One cannot view the Israeli-US disagreement over the Iranian nuclear program in isolation. The US is increasingly dependent upon Iranian forces to carry on the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq. The two states do not talk directly to each other, but there is close coordination between the American air forces and the Iranian ground forces. As this alliance deepens, it can only add to the apprehensions of Israel and Saudi Arabia about an Iranian rapprochement.
We have had several discussions in class about freedom of speech and the circumstances in which speech can or should be curtailed. A documentary on the vicious rape and murder of a young Indian woman has been banned in India, and India has asked You Tube to remove the documentary. The video shows one of the convicted rapists claiming innocence of a crime because the victim fought back. The controversy over showing the video revolves around the extent to which speech can gratuitously defame a larger community. The documentary is below.
It seems increasingly likely that Japan’s Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, will seek to change in some way, Article 9 of the Japanese constitution which prohibits an offensive military capability for the country. That clause was adopted in the wake of strong fears throughout Asia that a rebuilt Japan would also carry on a militarist tradition. Since the end of the war, Japan has notably carried out a strong pacifist policy which has begun to weaken as China has gotten stronger. If Japan is to rearm, it needs to do so in a way that persuades its neighbors that aggressive behavior will no be an adjunct to the change in military policy.
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