The call for Japan to embrace the military prerogative of a sovereign democracy, made louder by a candid Undersecretary of State Richard Armitage just three weeks ago, is now being broadcast from the highest levels in Washington:
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on Thursday said Japan will have to "examine'' war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution if it wants a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council."We understand the importance of Article 9 to the Japanese people and why it's in your Constitution,'' he said in an interview with The Asahi Shimbun and other Japanese media representatives here. But at the same time, if Japan is going to play a full role on the world stage and become a full active participating member of the Security Council and have the kinds of obligations that it would pick up as a (council) member, then Article 9 would have to be examined in that light.''
The free world's circumstances have changed, its leader acting accordingly. The Japanese would do well — for themselves and allies — to assume their reserved role.