Regarding Brad Glosserman's Jan. 24 article, "Abe's aggressive agenda": Reinforcing what he calls Japan's "junior partner status," Glosserman recommends that the United States "help" Japan in its formulation of its vision of its emerging power and its "strategy to use it." He then warns that "Washington must be careful" that it "not be seen as pushing it."
Does Glosserman really think that the world's sole superpower would "contribute" to Japan's thinking without trying to influence it in its own interest? In this context Glosserman then concludes that Japan should "discuss the role of nuclear weapons and the need and advisability of developing preemptive attack capabilities." Yet the mere discussion of these possibilities would produce a strong negative reaction from Japan's neighbors and its domestic polity. These are decisions that Japan has to make for itself without U.S. influence.