Quote from: Solar on April 10, 2015, 07:22:18 AM
And that's just scratching the surface.

More like picking at the crust of the national wound, but have it your way.

QuoteLook at all the damage he's done in upsetting the balance of power to favor that of our enemies.
Obozo is the enemy of the fee world.

Quote from: Solar on April 04, 2015, 12:08:35 PM
But it's theirs to change. The question is should we intervene?
China is threatening Japans geographical interests all the while the Marxist ignores the problem.
By not backing Japan in this dispute, we grant China free reign, if we support Japan, we run the risk of getting mired in their dispute.
By not giving Japan the right to defend itself, automatically puts us at odds with China.

Would it not be in our best interest to allow Japan complete autonomous control over their own jurisdiction?
I don't see Japan declaring war anytime soon, but regardless, I do think they should be allowed to protect their own interests.

Should China attack, or some how otherwise actually threaten Japan, then yes we Should intervene. The allies all, but the U.S. in particular has promised to do precisely that to Japan.

Should Japan wage war though?

Not unless the people  of Japan vote to change their Constitution to allow it. As far as U.S. intervention in THAT, I would say as a "gut" reaction. No, we should let the people of Japan operate as a Constitutional Republican form of government should work. (Whatever their actual parliamentary procedure may be)

I don't think anyone would want to see Japan under the rule of another Emperor would we?

ISIS, Russia, Muhamadan's all over Europe, threaten Germany, should we (we being the allies) intervene in the internal machinations of the German Government too "let them off the leash" as well?

At this point I would honestly say no.

If Japan is to defend themselves, they need to modify the way their constitution reads regarding war. "The best defense is a strong offense." This is a truism that will never, ever become obsolete in the realm of warfare.  The U.S. SHOULD encourage all our allies to be able to not only defend themselves, but to also assist other allies if needed.

So, yes, let Japan off the "leash". Hopefully the people of Japan will see the need to remove the silly prohibition against "offensive" weapons of war. ALL free nations should have the means to defend themselves as necessary, and proper defense means the ability to take the war to the enemy. (ie: offense.)

Quote from: zewazir on April 16, 2015, 11:09:04 AM
If Japan is to defend themselves, they need to modify the way their constitution reads regarding war. "The best defense is a strong offense." This is a truism that will never, ever become obsolete in the realm of warfare.  The U.S. SHOULD encourage all our allies to be able to not only defend themselves, but to also assist other allies if needed.

So, yes, let Japan off the "leash". Hopefully the people of Japan will see the need to remove the silly prohibition against "offensive" weapons of war. ALL free nations should have the means to defend themselves as necessary, and proper defense means the ability to take the war to the enemy. (ie: offense.)

Agree. A wall is only as strong as those with the ability to defend it. Without offensive weapons, it's only a matter of time before the wall crumbles.

Quote from: Solar on April 16, 2015, 12:56:37 PM
Agree. A wall is only as strong as those with the ability to defend it. Without offensive weapons, it's only a matter of time before the wall crumbles.

The U.S. just does not have the resources now to be the world's policeman. Japan and Germany have the where with all to have their own defenses with backup from NATO and SEATO. We need to be prepared to destroy the truly bad guys like Islamic radicals.

Quote from: zewazir on April 16, 2015, 11:09:04 AM
If Japan is to defend themselves, they need to modify the way their constitution reads regarding war. "The best defense is a strong offense." This is a truism that will never, ever become obsolete in the realm of warfare.  The U.S. SHOULD encourage all our allies to be able to not only defend themselves, but to also assist other allies if needed.

So, yes, let Japan off the "leash". Hopefully the people of Japan will see the need to remove the silly prohibition against "offensive" weapons of war. ALL free nations should have the means to defend themselves as necessary, and proper defense means the ability to take the war to the enemy. (ie: offense.)

I served in Japan for two years at the height of American control over their economy and all domestic production. The number of U.S. military installations within Japan totaled enough acreage and imported so many gaijiin influences that inevitably Japanese society itself would change---and not change.

I believe Japan got precisely what it deserved after the Pearl Harbor attack. Including the U.S. rebuilding of that country while helping the postwar government adapt to its U.S.-imposed new Constitution. Our magnanimous behavior as victors earned us lasting friendship and trade, just as with Germany (its own history more militant than even Japan's). I believe Japan came to assess this "foreign control" as a societal stabilizer, as Japan also realized your basic point about self-defense.

Okay, oto-san and oba-san, you had a whole generation to calm yourselves down, and you've passed with flying colors. So maybe it's time to note how many FEWER U.S. installations are now there since, say, 1970. That leash you've been on got lots smaller. No problems. Well, none aside from the Marines in Okinawa....

So the realists saw the financial peril coming when we couldn't fork out cash for their TRUE defense. The question remained, how large a defense force, and what type of defense vessels or aircraft (or other) would it finally total up to be?

The lessons from World War II hit hardest after the Fukushima meltdown and the realization that nuclear ANYTHING would bear a terrible price on a society still only two generations after the war they lost and an emperor became a mortal man.

A really rambling way to say, I think they'll do just fine on their own. 

Quote from: Solar on April 04, 2015, 12:08:35 PM
But it's theirs to change. The question is should we intervene?
China is threatening Japans geographical interests all the while the Marxist ignores the problem.
By not backing Japan in this dispute, we grant China free reign, if we support Japan, we run the risk of getting mired in their dispute.
By not giving Japan the right to defend itself, automatically puts us at odds with China.

Would it not be in our best interest to allow Japan complete autonomous control over their own jurisdiction?
I don't see Japan declaring war anytime soon, but regardless, I do think they should be allowed to protect their own interests.

Good point, and one that applies in a number of directions. At this point in history, it seems that Japan has certainly earned the right -- and the duty -- to determine its own destiny and its own foreign policy. I agree that Japan seems unlikely to lash out against anyone anytime soon, but that's not really the point. I think it's not the business of the US to determine Japanese foreign policy. The last war that involved Japanese aggression ended almost 70 years ago.

Quote from: TboneAgain on April 23, 2015, 09:02:27 PM
Good point, and one that applies in a number of directions. At this point in history, it seems that Japan has certainly earned the right -- and the duty -- to determine its own destiny and its own foreign policy. I agree that Japan seems unlikely to lash out against anyone anytime soon, but that's not really the point. I think it's not the business of the US to determine Japanese foreign policy. The last war that involved Japanese aggression ended almost 70 years ago.

Good point. I don't see the animosity we saw 70 yeas ago, they no longer worship a human false God, and most are appreciative of what they created out of the ashes of failed aggression.
Japan has much to be proud of, and isolationism is not one of them.

Could they turn on us in the future? Sure, but so could any of our allies, but oppressing them is certain to create more animus than is necessary, not to mention Japan is a proud nation and feeling they have to rely on our unpredictable political situation in the event they are attacked is not reassuring to the majority of their people.

Quote from: Solar on April 24, 2015, 08:05:32 AM
Good point. I don't see the animosity we saw 70 yeas ago, they no longer worship a human false God, and most are appreciative of what they created out of the ashes of failed aggression.
Japan has much to be proud of, and isolationism is not one of them.

Could they turn on us in the future? Sure, but so could any of our allies, but oppressing them is certain to create more animus than is necessary, not to mention Japan is a proud nation and feeling they have to rely on our unpredictable political situation in the event they are attacked is not reassuring to the majority of their people.

Looking at what we have in the White House right now I can understand how they feel.

Quote from: walkstall on April 24, 2015, 08:14:09 AM
Looking at what we have in the White House right now I can understand how they feel.

Exactly my point! The Marxist has turned allies against, all the while extending his hand to the enemy.
Cross the Japanese and they'll take it off at the wrist, leaving a bloody stump, and I'd applaud them for it.

Quote from: Solar on April 24, 2015, 08:36:01 AM
Exactly my point! The Marxist has turned allies against, all the while extending his hand to the enemy.
Cross the Japanese and they'll take it off at the wrist, leaving a bloody stump, and I'd applaud them for it.

The Japanese have learned for their mistakes.  Marxism has not, there thinking the same old way.