Japan plans missile shield with US

[ze_dscherman]

Japan said on Friday it would develop a missile defence system jointly with the US, marking a significant shift in the country's defence policy, government officials and diplomats said.


Nearly Y100bn ($930m) will be allocated in next year's budget for procuring, upgrading and developing new technology to create a ballistic missile defence (BMD) system - a more than a 50-fold increase on the token sum allotted this year. The first phase of the system is due to be completed by 2007.

SNIP


Japan's decision to develop a missile shield, as first reported in the Financial Times, has gathered political momentum this year as tensions have grown over North Korea's nuclear programme.

Developing such a system, which raises complex constitutional and legal issues, could spark heated objections from some of Japan's neighbours. China has already expressed concern abou t Japan's intention to send troops to Iraq.


http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1071251653942&p=1012571727102

[La_Serpiente]

1. And Hawaii is just in the middle of it all

Wonderful :eyes: Between America and Japan.

[leftyandproud]

2. um..

Japan has been our ally since the end of WW2...What does hawaii have to fear?

[Flagg]

3. ALLY ??

that's one way to put it.....

[kodi]

4. their's needs to be a heck of a lot faster than ours

if expecting attacks from mainland asia

[tlcandie]

5. The players on the chess board are moving ... and quickly...

Time has indeed begun to spin faster..

Russia's Pooti Poot statement with veiled hints and undercurrents

Now this from Japan...

China next?

All the while the Drum beat grows louder at home

TERRA ALERT
CDC making a change to step up re: flu
Three strikes against this regime legally in courts yesterday
Draft murmurings coming out into the light
Backpedaling of Kean

Anyone else care to speculate where the weight will rollover in declaring RED TERRA ALERT?