JAPAN ROLLS OUT MISSILE SHIELD PLAN

NYT ^ | August 30, 2003 | James Brooke

[FreepForever]

I agree 100% with your view. Nuclear retaliation is a better deterrent than missile defense especially when one is speaking in terms of their reliability. However, Japan’s post-WWII constitution prohibits the development of nuclear weapon. With Japanese technology, I never doubt that they can put together the necessary device in a very short time. But, under their constitution, they can never officially “admit” or “announce” that they have it. And, enemies can always read this as a bluff. It’s the “If you really want to know, try me!” situation, very much like Israel.

On the other hand, missile defense is still needed when the enemy is using conventional warheads missiles instead of nuclear. In this case, nuclear retaliation is out of the question. Missile defense can still serve to protect major cities. Yes, shooting down N Korean test missile is the best lesson for the bad boy Kim. He will lose all his bargaining chips.

[dr_who_2]

Without a doubt, Japan's constitution is a big roadblock and a huge problem, just like South Korea's "sunshine policy" kick. That's the major disadvantage to having troops over there. We're encouraging them to duck the issues.

[Robert_Paulson2]

no kidding.

[Robert_Paulson2]

"no one will ever need more that 256 k of memory..." bill gates.

[Imal]

As well it might for after all its puny "pla" -- best suited to mass-and/or-individually [As often as not, as the organs-for-transplant order book dictates] murdering -- couldn't even contemplate taking on a more competent military than either or both of New Zealand's or Canada's for fear of getting its bony arse kicked.

I don't know. Those "human wave" tactics really burn up ammunition fast. :^P

[Brian Allen]

<< don't know. Those "human wave" tactics really burn up ammunition fast. :^P >>

Yep. That's why we killed more than a million of them during the North Korean "Police Action."

That was more than fifty years ago and they still haven't learned!

It would take us a week at most to render their air force and navy effectively useless and, if they still didn't get it, not much longer to destroy the Peking-based criminal gang that self-styles itself "china" and poses as "a government."

[Billthedrill]

I can just imagine Smaug, that would be some great computer animation.

Bad news. Live actor. They're casting Helen Thomas for the part.

[Billthedrill]

The Chinese will not be pleased. For one thing, their own strategic nuclear threat to Japan will be neutralized; for another, it will impede the construction of nuclear weapons on the part of the Japanese not one whit. As to the latter, it'd be one thing if they were all located in Japan, but what do you suppose would happen if they should start to pop up on, say, Taiwan? Not that they would, necessarily - it would constitute a geopolitical move of monstrous proportion as well as a military one - but it's a strategic possibility that strikes the biggest nerve that the PRC has.

But as for covert nuclear weapons production feeding a MAD program, we should remember that MAD only works in the face of a visible, credible deterrent. On both sides. The first one of these countries to pop off a test is likely to induce the other to do so. And that's likely to make the current critics of a "unipolar" world long for the good old days of U.S. hegemony.

No, North Korea is becoming very inconvenient indeed.

[Imal]

True, but as in Korea during that bitter "police action", there would be a price.

[Petronski]

Japan should amend their constitution and rearm themselves. We need the ally.

[bonesmccoy]

Yes, and that 10 story lizard is going to be spitting fire at anyone in it's path soon.

So, we'd better pipe up with our own BMD first.

[bonesmccoy]

No.

Nuclear weapons are immoral and ugly.

Shooting 100% of all missiles down will be far more effective. Basically, the Japanese culture is not to strike out unless having already been striken.

Once the strike outwards starts though, I wouldn't want to be in the way of the action. The anger will be pent up frustration at being unable to defend oneself for the past 60 years.

The US would be wiser to build our own BMD and just extend the sphere to Japan.

Now, if the Japanese build, they can still do a nuclear deterrant and they'll be in a stronger geopolitical position than we are.

WE NEED THE BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE NOW!

[The Pheonix]

How very SUN-TZU

Sun-Tzu; "in peace, prepare for war, in war,prepare for peace"

China, Japan, and S.Korea are on the verge of forming a FREE TRADE AREA, after Japan mooted the idea in 1998. Seems like they are going all out to make $$$$$$$$$$$$, and prosper.

Indeed. the SINIC Culture (or "Chop-sticks Culture"), peoples are quite pragmatic. Instead of just, nuke, nuke, nuke, kill, kill ,kill. They on, "make more money, enjoy LIFE and less war". ie try to avoid conflict, if at all possible

Different cultures have different priorites; Some are more war-like, some more peace-like.The younger generations Chinese, Japanese and Koreans are sharing and exchanging Cultural trends and fads like music, fashion etc

None the less, China, Japan and S.Korea are still security-conscious and are also keeping their armed forces up=to-date.

Very SUN-TZU

IN the meantime, the warhawks and hate-mongers will as usual beat their drums aver so loudly

[Paul Ross]

Interesting times indeed. I would dread the history in your hypothetical 2020 A.D. history book. I suspect that book would be written in Mandarin Chinese.

I see little awareness of how precarious the U.S. national security...including economic strengths... is. Which means that the current counterproductive policies leading us in the wrong directions will continue until they lead to a disaster.

[Travis McGee]

There are so many untested variable in the equation that making predictions is almost laughable. But when a teenager can nearly cripple our internet with OTS scripts, I shudder to think of the world's banking and commercial system holding up to a sustained attack by 100 Chinese MIT and UCLA grads carrying out a well laid plan with 100 more sleepers in our financial institutions.

If and when the financial system crumbles, all bets are off.

It's going to be an interesting decade, in the Chinese proverbial sense.

[Orion78]

PING!