Are the Japeneese allowed to have an army?

[Az]

If that is possible with N. Korea, they are already bending it. Theoratically, you can say why not preemptively attack any other country to "protect" japan?

Yeah, no blood for dry potatoes!

[Drake Tungsten]

I always miss the threads where I could be of some use. Sorry...

[BeBMan]

Originally posted by Azazel
They have full control of their army today, they are limiting themselves, because the horrors of war made them a bunch of peacenicks.

Sounds like Germany....

But somewhat better than the other way around I guess.

[Chemical Ollie]

Germany still has an army, hasn't it? And a very impressive one too. However, they have learned the hard way that the best army is the one that you never have to use.

Edit: You beat me to it BeBro. My 2-year old daughter was crying so I had to leave the computer for 15 minutes in the middle of writing the post, so I didn't see yours.

[BeBMan]

Yes, we have, but is has serious problems in the fields of finances, equipment etc.

There are plans to convert it from the classical cold war army into more mobile, modern forces underway, but progress is rather slow.

[Az]

I think it's ****ing stupid. You realize you'd have to integrate THAT into that Euroarmy next.

[Drake Tungsten]

Sounds like Germany....

Sort of, but the Japanese haven't decided to turn their back on their American allies yet. They're loyal peaceniks...

[GePap]

yeah, the NYTmes had an aricle about the German army. Germany spends the smallest amount of its GDP on defense than any other large rich western state, only 1.5% GDP. They haven't even begun to buy precision munitions yet.

[Kontiki]

Remember that Germany is relatively well armed because the US (and other western allies, IIRC) decided shortly after WWII that it was important to have a well-armed (West) German force to help counter the Soviet "threat". It was felt that a West German army with significant armor, but firmly locked into NATO, would be a significant obstical to a Soviet push westward. Its ability to operate beyond its borders and/or in an offensive role was greatly restricted, though, and still remains a touchy subject today (Yugoslavia, anyone?).

As for Japan, as far as I know, their military budget is limited to 1% of its GDP. Still, outside of the US, Japan probably has the most powerful and capable navy and air force in the region - not much in the way of an army, though. I do know that their air force, for example, has a sizeable number of F-15s and newer model AWACS aircraft.

[Chemical Ollie]

Originally posted by BeBro
...

There are plans to convert it from the classical cold war army into more mobile, modern forces underway, but progress is rather slow.

What's wrong with the mobility of the Leopards?


(The Swedish army recently aquired plenty of those tanks)

[BeBMan]

Nah, the Leo´s are excellent tanks.

It is more the general lack of modern transport capacity, modern communication systems, means for precision strikes etc, etc.

When Kontiki writes Germany was relatively well armed - this was in certain points the case, but not generally. During cold war times, everyone believed that Warsaw Pact troops would attack (if ever) with a flood of Soviet-built tanks. Therefore, we had lots of MBT´s (several thousand) as well, and quite good anti tank capabilities.

However, since the end of the cold war there wasn´t much done to equip the forces better. There are some improvements underway or expected in the near future (new A400M air transporters, Eurofighter, Eurocopter), but other problems are still not solved.

There´s also a discussion if we should change our conscript army into a purely professional army.

[RGBVideo]

They have a defensive military only, as per their post war constitution, although they do spend quite a bit of money on that military.

I've read about this, also.
Spent about 0,8% of GDP into militiary, in the 80's. I except it to be pretty stable amount. Lot's of money invested, few personnel availeble.