Will History Repeat Itself?

Just another tidbit of historical significance that was noteworthy. On Tuesday of this week Japan amended it’s pacifist constitution, giving more power to it’s military. For those that are not students of history, since it’s unconditional surrender in the second world war, Japan’s role had been strictly one of self-defense, to which it has been dedicated. The change has certainly not gone unnoticed by China, which has recently been at odds again concerning the Diaoyu islands that both Japan and China claim as their rightful property. It was noted that Japan might also be stepping up it’s support of Vietnam and the Philippines, which also have territorial disputes with China.

Needless to say, with the various conflicts that are ongoing in Iraq and Afghanistan, the prospect of new tensions in Asia are more than a little unsettling, particularly when you review the moves the US made just prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor that some claim were the real reason Japan attacked the US. While that was decades ago, it is not out of the realm of possibility that similar disputes with just as similar consequences could once again arise. One can only hope that such activities would not result in the same resolution that caused Japans unconditional surrender.

This, on top of the most recent moves by the President in sending troops and equipment back into Iraq smell to many like another Vietnam. In fact, a recent article in “The Progress Report” published on June 23rd of this year go into greater detail about the many, many similarities between the two wars and how the end of each is easily predicted. As I recall then President George W Bush proclaiming “The analogy between Iraq and Vietnam is false”, yet the tactics and eventual outcome were very similar. And now with Syria, Turkey, and Iran all getting involved, will we once again be dropping bombs on Iraq’s neighbors in effort to keep out the escalation?

Many, including yours truly feel that the President has missed a golden opportunity, thanks to current Iraq leader, to simply bow out and say, “your right, you don’t need us and we should let you settle it yourself”. Some suggest that now is the time to sell arms to BOTH sides, let them slug it out while we reap the financial rewards, and then wait to launch a diplomatic mission with the eventual winner. Cold and heartless? No doubt, but you can’t argue with the effectiveness of it all and lets face it, if we became full time arms dealers to every conflict out there we could easily cover all the unemployment, Obamacare, Medicare, and those that simply don’t care one way or the other!

So, I suppose the transition of Japan from self defense to having a possible offense was inevitable, particularly with China flexing is muscles over those otherwise insignificant islands. I suppose I was just hoping that the generations that remember the war would have been dead and buried so there would be no reliving of the horrors of some of that warfare in the South Pacific. I suppose I should take a lesson from Nazi Germany and realize that while the threat is long gone, the memories live on and not everyone is anti-Nazi now days. Besides, the Germans have their own issues with China, despite a very close business relationship. I sometimes wonder what it would be like to see China attacked by so many of those they have pushed around and how they would handle it … and could we stay out and remain neutral in the process. Doubtful since North Korea would certainly get involved and we would find ourselves dragged in due to our relationship with South Korea.

Oh well, at least the world hasn’t gotten to be a dull little place where nothing ever happens. I mean, can you really believe anyone even has time to worry about Roswell and those aliens? Sorry, I seem to have digressed just a bit …. I suppose with “Independence Day” on the horizon I just couldn't help myself!