Reply #40: typical of the lame stream media...

[bpilgrim]

but to do what they describe in the article would certainly REQUIRE it.

CHAPTER II: RENUNCIATION OF WAR
Article 9:

Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes. 2) In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.

more...
http://www.solon.org/Constitutions/Japan/English/english-Constitution.html

...Constitution's Article 9 and the Self-Defense Forces

The War Laws were imposed in 1999 to create mechanisms for Japan's participation in U.S. wars. But because of Article 9, the government officially had to state that the SDF are not allowed to go abroad with the aim of using force and that their action is limited to rear-area support. What the government describes as "rear-area support" is actually logistics, which is part of war. What the government is saying is a deception. At the same time, we should note that Article 9 is effective to a certain degree in putting a brake on sending the SDF abroad.

After World War II, Japan has never taken part in wars abroad with its armed forces. This is owing to Article 9 and the people's peace movement. Article 9 has consistently been trampled upon in postwar politics led by the Liberal Democratic Party, but it has been and is playing an important role in preventing the SDF from being sent abroad and Japan from becoming a military power. Can we allow this brake to be released and a system to be established to allow the SDF to be sent abroad unrestricted? This is the focal issue in the struggle around Article 9. Opposition to an adverse change in Article 9 can bring together both those who regard the SDF unconstitutional and those who do not.

more...
http://www.jcp.or.jp/english/jps_weekly/e000930_03.html


Constitution seen being sidestepped as Japan weighs new defense policies

The Japan Times: Jan. 1, 2004

Meanwhile, the Constitution itself may no longer be sacred.

In August, Koizumi instructed the Liberal Democratic Party to map out a blueprint for revising it by November 2005, when the party marks its 50th anniversary.

more...
http://www.japantimes.com/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20040101a7.htm

# April 1998: LDP introduces bill to extend SDF role to supporting U.S. forces.

# 1997: Japan broadens the role of SDF to surrounding areas, i.e. Korea, Taiwan, Philippines.

i hope the japanese can just say NO!

A Japan that Can Say No

by Akio Morita and Shintaro Ishihara. Akio Morita is the former chairman and founder of Sony

1. THE NECESSITY FOR PRESENT DAY JAPANESE TO REFORM THEIR CONSCIOUSNESS (Ishihara)
* Japanese People Have Become Top Heavy
* Japan's Advanced Technology Is at the Heart of Military Strength
* There Is A Need for Japanese to Change Their Consciousness in Light of High Technology

2. THE DECLINE OF AN AMERICAN WHICH CAN ONLY SEE 10 MINUTES AHEAD (Morita)
* American Neglects the Significance of Production
* America Looks 10 Minutes Ahead; Japan Looks 10 Years
* Japan's Impact on the World Economy Will Be Recognized

3. RACIAL PREJUDICE IS AT THE ROOT OF JAPAN BASHING (Ishihara)
* America Will Never Hold Its World Leadership Position Unless It Ends Its Racial Prejudice
* Japan Should Become More Cosmopolitan

4. BASHING JAPAN GETS VOTES (Morita)
* The Paradox of Welcoming Investment but Criticism of Japan
* Japanese Industries in the U.S. Should Work at Community Service
* Let's Build an American Society Where Japan Bashing Causes Votes to Decline

5. AMERICAN ITSELF IS UNFAIR (Morita)
* America Lacks Business Creativity
* Japan Has Not Forced Its Sales on the U.S.
* Let Us Think About the Role Japan Should Play in the World

6. THE CRITICISM OF JAPAN AS AN IMITATOR IS OFF THE MARK (Ishihara)
* The America Which Closes Its Eyes to Its Own Unfairness, and Criticizes Japan
* Japan, A Country Where Each Person Is Highly Creative
* The Excellence of Japanese Products Relates to the Educational High Level of the Employees

7. IS AMERICA A COUNTRY WHICH PROTECTS HUMAN RIGHTS? (Morita)
* Workers' Rights Are Ignored by American Companies
* American Executives Prefer Immediate Rewards
* A Japanese Corporation is a Community Bound Together by a Common Destiny
* The Japanese Approach Can Be Used Worldwide

8. LET'S BECOME A JAPAN THAT CAN SAY NO (Morita)
* Saying "No" Actually Represents a Deepening of Mutual Understanding
* National Characteristics Which Make It Difficult for the Japanese to Say "No"

9. LET'S NOT GIVE IN TO AMERICA'S BLUSTER (Ishihara)
* Statesmen Ought to Make Best Use of All Available Cards
* Nakasone Bungled the Relationship
* Diplomacy Should Be Free of External Pressures

10. THE U.S. AND JAPAN ARE "INESCAPABLY INTERDEPENDENT" (Morita)
* No Way To Avoid the Trade Frictions
* Japan's Central Role is Asia
* America, You Had Better Give Up Certain Arrogance

11. JAPAN SHOULD LIVE IN HARMONY WITH ASIA (Ishihara)
* Restrain America!
* Japan Is Not Getting a Free Ride on the US-Japan Security Pact
* Japan Should Live in Harmony With Asia
* Japan Can Be Admitted to the World Community by Saying "No"

read online here...
http://home.earthlink.net/~rufusis/japanno/

peace