  Prime Minister of A-bombed country must not approve the U.S. doctrine of preemptive nuclear attackAkahata editorial (excerpts) Commenting on the U.S. preemptive nuclear attack policy, Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro at the May 20 House of Councilors Budget Committee meeting stated, "The use of nuclear weapons or preemptive nuclear attacks must not take place." But he also said, "Armaments are designed mainly as deterrent," thus defending the Bush administration. He made the remarks in answer to Japanese Communist Party Upper House member Ogata Yasuo concerning the U.S. Doctrine for Joint Nuclear Operation, issued by the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the U.S. Armed Forces. Ogata said to the prime minister that this is an unjustifiable plan that calls for preemptive nuclear attacks against non-nuclear weapons states. How absurd it is for the prime minister of the world's only atomic-bombed country to approve of such a nuclear war plan! In order to justify its nuclear arsenal, the U.S. government has emphasized the need to maintain "nuclear deterrence," claiming that the U.S. possession of nuclear weapons is in self-defense against nuclear attacks. Amid increasing international calls for the abolition of nuclear weapons, the U.S. has stated that it would not conduct nuclear attacks against non-nuclear weapons states. However, the Bush administration's new doctrine includes non-nuclear weapons states as targets in nuclear attacks and is drafted to take effect in the event of wars abroad. Using nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapons states preemptively has nothing to do with "deterrence"; it constitutes "offensive strength." The new doctrine gives shape to an outrageous U.S. hegemony trying to threaten and control other countries with nuclear weapons. Koizumi's justification of nuclear weapons as "deterrence" amounts to approving such outrageous weapons and making it easier for the U.S. to initiate preemptive nuclear attacks. It is necessary to contain the U.S. dangerous doctrine of preemptive nuclear attacks in solidarity with the world's anti-nuclear movements. - Akahata, May 27, 2005 |