Japan again...

...has come to the forefront in that they are becoming a practical nation with regard to their preparedness for what seems to be the threat of a major war in the not too distant future.

Back on August 24, 2006, I wrote the following in my blog titled: A Peaceful Country Prepares For War:

"The people of Japan have had good reason not to want to engage in military struggles ever again. They learned a lesson about the consequences of unfettered military at the end of WWII. It is a lesson that luckily the rest of the world has not had to learn in the same manner as has Japan. Japan was the only country to have ever been attacked by nuclear weapons. They paid a heavy toll for their aggression in WWII. They learned a lesson and learned it very well. For the past 61 years Japan has not developed a military capable of even defending itself."

Don't let what I wrote above be taken out of context, because in the same piece I also wrote the following:

"The Japanese are practical people in most respects. The one thing I do not believe they have been at all practical about for many years since WWII was the defense of their own nation from attack. They had an extremely limited military, they depended upon other nations too much. Now things seem to be changing. They are stocking up on defensive missiles. These are missiles that were developed to shoot other missiles out of the air. Those other missiles, the ones the Patriot missiles shoot down, they are not defensive in nature they are offensive, aggressive – they may well carry a nuclear warhead. North Korea is about to develop nuclear weapons, that is if they have not been successful at it already. Iran is developing its nuclear capabilities while snubbing its nose at the United Nations resolution that has forbidden it to do so. The Japanese are a smart people, and they long for peace, they have lived as a peaceful nation for 61 years. Yet they are smart enough to live by an old axiom: They who long for peace must prepare for war."

Now let me direct you this article Japan's quiet successor vows to restore army from News.scotsman.com @
http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=1410482006


According to the article:

"SHINZO Abe is planning a revolution in Japan which will see the return of a full-strength imperial army for the first time since the Second World War. "

Mr. Abe is the "certain" successor to the prime minister of Japan. It sounds like he has some clout, especially since the article states he won his election with about 2/3 of the vote. If he actually takes over as prime minister, he will be the first person born after WWII to have been elected to said position. He has some strong ideas about changing the way things work for Japan militarily. For instance, as per the same article:

"Instead, he spoke of revising the United States-imposed Constitution, which forbids Japan from having a full-fledged military, passing legislation to allow Japanese troops to be deployed overseas and making it possible for Japan to exercise the right to collective self-defence with the US."

He is an apparent hawk or at least wants to make it appear that way. This does not mean he is readying to start a war in the region, but it sure looks as if he wants Japan to be ready in case a war breaks out. Why the sudden change; my guess is essentially what I said in my earlier piece, Japan has realized they are bordered by enemies and potential enemies who would see Japan as a target of opportunity.

Japan remilitarizing is a dangerous move as far as other nations may see it, but one that assuredly will have Japan at least ready to defend herself if the need ever arises. With the U.S. military spread out the way it is now, and with the US military as the primary defender of Japan, who can blame them.

Read my earlier piece from August 24 @

http://ballseyesboomers.blogspot.com/2006/08/peaceful-country-prepares-for-war.html

If you have read it already, reading it now may help to put things in perspective.

All the best,

Glenn B