[Alter Kaker]

Put yourself in Japan's shoes. Would you trust the Americans to come to your aid? Now? Sure, but how about 5 years from now under the Clinton or Obama administration?

I understand why Japan wants nukes. But I don't see how the US would want Japan to get nukes. A nuclear Japan would increase China's power relative to the US enormously. A slight increase in Japanese peace of mind results in a tremendous decrease in American regional influence.

[elmer fudd]

I understand why Japan wants nukes. But I don't see how the US would want Japan to get nukes.

Because it could prevent both a war and a human tragedy. Our nukes probably won't always be a deterent to North Korea attacking Japan and we shouldn't have to put ourselves in the position of risking WW3 to defend a country with the means to defend itself.