Japanese Government Shifts Further Toward Authoritarianism and Militarism

Screen Shot 2016-08-03 at 8.06.26 AM

We’re going to war — either hybrid in nature to break the Russian state back to its 1990s subordination, or a hot war (which will destroy our country). Our citizens should know this, but they don’t because our media is dumbed down in its “Pravda”-like support for our “respectable,” highly aggressive government. We are being led, as C. Wright Mills said in the 1950s, by a government full of “crackpot realists: in the name of realism they’ve constructed a paranoid reality all their own.” Our media has credited Hillary Clinton with wonderful foreign policy experience, unlike Trump, without really noting the results of her power-mongering. She’s comparable to Bill Clinton’s choice of Cold War crackpot Madeleine Albright as one of the worst Secretary of States we’ve had since … Condi Rice? Albright boasted, “If we have to use force it is because we are America; we are the indispensable nation. We stand tall and we see further than other countries into the future.”

Hillary’s record includes supporting the barbaric “contras” against the Nicaraguan people in the 1980s, supporting the NATO bombing of the former Yugoslavia, supporting the ongoing Bush-Iraq War, the ongoing Afghan mess, and as Secretary of State the destruction of the secular state of Libya, the military coup in Honduras, and the present attempt at “regime change” in Syria. Every one of these situations has resulted in more extremism, more chaos in the world, and more danger to our country. Next will be the borders of Russia, China, and Iran. Look at the viciousness of her recent AIPAC speech (don’t say you haven’t been warned). Can we really bear to watch as Clinton “takes our alliance [with Israel] to the next level”? Where is our sense of proportion? Cannot the media, at the least, call her out on this extremism? The problem, I think, is this political miasma of “correctness” that dominates American thinking (i.e. Trump is extreme, therefore Hillary is not).

– From the post: “We’re Going to War” – Oliver Stone Opines on the Dangerous Extremism of Neocon Hillary Clinton

One of the most discomforting aspects of Neil Howe and William Strauss’ seminal work on generational cycles, The Fourth Turning (1997), is the fact that as far as American history is concerned, they all climax and end with massive wars.

To be more specific, the first “fourth turning” in American history culminated with the Revolutionary War (1775-1783), the second culminated with the Civil War (1861-1865), while the third ended with the bloodiest war in world history, World War II (1939-1945). The number of years between the end of the Revolutionary War and the start of the Civil War was 78 years, and the number of years between the end of the Civil War and the start of World War II was 74 years (76 years if you use America’s entry into the war as your starting date). Therefore, if Howe & Strauss’ theory holds any water, and I think it does, we’re due for a major conflict somewhere around 75 years from the end of World War II. That brings us to 2020.

The more I look around, the more signs appear everywhere that the world is headed into another major conflict. From an unnecessary resurgence of a Cold War with Russia, to increased tensions in the South China Sea and complete chaos and destruction in the Middle East, the world is a gigantic tinderbox. All it will take to transform these already existing conflict zones into a major conflagration is another severe global economic downturn, something I fully expect to happen within the next 1-2 years. Frighteningly, this puts on a perfect collision course with the 2020 area.

Now I’m not trying to fear-monger here, I’m just calling it like I see it. What the rise to prominence of a deplorable figure like Trump (as opposed to a Ron Paul or a Bernie Sanders )in reaction to what ails America tells me, is that we can scream from the rooftops to try to change things and wake people up, but history will do what history will do. When I look around the world I see how the stage is so clearly set for global conflict. When I couple that with the admission that neither Hillary Clinton nor Donald Trump have the wisdom to prevent it, I become increasingly concerned.

So what got me so bent out of shape that I decided to write about this today? One word: Japan.

An increasingly militaristic Japan is something I’ve been warning about for a while. Here’s an excerpt from my 2015 post, Unusually Massive Protests Erupt in Japan Against Forthcoming “War Legislation”:

In case you aren’t up to speed on your Japanese history, the nation’s post WWII Constitution prohibits military action unless it’s in self-defense. Clearly a sensible approach, which is why the current Japanese government, led by the demonstrably insane and incompetent Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, wants to get rid of it.

This story is very important. Not only will this action increase the likelihood of World War III in the Far East, but it’s another important example of a government acting against the will of the people.

Polling has indicated the Japanese public is against a pivot toward militarization and war, but Prime Minister Shinzo Abe  is pushing forward nonetheless. In fact, the current legislation to allow overseas military intervention has already passed the lower house of government. This prompted many Japanese to emerge from their decades long political apathy and get out into the streets. It’s estimated these protests were the largest in recent memory.

Fast forward a year, and here’s what Abe is up to now.

From the AP article, Japan Picks Defense Chief Who Downplays Wartime Past:

TOKYO (AP) — A woman who has downplayed Japan’s wartime actions and is known to have far-right views was named defense minister in a Cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday, a move that could unsettle relations with Asian neighbors with bitter memories of World War II-era atrocities.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe changed more than half of the 19-member Cabinet in a bid to support his economic and security policies, as well as push for revising Japan’s postwar constitution.

While keeping the economy as the top priority, Abe said he would do his “utmost to achieve a (constitutional) revision during my term,” which ends in September 2018.

A lawyer-turned-lawmaker with little experience in defense, Inada is one of Abe’s favorites. She regularly visits the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors war dead including convicted war criminals, a gesture seen as an endorsement of Japan’s militaristic past.

She also has defended Japan’s wartime atrocities, including forcing many Asian women into sexual servitude in military-run brothels, and has led a party committee to re-evaluate the judgment of war tribunals by the Allies.

Her link to a notorious anti-Korea group was acknowledged by a court this year in a defamation case she lost. Inada also was seen posing with the leader of a neo-Nazi group in a 2011 photo that surfaced in the media in 2014.

Finance Minister Taro Aso, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga were among key Cabinet members who retained their portfolios, while 10 ministers were replaced in the reshuffle. Many are not necessarily experts in their assigned portfolio, prompting opposition lawmakers to criticize Abe for dominating the Cabinet with like-minded supporters of his political views.

While campaigning for last month’s upper house elections, Abe promised to focus on economic revitalization in the short term, and to later seek to revise Japan’s pacifist constitution.

Since he took office in late 2012, Abe has sought to boost growth by pumping massive amounts of money into the world’s third-biggest economy. But lavish monetary easing and public works spending so far have failed to reignite growth as much as hoped.

As is typically the case, when all else fails on the domestic front, politicians look to get a war started.

The question is, what sort of war will this be? If it happens, it’ll be the first fourth turning level war since the nuclear age began. In a best case scenario, world leaders would be at least sane enough not to deploy nuclear weapons. If that’s the case, the conflict would likely focus on financial and cyber warfare. Things that can be extraordinarily destructive in their own right, but would at least avoid a destruction of the human race. Such topics will be explored further in the years ahead.

For related articles, see:

Video of the Day – Brawl Breaks Out in Japanese Parliament Over “War Bill”

Unusually Massive Protests Erupt in Japan Against Forthcoming “War Legislation.”

How Japan’s “Stealth Constitution” Destroys Civil Rights and Sets the Stage for Dictatorship

Meet the General Who Tried to Pressure Obama Into World War 3 with Russia

More Troubling Evidence That Hillary Clinton Will Start WW3

Is the Syrian War About to Experience a Major Escalation?

In Liberty,
Michael Krieger

Like this post?
Donate bitcoins: 35DBUbbAQHTqbDaAc5mAaN6BqwA2AxuE7G


Follow me on Twitter.

15 thoughts on “Japanese Government Shifts Further Toward Authoritarianism and Militarism”

  1. We have seen time and time again in recent years, in one society after society, the rise of authoritarians who DO NOT have the support of the average citizen and yet somehow manage to push through the most corrupt, dangerous and aggressive policies, policies that have a high probability of impacting the innocent and unconnected the most.

    One of the most important questions we should be asking ourselves: How does a society made up of predominantly sane individuals remove these types, short of armed rebellion? It should be clear by now in Europe, the US, Japan, Turkey and other places that the “will of the people” is only considered to the extent it can be subverted and/or ignored.

    What do we do next? This is not a rhetorical question. Michael, you are rightly concerned where this is heading. It appears to me that those who orchestrate from the top are either 1) becoming more brazen through their success so far or 2) genuinely concerned that the window is fast closing on the opportunity to prevail and so they must accelerate the plans, even at the risk of inciting a popular backlash. I tend to believe the latter. The hallmark of the deceit to date has been stealth, and it has worked well. If they are being flushed from their lairs into the light now, I believe it is out of necessity and not choice. Perhaps I give them more credit than they deserve.

    But the fundamental question remains: How do we stop this juggernaut of destruction? Perhaps, as you suggested, there is an historical dynamic that is inherent and must play out, even against the better angels of decent people everywhere. I certainly would not be surprised to learn there are unconscious biological and psychological drives that periodically manifest as destructive tendencies logic–perhaps even self-preservation–cannot address.

    If so, the popular phrase, “Buckle yourself in, it’s going to be a rough ride” is hardly the half of it. We’ll be lucky if we come out the other side badly bruised but alive.

    Reply
  2. Given the events of the Globalist Elite Ruplicans moving to the Democratic Party. The election choice for this election is between the Republican Bush Clinton free market global governance and economic system and the Trump Eisenhower, Nixon Repblicans using Eisnhower economics and avoiding a war. A lot of Nixon and Eisenhower staff are still alive and one thing for sure John Dean would like see George Bush in jail.

    Anyway I looked at Trump’s campaign finance report and he has no corporate donations and he raised $60 million from American Citizend. Trump is going to win the election.

    Reply
  3. YOUR POLICE GANGS AND MILITARY and everyone in the GOVERNMENT have FAILED to abide by the OATH THEY TOOK TO GOD,they DO NOT intend to protect this country,they have joined forces with their SATANIC LEADERS,thats the reason you see FOREIGN SOLDIERS on american land,in full violation of the “MONROE DOCTRINE”..OH they claim to be HERO’S,but the evidence says TRAITORS,these people have sold their country down the crapper for a Big Fat paycheck…..better get ready to fight these guys or your going to a FEMA DEATH CAMP,and be TORTURED TO DEATH…..by those who claimed to be the HERO’S of america……

    Reply
  4. You had me interested until you used the phrase “deplorable figure like Trump”… He’s not perfect, but he’s leaps and bounds better than Hillary! This election is all about the Supreme Court nominees, a “no-vote” or a vote for a third-party nominee is a vote for Hillary and her ultra-liberal Harvard professor court picks… Is she wins, the game is probably over forever.. There is no tomorrow.

    Reply
  5. Japanese history is much more than everything since WW II. Being Japanese myself (Taira) and being raised in the West, puts me in an awkward position. I’m an American to the core, but still hearken back to to many of the traditions of a very old Japan that most people never see or experience. There are treasures, artifacts, older than the USA that I see everyday. Things that were made long before Columbus crossed the Atlantic.

    Japan is an island nation that has suffered repeated slave raids from China and Korea and attempted invasions from China (1275, 1281) and suffered many civilian casualties in 1863 and 1864 when American, British,Dutch and Portuguese forces engaged in naval bombardments of Kagoshima and Shimonoseki which were unwarranted. Japan was attempting to remain isolated, but foreign commercial interests (not unlike today) would not allow governments to ignore a potential market. In 1804, Japan refused to open relations with Russia but did so in 1855 after the treaty with the USA in 1854. That was after Admiral Perry sailed in Yedo (Edo – ancient capital of Japan) Bay and forced Japan to open itself to the international community under the threat of guns. The distrust of Russia continued and that culminated 100 years later with the Russo-Japanese War. The Japanese still do not trust the Russians – but neither do many other nations.

    Japan was brought kicking and screaming into the larger world and its militarism and structured society are the only thing that has allowed it to retain its cultural heritage and identity. There are still places in that land where time seems to have stood still and all the flash that is now Tokyo are generations in the future.

    Japan has seen how fickle the US can be and how it has reneged on agreements and treaties. Even treaties with people it calls “citizens” (Native Americans).

    She has stood alone for thousands of years, and she’s just preparing for that day she may have to stand alone again.

    Reply
    • Thank you, JT.

      The best thing about the Internet is its ability to expose us to lived points of view like this. It’s one perspective of several, but it’s also a dose of reality amidst a medium that thrives on unreality.

      Which, come to think of it, is probably why so many “mainstream” (pwned) outlets are closing their comments sections these days.

  6. Your article expresses some interesting points of view, but when you say that Donald Trump is a “deplorable figure” as opposed to a Ron Paul or a Bernie Sanders it is evidence that you have evicted yourself from the realm of reality. I don’t know what the differences are between Trump and Paul that could possible make Trump “deplorable” but for you to link Paul with an empty headed communist like Saunders shows your mind lacks any kind of intellectual coherence.

    Reply
    • Easy. Trump doesn’t believe in internet freedom, he believes in torture, thinks Snowden is a traitor, peddles this idea that crime is exploding in America when it’s not. I could go on of course, but those are just a few ways he and Ron Paul differ materially.

      They couldn’t be more distinct.

Leave a Reply