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March 20, 2003
WAR: Japan sides with US
So the US-led war against Iraq has begun. Planes and cruise missiles over Baghdad. Air raid sirens wail. Smoke fills the air.
This is a local strike, not the opening of a massive rain of cruise missiles and bombs. These are expected in the next fews days. I guess the Americans are going to try to knock out the command and control, communications systems of the Iraqis. That means the Ba'ath party head-quarters and the leadership of the Iraqi regime will be targeted.
How is the war seen in the Asia Pacific?
Japan has changed its position on the war with Iraq. It's initial position emphasised the importance of international coordination on the Iraq crisis and that the U.N. Security Council should adopt a fresh resolution authorizing a war on Iraq. Now it supports a U.S.-led war on Iraq without a fresh United Nations resolution.
So Koizumi puts U.S. alliance ahead of U.N.
Why? Same reason as Australia. Security. It cannot defend itself. What if North Korea launches missiles at Japan? it would have to put a call through to Washington.
So it was not rational for Japan to oppose the US on Iraq and to then depend on the US for protection against North Korea.
At least the Japanese are honest about their foreign policy realism. You never get this realist reasoning by Australian politicians in public. And they are more realists than revisionists.
So how does the inner wheels of the national security apparatus work? What would we see if we were to peep inside behind the closed doors and windows? This is one one account that draws on Australian experience. In the light of that clearing read this account of a Deprived, ignored and scorned North Korea is driven into a corner Washington refuses to engage in dialogue with Pyongyang.
China has keept a low profile but supports the UN on Iraq. And the Americans don't like it China Blows a Big Chance by Playing It Safe This is a more realistic analysis of China's geopolitical concerns.
Posted by Gary Sauer-Thompson at March 20, 2003 01:14 PM
Comments
The fact that realism is not an acceptable public position is a good explanation of why politicians are necessary in the first place :/
Posted by: Yobbo at March 21, 2003 12:05 AM