From: jcliu@euler.Berkeley.EDU (James C. Liu - Nucl. Engin. UC Berkeley)
Subject: Re: REPOST: Japanese Major Suggests Military Coup:Your Opinion?
Keywords:  CHILL OUT
Organization: University of California at Berkeley Dept. of Nucl. Engr.
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 1992 20:35:52 GMT

In article <1992Nov7.085109.26161@athena.mit.edu>
ryoichi@athena.mit.edu (Ryoichi Hashimoto) writes:

>What I fear most)
>   Suppose LDP leaders say, one day in the future, "America wants Japan to 
>   send its force to a non democratic country in Asia to realize America's 
>   will to help citizens there to restore democracy," what do you think
>   will happen to Japan?  Although there will be a huge argument, but, I 
>   cannot deny the possibility that Japanese, after all, will allow their 
>   government to *act for America* by sending "half-yakuza" troops without
>   any civilian control.  

I think this post should be accompanied by another paranoia alert.

First of all, let's distinguish clearly between different types of military
action.  One is the peace keeping operations which are supported by the 
United Nations (e.g. Cambodia and Yugoslavia) and another is a offensive
whose goal is to secure natural or valuable resources (e.g. Saddam Hussein).
The probability is going to be low that the U.S. is going to request Japan
do something of the latter type.  The only reason why the U.S. is pressuring
Japan right now to contribute to world Peace Keeping Operations is because
the Japanese are perceived as too stingy and too irresponsible about world
affairs.  America as well as most of the other G7 nations fulfill their
duties as a world leaders by providing PKO support to the UN in both military
and monetary forms.  Japan, which is now an economic super power in it's
own right, should take some of these responsibilities.

Second, the U.S. isn't going to standby and let Japan do something military
by itself in the name of the United States if the U.S. didn't actually
issue the request.  The idea of the LPD citing the reason
that "America wants it.." is not going to sit well with the foreign
policy guys in Washington.  Rest assured that if the SDF makes a military
move on the false pretense that "America wants" it to, the U.S. will
deny any action the Japanese make.

Third, it's been a long time since WW2.  Improved guerrilla warfare
techniques, combined with inexpensive but effective anti-aircraft, anti-tank
and anti-personel weapons combined with rugged terrain make invading
and occupying a far east Asian nation a lot tougher than it use to be.
Don't fool yourself that your half-yakuza troops are going to be a serious
threat.  We've got gangs in Oakland, California that could probably
kick-butt-suru on your SDF. ;^) 

Fourth, as long as there are responsible Japanese citizens who have
concerns (Hashimoto-san included) and are willing to stand up for what
is right, I have faith that Japan will eventually do the right thing.
If not, well, I think the Japanese forgot too soon the lessons of Hiroshima
and Nagasaki. 

>I am sure some people accuse me as ideological mazochist.  But....
                                                ^^^^^^^^^
Dou iu imi desu ka?  Do you punish yourself with masochistic
ideals?  (e.g. a heart attack patient who believes that prime rib and
lobster are the staples of life?)


jaa, James
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