Ousted Japan Air Force Chief Calls for Nuclear Weapons Debate

---Quote--- By Bradley K. MartinDec. 1 (Bloomberg) -- Japan’s former air force chief, forced into retirement for denying World War II aggression against its Asian neighbors, said the country should start a discussion on whether to develop nuclear weapons. “I think there should be debate about this, because nuclear deterrence would be enhanced as a result,” Toshio Tamogami, former head of the Air Self Defense Force (Sorry [ Click here to register ]), told reporters today at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan (Sorry [ Click here to register ]) in Tokyo. Japan, which is bound by a post-war pacifist constitution drafted by the U.S., is a signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso (Sorry [ Click here to register ]) was forced to distance himself from Tamogami after the general published an essay that said Chinese nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek (Sorry [ Click here to register ]) drew Japan into war with China. The essay drew condemnation from China and Tamogami was dismissed on Oct. 31. “The fundamental aim of history is to teach people to have pride in their nation, patriotism,” Tamogami said today. Outside of Japan, “people are taught how great and wonderful their country is,” he said. *Tamogami said he would have retaliated in kind had Japan possessed nuclear weapons in 1945 when the U.S. dropped bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. **“Once you have been hit with something, then there is no choice but to hit back with it,” he said. *Last Updated: December 1, 2008 02:13 EST---End Quote---Source:Sorry [ Click here to register ]

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