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Originally posted by M. Spector:
So's the USA.

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One of the interesting things about that op/ed piece is that it was written by two former Clinton administration officials (one being Cliniton's Secretary of Defense). Locally (here in Minnesota), former VP Walter Mondale voiced the same recommendation (i.e., attack North Korea before it test fires missiles).

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Originally posted by M. Spector:
I know how I felt when the US was using Canada (with the collaboration of our own imperialist government) as a testing range for cruise missiles. I was pissed off.

But I didn't advocate pre-emptive strikes against the US.

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[ 11 July 2006: Message edited by: Bobolink ]

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Bobolink: It should be noted the the Japan Defense Agency does not have the weaponry to launch a pre-emptive strike on North Korea. This is about as credible as San Marino launching a pre-emptive strike on Paraguay.

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It should be noted that Japan is second in the world in military spending after the U.S., using 2003/04 figures. It wouldn't take much to direct those billions towards the appropriate "defence" areas, just as "assistance" from the U.S., Israel style, could change things pretty quickly.

Top 10 military spending countries.

Military spending

Country and billions spent (03/04)

United States 335.7 Billion
Japan 46.7
United Kingdom 36
France 33.6
China 31.1
Germany 27.7
Saudi Arabia 21.6
Italy 21.1
Iran 17.5
South Korea 13.5

and so on...

P.S. San Marino and Paraguay don't make the top 10, although BOTH Japan and South Korea do.

[ 11 July 2006: Message edited by: N.Beltov ]

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Originally posted by Bobolink:
It should be noted the the Japan Defense Agency does not have the weaponry to launch a pre-emptive strike on North Korea. This is about as credible as San Marino launching a pre-emptive strike on Paraguay.

[ 11 July 2006: Message edited by: Bobolink ]

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One can be certain that there are those in Washington's circles of power that welcome Pyongyang's test. In their minds. the very fact of its occurrence means that they no longer have to pretend that there is a diplomatic route to resolving the Korean situation. Not that this administration really understands the meaning of diplomacy anyhow, but this test means they don't even have to pretend.

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Originally posted by Bobolink:
It should be noted the the Japan Defense Agency does not have the weaponry to launch a pre-emptive strike on North Korea. This is about as credible as San Marino launching a pre-emptive strike on Paraguay.

[ 11 July 2006: Message edited by: Bobolink ]

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True. Not only that but both China and Russia in th epast have made it clear they would wipe Japan off the map if it ever again undertakes any military aggression beyond it's borders.

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Originally posted by 500_Apples:
Japan's conventional military forces are larger than those of Russia and China combined, Japan being the world's second military power.

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