[Alter Kaker]

This is the worst idea ever. Other countries in Asia haven't forgotten World War II. They still fear and loath the Japanese. A nuclear Japan pushes South Korea, the Phillipines, Indonesia, even Taiwan closer to China. Do the South Koreans have any need to see a nuclear Japan as a threat? No. But they will anyway. And they'll see China as their strategic counterweight. If South Korea leaves the American orbit for China's -- as it is threatening to --, that will be very bad for US interests in the region.

[BigSkyFreeper]

What do you suggest? More diplomacy? Clinton and Carter did that and look where that got us.

[DB]

I disagree.

No one on the planet fears Japan arming themselves with nuclear weapons more than China.

The very threat of Japan going nuclear has a very high likelihood of forcing China to reign in their Chia pet to the south. It is an excellent threat to hold over China's head to act and act now. Doing so may well save hundreds of thousands of lives in both NK and SK along with thousands of our soldiers lives.

[Retief]

Other countries in Asia haven't forgotten World War II. They still fear and loath the Japanese.

That's why Japan is such a great US ally . . . because everyone else hates Japan. Japan is like Israel. Everyone else in the world hates the country.

Unfortunately, Japan, like Israel, needs nukes. The US can't be trusted as an ally and may cut-and-run as it did in Vietnam, and as the Dems are threatening to do now in Iraq.

It's far better to have nukes and not need them, then to need nukes and not have them.

[snowrip]

Wrong. Wrong. And...wrong.

South Korea is about as vital to US interests in Asia as France is to US interests in Europe. We have wasted a lot of blood and treasure to prop up an "ally" that goes against our interests at every turn. Yet, like the French dependence upon NATO, Seoul screams like a child when the US mentions troop withdrawals from the DMZ.

Let them posture like the silly "progressives" in France. They are well aware who keeps the wolves at bay.

Ditto the rest of the Pacific rim countries. Their fear of an expansionist China greatly outweighs any traces of animosity towards WWII Japan, who BTW has a modern history of nothing but peaceful relations with its neighbors.

[azhenfud]

America would end up with only one possible ally in Asia.

A nuclear armed Japan is a stupid idea and will be viewed by our enemy as no better ideals than their own attempted proliferation of the same weapons.

If America can sell nuclear weapons, so can ____________ ......(fill in the blank)

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Stupid.

[AmericanExceptionalist]

If South Korea leaves the American orbit for China's -- as it is threatening to --, that will be very bad for US interests in the region.

I am not really much interested in geopolitical gamesmanship. What really concerns me is that we confront our mortal enemies (in Pyonyang, Tehran, or anywhere else), rather than either (a) ignoring them, and hoping for the best; (b) offering them a bribe to act more responsibly; or (c) talking tough, and carrying a wet noodle.

A nuclear-armed Japan should at least get Beijing's (which is to say, Dear Leader's sponsor's) attention. And that is a good first step.