Japan: Tokyo urged to consider N-bombs

The Australian ^ | 09/07/06 | Peter Alford

[TigerLikesRooster]

Tokyo urged to consider N-bombs

Peter Alford, Tokyo correspondent

September 07, 2006

JAPAN should study the possibility of acquiring nuclear weapons, says former prime minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, because its US security blanket cannot be guaranteed to last forever.

Mr Nakasone's call for the next government to consider nuclear weapons and to prepare an independent defence strategy comes from a man who as prime minister from 1982 to 1987 was the most outspoken Japanese leader in support of the US security alliance.

Famed for his warm "Ron and Yasu" relationship with then US leader Ronald Reagan, Mr Nakasone remains strongly pro-alliance, but on Tuesday he warned: "Whether or not the US will maintain the same attitude is unpredictable. There is a need to study the option of nuclear weapons."

Mr Nakasone, 88, now runs a think tank focused on security issues, the Institute for International Policy Studies, and is thought to be manoeuvring to become a mentor on international strategy to Shinzo Abe.

Mr Abe, who is virtually certain to become prime minister on September 26, shares many of the older man's views of military priorities.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I remember reading a WSJ story about a 2 or 3 star Japanese Army general and how he viewed his job and how his fellow Japanese viewed him. He took the train from his civilian home in civilian clothes, changing into his uniform only after reaching the base. Most of his neighbors were unaware of his full time occupation...

[Petronski]

I continue to believe that Japan already has done the legwork on this, and can get set up for nuclear weapons in a matter of days or weeks with "off the shelf" parts.

[farlander]

Iran is a *rogue* state. If they toss off the Mullah's and religeous zealotry, and become a beacon of Democracy and prosperity in ME, Iran can have the bomb all they want. Tho, if the above were the case, they would most likely *not* want it, 'cause they'd still have a ton of civil development to do. (Like Japan after WWII).

Of course, the above fairy tale I just wrote will not come to pass until we probably make half that country uninhabitable and a fine source of glass.

[BJClinton]

We should provide them some.

Nah. Let 'em build their own. They'll be more efficient, cheaper and have a higher resale value after 10 years.

[DTogo]

Didn't know that "Yasu" was still around. I agree with him.

Japan * ping * (kono risuto ni hairitai ka detai wo shirasete kudasai : let me know if you want on or off this list)

[gaijin]

I believe there is no law that would preclude development of the DELIVERY SYSTEM.

From a technical perspective, THIS is the limiting factor --the warhead they could cobble together in a rush at a later point.

For now, they should just start making the missile bodies, engines, guidance, etc. and worry about the papers late they could term in "academic research".

After they get the papers, they can worry about the warheads.

And I think SK should do the same thing.

[theFIRMbss]

>Let 'em build their own

What's going on here?! We got almost thirty posts in a thread about the Japanese and nuclear bombs and no one has pointed out that Japan can turn loose a whole stable of monsters more deadly than nukes!

[usmcobra]

Japan as a sovereign nation can develop a nuclear weapon, but Iran as a sovereign state cannot?

194?

FDR learns Japan is trying to build a Nuclear bomb, would he drop a bomb or two to stop them?

How do you know we didn't do just that?

[reagan_fanatic]

Nah. Let 'em build their own. They'll be more efficient, cheaper and have a higher resale value after 10 years.

Not only that, but they'll probably be flex-fuel capable.

[ASOC]

I had heard the *rumors* that Japan has quite the Nweapon arsenal, just that the parts are separate so that the pols can claim no that weapons are on their soil.

With China next door licking thier collective chops and the long history of bad blood between the two, the JSDF would be stupid if they did not have the option.

I have also heard the opinion that if the US were to pull out of the Pacific Rim (Japan, ROK, etc) the JSDF and the PLA would be tossing nukes at each other within 10 years of our leaving. YMMV.

[EQAndyBuzz]

"FDR learns Japan is trying to build a Nuclear bomb, would he drop a bomb or two to stop them?"

Not sure. FDR knew the Nazis were building concentration camps and killing Jews. What did he do about that?

I know, irrelevant. My comment about Iran is not the point. We need to do something about it, including turning Iran into a non-oil producing country.

I was suggesting that Iran is a sovereign country.

[BJClinton]

I hate to break it to you but Godzilla, Mothra et al are controlled by KKKarl Rove's weather machine. True story.

[weegee]

I think some of the resentment has to do with national identity after WWII.

[usmcobra]

Did you read the link I posted about Japan building an atomic bomb in WWII, or did you skip over the question in red print that was underlined?


(Here's a hint that was a link to the story)

[Yaelle]

How right was Tom Lehrer?

[dfwgator]

History shows again and again how nature points out the folly of man.

[skinkinthegrass]

Thanks, for the ping. :)

[skinkinthegrass]

True story. LOL! :D ....really.

[RightWhale]

Japan as a sovereign nation can develop a nuclear weapon, but Iran as a sovereign state cannot?

Yes. Iran is in a state of war with the US. Japan is not at war with anybody.

[Centurion2000]

China, welcome to your nightmare.

When you wake up at night in a cold sweat and wonder why this is happening. Look to little Kim's insane regime and there's your answer.