Japan Considering Nuclear Weapons (Iran, arsenal, Obama, military)

[XLIGuy]

See link for article:

Japan 'should develop nuclear weapons' to counter North Korea threat - Telegraph

Thoughts?

[AeroGuyDC]

I consider it an inevitability considering all their neighbors have or are pursuing nuclear weapons. It's kind of like the lottery here in the states. When all your neighboring states have a lottery, at some point you have to stop the bleeding and vote in a lottery to keep revenue from being spent across state lines.

The good news is that Japan has the resources to make a nuclear weapon relatively hastily. The learning curve will be drastically reduced, in part because it as a U.S. ally. It's unfortunate that a passive country such as Japan may have to resort to this, but there seems to be no other alternative when aggressive nations like North Korea seem bent on having the weaponry themselves. Japan entering the arms race should be a stark reality for us all since obviously they percieve the threat of nuclear war as a real possibility.

[Frankie117]

So in essence we would allow Japan to build nuclear weapons, but at the same time deny Iran and North Korea to do the same? Seems like a major double standard to me.. Besides, Japan is under the US defense umbrella, so I do not see a reason for them to put the effort into creating nuclear weapons, it would make them no better than the North Koreans.

Besides, didn't Obama say he was going to rid the world of nuclear weapons?

[AeroGuyDC]

Originally Posted by Frankie117

So in essence we would allow Japan to build nuclear weapons, but at the same time deny Iran and North Korea to do the same? Seems like a major double standard to me.. Besides, Japan is under the US defense umbrella, so I do not see a reason for them to put the effort into creating nuclear weapons, it would make them no better than the North Koreans.

Besides, didn't Obama say he was going to rid the world of nuclear weapons?

I don't see it as a double-standard. Japan has been passive since WWII. It's in their constitution to not be aggressive. They'd simply be leveling the playing field. Meanwhile, rogue nations that threaten to wipe an entire state off the map don't deserve the bomb.

Ridding the world of nuclear weapons will never happen. I'm not sure why it even comes up as a conversation piece.

[XLIGuy]

Quote: Besides, didn't Obama say he was going to rid the world of nuclear weapons?[/quote]


My guess is the Japanese really do not have much faith in Obama's nuclear policy or his engagement with North Korea.

[mississauga75]

I think another factor in support of Japan building a nuclear arsenal is the ever growing economic and military strength of China in the region. North Korea would just be a good excuse.