"Hiko Kyodotai" F15DJ from an agressor unit of the JASDF ( Japan Air Self Defence Force)based at Nyutabaru, Japan.
Posted on 12/31/2006 7:28:15 PM PST by TigerLikesRooster
Abe resolves to pass referendum for revising Constitution
TOKYO, Jan. 1 KYODO
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed determination in a New Year's statement on Monday to have legislation for a national referendum passed during the upcoming parliamentary session to pave the way for realizing his political goal of rewriting Japan's pacifist Constitution.
''I will ensure that the flame of reforms will keep on burning,'' Abe said, promising also to implement concrete measures to overhaul the education system and to carry out his reform plan to transfer surplus road-related tax revenues into general revenues available for a wider range of purposes.
On international affairs, Abe pledged to continue to press North Korea through ''pressure and dialogue'' to return all Japanese it has abducted. He will also work on building forward-looking relationships of trust with neighbors China and South Korea to mend chilled ties.
''I will seek a peaceful and diplomatic resolution to the North Korean nuclear and missile issues through the six-party talks framework,'' Abe said, adding that Japan will not normalize relations with North Korea unless the abductions are solved.
The premier also pledged to continue Japan's support to the reconstruction of Iraq through providing airlift support by the Air Self-Defense Force and development assistance.
A huge task for Abe this year will be to regain public confidence in his faltering administration, which has seen its approval ratings drop below 50 percent from almost 70 percent since he took office in September.
However, the New Year's Day written statement presented no new measures or plans other than what Abe has already pledged over the past three months of premiership.
Abe is scheduled to give a New Year's news conference on Thursday when the government officially resumes business.
==Kyodo
Ping!
Anything in there about them not being a self-defense force?
That could be part of the new constitution. It could come after the successful referendum.
All right Abe!
Bring the Japanese Military back and give all those freeters a real job!
Item 1 on the agenda should be:
GET RID OF ARTICLE 9!!!
Remilitarize Japan, and let them go Banzai on North Korea's ass.
Jieitai??? Phooey. Japan needs a "Nihon kokugun"
OH JETTT
BTW question Tiger the miltary does have force nuke force his name is Godzilla
And the Cinese know and fear this. The main reason for the Chinese tyrades aginst Japan becoming a permanent member of the UN Security Council, and against official government visits to the Yasakuni War Memorial shrine.
Go Abe, GO!
I think the Japanese are mature enough this time around to entrust them with offensively capable armed forces, knowing well they won't be a threat to anyone that doesn't deserve it.
Going from self-defense force to full-blown military force will take little to no time, given that the hardware and the capabilities are there, they just have to be retooled for offensive warfare.
I like Japan a lot. I just don't want them to have Kim Jong-il throw a missile on the home islands and make it crash with a note that says "next time, some plutonium will be included".
Just my $2/100.
"Hiko Kyodotai" F15DJ from an agressor unit of the JASDF ( Japan Air Self Defence Force)based at Nyutabaru, Japan.
As an American who lived under Japanese occupation, I wholeheartedly share your concerns.
I don't trust them and probably never will!
They should at least hold an open debate, and let the people express their opinions..
Happy New Year, and Best Wishes to You and Yours..
BTW, my son works in Kanazawa Japan, teaches English at a technical college. He will be marrying a beautiful Japanese lady this coming summer.I have advised him to seek a teaching contract at one of the JSDF colleges. We will be working with them big time in years to come, and all of their pilots will need English for combined ops.
I wonder what that means. Can't blame Japan, they have a right to defend themselves. I just hope over the long run they remain our allies, as they have been for half a century. Half a century from now, assuming we are still around, they could be a powerful nuclear-armed adversary. Assuming their demographic implosion is reversed. Assuming assuming assuming. Ass...you...me...
There's going to be a strong Japan-India axis by 2020 -- both lie on opposite sides of China and wish to contain it.
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