Yes, we are still living under that horrid Patriot Act.

Actually, I think Japan should just write a new Constitution altogether since the present Constitution was, for the most part, written by MacArthur's staff. Japan should be allowed to declare and go to war with a conscience (not that Japan should actually do so) unhindered by the current bogus Constitution. Hell, Japan's spending on military is, what?, the 2nd highest in the world after Bangladesh? But seriously, having such a well trained and well equiped military already reeks of Constitutional hypocrisy, yes? Peace out. Lancelot x

hmm ... shouldn't they first revise the constitution to allow for the type of military action they're already taking in iraq?

"... enable the government to mobilize the Self-Defense Forces in such eventualities as the current hostage crisis in Iraq."

That's pretty broad language. And forward-thinking in an unsettling way. Why so much expectation? Is it reasonable to assume that there will be a rash of Japanese hostage taking in the future? Sounds like Abe might be thinking about bigger fish. I don't know anything about him though.

Could be a historic move. Political opportunism before solidarity at a time like this does seem a little distasteful though.

Scott -

Not certain, but pretty sure that Japan is not in violation of their Consitution as it is.

hmm ... shouldn't they first revise the constitution to allow for the type of military action they're already taking in iraq?

Technically, no they do not have to. They are there as support units, not combat units. But that is wopping big pile of steaming mad cow poo, ain't it? They've got guns. They've got planes and tanks. They've got the same, more expensive bombs that America has (hey, we gotta profit in more than oil, eh?) And yet it is, technically still constitutional... yeah, whatever... like Bush's election last time around was technically not an even bigger pile of steaming mad cow poo. Ack! Thppht! Bill the Cat for President! Peace out. Lancelot x

The interim constitution will not go into effect until given the go-ahead by Paul Bremer, the top civilian administrator in Iraq, who is expected to approve it.