Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Philadelphia Inquirer
May 14, 2008
TOKYO - Japan's powerful lower house of parliament voted yesterday to allow the country's space programs to be used for national defense, the latest move by Tokyo to give more freedom to the tightly controlled military.
The legislation, which is expected to be approved by the upper house as well, is primarily aimed at letting the military use Japan's civilian-controlled spy-satellite network for defense under the pacifist constitution.
The bill would overturn a ban on military use of space imposed in 1969. The U.S.-drafted 1947 constitution prohibits Japan from offensive warfare. The move is the latest in recent years to loosen controls on the military, which is technically known as a self-defense force.
-- AP
May 14, 2008
TOKYO - Japan's powerful lower house of parliament voted yesterday to allow the country's space programs to be used for national defense, the latest move by Tokyo to give more freedom to the tightly controlled military.
The legislation, which is expected to be approved by the upper house as well, is primarily aimed at letting the military use Japan's civilian-controlled spy-satellite network for defense under the pacifist constitution.
The bill would overturn a ban on military use of space imposed in 1969. The U.S.-drafted 1947 constitution prohibits Japan from offensive warfare. The move is the latest in recent years to loosen controls on the military, which is technically known as a self-defense force.
-- AP