“The government is trying to pass a new anti-terrorism special measures law that would allow the Maritime SDF to resume refueling activities in the Indian Ocean,” he wrote, adding a question to the fact. The professor asked who exactly is this “international society” that would be so appreciative of Japan’s activities in the Indian Ocean?

“While the United States and countries that support it may be part of international society, we must not forget the world has many other members,” he said, pointing out that according to Japan’s Constitution (the country did not amend its constitution), refueling activities that literally "add fuel" to a military action led by the United States is something that Japan definitely must not do.

The professor also suggested in strong words that supplying fuel to warships taking part in Operation Enduring Freedom (the war in Afghanistan) “is a form of logistic support for combat, it is in effect abetting the killing of Afghan citizens,”

It is unconstitutional, he said.

“Don't forget that behind this "war on terror" is the cozy relationship between the U.S. military and the defense industry, including trading companies that buy and sell defense equipment. People are growing justifiably suspicious of this relationship,” blasted the Professor.

Japan has whisked Shinzo Abe out of power, forcing him to resign after he was sure to meet defeat in the Japanese Parliament over the refueling of American war ships issue. Abe was poised to create better and a more military relationship between the U.S. and Japan but the public in general was weary of this move.

The former Prime Minister Abe was also pressing the Parliament and the political parties in JapanU.S. in its expansionist strategy. These were halted with Abe’s humiliating resignation after only a few months in power. for changes in the constitution and for the creation of an effective operational army unit that would assist the U.S. in its combat missions.

During the first Gulf war, Japan paid some USD13 billion to the U.S. as a form of its support and participation in the efforts of the ‘international community’. It was part, the professor said, of Japan’s contribution to the international community.

However, this was insufficient for Washington and Japan was pressed to add troops and ‘shed blood’ but the demands from the U.S. for Japan to “give money, dispatch troops and shed blood” soon escalated into calls for Japan to “show the flag” with anti-terrorism special measures and laws.

Professor Asaho said the new “catch phrase” was “boots on the ground,” when the Iraq special measures law was being deliberated in the Japanese Diet (Parliament).

“Countries talk about "international contributions," but what they really mean is contributing to national interests through the use of force. Also lurking in this concept are corporate interests in the defense industry in bed with the private interests of politicians, bureaucrats and high-ranking military officials,” Asaho wrote.

“Once this point becomes clear, the so-called "justice" of this "war on terror" will be starkly shaken,” he said.

“Japan should completely halt its support for the use of force, including supplying fuel to military vessels taking part in the Afghan war and sending SDF troops to Iraq. Instead, we should concentrate on creating a standing international rescue organization to promote fair and neutral assistance when major disasters such as earthquakes and cyclones strike, anywhere in the world,” Asaho believes.

“The important thing is to develop and stick with nonmilitary activities in line with the philosophy of the preamble and Article 9 of the Constitution,”

He insisted that the direction shown by Article 9 of the Japanese constitution is that Japan should learn from the past and stop all use of force as a national policy. Japan may face situations that leave us with no choice but to use force. “Yet even in such an event, the nation needs the wisdom and ingenuity to hold itself back from resorting to force, to keep a distance from instant solutions like military force, which always result in adverse side effects,”

“We must instead forge an environment that leads to dialogue and negotiation,” are the prescriptions of the professor in the wake of the terrible war on terror.

According to the professor, the Japanese government is shaping a permanent law aimed at allowing the overseas dispatch of the SDF. “Some people argue that as long as the United Nations resolution on security in Afghanistan exists, Japan can help in the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. These arguments seem to point to a path for Japan to become a "big and obtrusive ordinary country."

Still, Japan can do one thing right now without following such a path. We can support a treaty to ban cluster bombs, which disseminate many bomblets over wide areas and lead to a large number of civilian injuries, he suggested.

Read the original article here: Japan's 21st century vision: Acting for peace

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alloha
written by Kazi Mahmood, January 29, 2008

hi there..

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