not to use them. Now nations like Pakistan have the "bomb". What happens, if that government falls? What will the new leaders do with the bomb? Scary stuff!

I don't believe any sane government (is that an oxymoron?) will be the one to launch a nuke. Not directly, but the malice in the world today combined with the proliferation of technology, is such, that I believe there will be nuclear weapons use in the next generation, more likely in half that time.

The only reason people who believe dying for their cause is rewarded with a heavenly eternity, who don't mind killing innocents their own people included, and who will do anything they can to achieve their goals, have not used a nuke, is because they haven't been able to get one, yet.

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"Your right to swing your fist ends where my nose begins."

[This message has been edited by Ronn_Bman (edited 10-26-2001).]

[Memnoch]

I don't think the world has anything to fear from Japan militarily. If anything, Japan's path to supremacy will be achieved through commerce, not war. They have far too much at stake to throw it all away. They are an integral link to the world's economy.

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