Reply #45: They are free to change their Constitution. They haven't done it because

[MADem]

they get the best end of the stick--there isn't a great deal of distance between their perspective and ours.

You're mired in old paradigms and outdated "diktats" that do not exist and have not for decades now.

The discussion comes up every couple of years in Japan, to strip the "defense only" clause from their constitution. They haven't done it yet because they know how to add, and they know they get a better and much cheaper deal letting us do that heavy lifting you question for them.

The Japanese have been trending in this direction for some time, FWIW.

Some background: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/japan-plans-to-change-its-pacifist-constitution-516526.html

http://www.peaceactionme.org/changing-japans-constitution-giant-step-backwards-world-peace

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3905247.ece

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE5511T220090602