This Can't Be Good

Well, I guess I may have to upset a few people. Damnit!

(addendum below)

This is what Bush has brought to the world. He's pushed Japan to re-write its pacifist constitution and now they're investigating nukular warhead development.

The Japanese government recently looked into the possibility of developing nuclear warhead, a news report said Monday, citing an internal government document

International Herald Tribune (AP) - TOKYO: The Japanese daily Sankei reported that experts at government organizations concluded that it would be impossible for Japan to develop nuclear weapons within a year or two, and that it would take at least three to five years to make a prototype nuclear warhead.

The experts also estimated that Japan would need to spend about 200 billion yen (US$1.68 billion; €1.27 billion) to 300 billion yen (US$2.52 billion; €1.91 billion) and mobilize several hundred engineers to produce a prototype nuclear warhead, according to Sankei.

The experts did not say whether Japan should develop nuclear weapons, according to the summary of the document titled "On the Possibility of Developing Nuclear Weapons Domestically," dated Sept. 20 and carried by the paper.

(read more)

More:

The Rising Prospect Of Japan Remilitarization

US Pressures Japan to Change Its Pacifist Constitution to Support Military Action Againstafghanistan (sic)

Addendum: I was remiss for not explicitly spelling out why Bush would want Japan to militarize. Just think US military-industrial complex. At least in the short term, until Toyota, Mitsubishi, Kawasaki, Fuji, Tsuji and other Japanese manufacturers can start building Hummers, Tanks and such, the US will sell a lot of military hardware to Japan.

Note: Fuji Heavy Industries already has the ability to produce the AH-64D Apache Longbow multi-role combat helicopter, but its in partnership with an American defense contractor.