Regarding Michael Richardson's Feb. 23 article, "Economy is key to security": Richardson's vapid regurgitation of economic facts and figures is all predicated on Minister in Charge of National Policy Koichiro Genba's assertion — presumably supported by Richardson — that there is a link between the economic power of a nation and the readiness of other countries to challenge its security interests.
While this may be considered a prima facie fact, and is perhaps so in a very general way, I can think of numerous exceptions, starting with the nuclear threats from Russia and North Korea despite their economic travails. I am afraid that Richardson's article is just a superficial analysis.
mark valencia