U.S. Urged to Consolidate Nuclear Weapons

[nittany03]

I think they hate the Muslims more than us... I could be wrong.

They're Communists, remember. That means any kind of religion other than Marxism gives them heartburn. I'm very surprised North Korea and China have stayed put given our current involvement in Iraq, actually. Either one could really throw a monkey wrench into things right now, in my admittedly totally unclassified opinion.

I'll leave the question of rearming the Japanese to those with more (read any) experience in that arena . . . but I will say they design great cars!

 

[Driftwood]

This might warrant a whole new thread, but is fairly relevant considering the topic -- I'm all for rearming an active military in Japan, and restoring that last element of sovereignty, but would that move serve to counterbalance the Chinese buildup, or destabilize the region further? NK is skittish as it is and China is posturing about Taiwan and our economic policies so I was just wondering what you guys see the ramifications of rearming Japan being.

 

[A4sForever]

This might warrant a whole new thread, but is fairly relevant considering the topic -- I'm all for rearming an active military in Japan, and restoring that last element of sovereignty, but would that move serve to counterbalance the Chinese buildup, or destabilize the region further? NK is skittish as it is and China is posturing about Taiwan and our economic policies so I was just wondering what you guys see the ramifications of rearming Japan being.

One thing the ChiComs really DO sweat is a rearmed Japan. Perhaps we should get that "Red Sun" rising again ..... ???

...... Questions ..... ????

 

[Godspeed]

One thing that has grown apparent to me, is how freakin complicated things are getting. Maybe things are always complicated and I just didn't know it.

We have the North Korea issue, China threatening nuclear war, bombs going off in London, an unstable Russia - trying to maintain security of its nuclear arsenal, a liberated and somewhat unstable (so far) Iraq, a terrorist mastermind running rampent in the mountains of Afghanistan - probably planning World War III, the Palestine/Israeli conflict, the cold war part II between India and Pakistan, and much, much more. Sprinkle the globe with clans of Al Qaida terrorists trying to blow up all kinds of sh*t, and that might begin to sum it all up.

Im pondering selling my mutual funds, packing my bags, and retiring in Thailand. I have heard from many a sailor, that it is a heavenly land of $3.00 hot oil massages, cheap alcohol, and unlimited entertainment.

On the serious side of things, I don't see any harm in rearming Japan (for the US that is). They would be a powerful ally we could use in a world constantly growing of uncertainty. In response to driftwood, it might destabalize the region further, but at the least it would destabilize it in our favor. <-If that makes any sense. I believe it would counterbalance any military chinese buildup.

We do know one thing, the centralized capitalist Chinese economy is growing at a steadfast pace. I would suspect their military is growing at a similar rate. We would be foolish to not be prepared for a war with ANY country. Arming Japan would probably not only be the most cost efficient way of doing this, but would also probably be the most strategically sound option as well.

 

[eddie]

I have a few opinions to assert:

NO, Al-Qaeda and Friends would never ally with the Chinese. Fly Navy is not wrong.

YES, fly the Rising Sun again. Yes, it would create a buffer zone, and a home-grown ally (think: the special relationship on two oceans). But think of the potential of US-Japanese military technological/industrial cooperation. It would supercharge both economies, no?

YES, it is stupid to think of China as a third-world country. BUT, they CANNOT devlope high technology very well. They can buy it, steal it, copy it, and utilize it, but they do not YET have the infastructure to create it themselves. Japan and the United States would do well to maintain control of this sector.

OH, and as long as we're on the topic of unstable Russia. They aren't exactly behaving up to code, democratically speaking, and their influence in the old republics is waning. Keep an eye on their status... who knows what could happen there. ALSO, keep an eye on terrorism in Saudi Arabia... that region also has potential for destabilization.

Anyways... that's just me.

And Godspeed, yes, it is complicated, and that is why I wish we still lived in the Cold War... but when the Cold War started, people said they wished they could go back to fighting the Nazis and the Kaiser; it's all relative.

 

[nittany03]

YES, it is stupid to think of China as a third-world country. BUT, they CANNOT devlope high technology very well. They can buy it, steal it, copy it, and utilize it, but they do not YET have the infastructure to create it themselves. Japan and the United States would do well to maintain control of this sector.

OH, and as long as we're on the topic of unstable Russia. They aren't exactly behaving up to code, democratically speaking, and their influence in the old republics is waning. Keep an eye on their status... who knows what could happen there.

We don't seem to be doing that very well right now anyway, what with them getting our nuclear secrets, etc. If they can use a technology against us to deadly effect, you're just as dead if they dreamed it up themselves or flat-out stole it from us. And speaking of Russia and China, think of all that oil in Siberia!

 

[Steve Wilkins]

You guys are thinking regionally. Think globally. While rearming Japan may sound like a good idea on the surface, the trickle down affect of that action would cause an insurmountable amount of grief for the United States. The global balance of power would be seriously affected creating even more instability than already exists.

 

[eddie]

If they can use a technology against us to deadly effect, you're just as dead if they dreamed it up themselves or flat-out stole it from us.

Sorry, I wasn't clear. I wasn't thinking of their military capacity. I was thinking that, economically, they are still behind the curve as far as the kinds of industries they dabble in.


Steve, please elaborate.

 

[Ryoukai]

Edit: I'm a moron.

 

[Slammer2]

You guys are thinking regionally. Think globally. While rearming Japan may sound like a good idea on the surface, the trickle down affect of that action would cause an insurmountable amount of grief for the United States. The global balance of power would be seriously affected creating even more instability than already exists.

So do you mean something along the lines of "guiding" Japan's actions instead of giving them free reign would be better big picture wise? Interesting topic by the way...