Japanese Ambassador on Military

Japanese Ambassador on Military

Top of Mind with Julie Rose - Radio Archive, Episode 34 , Segment 5

Episode: Nuclear Iran, Opposites Attract, Hollywood Diversity

  • Mar 31, 2015 9:00 pm
  • 11:22 mins

(1:31:18) Guest: Kenichiro Sasae, Japanese Ambassador to the United States Japan appears to be shifting away from the pacifist approach to national defense imposed upon it by the United States after World War II. For decades, Japan has been bound by its constitution drafted in 1947 to mobilize troops solely for self-defense. But since two Japanese citizens were beheaded by the group calling itself The Islamic State, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has stepped up efforts to overhaul the nation’s security strategy. In April, Japan’s governing “Diet” is expected to debate a package of bills from Abe’s government that would create a legal framework for a “Self-Defense Force” to protect Japan’s power overseas like a normal military.

Other Segments

A Nuclear Iran

19 MINS

Guest: Eric Hyer, BYU political science professor Nuclear negotiations with Iran are TOP OF MIND today. The US and five other nations are extending their deadline by one more day, hoping to get the framework of a deal in place with Iran over its nuclear capabilities. Iran is looking to have the US and European nations lift trade sanctions that have crippled its economy for years. If they settle on a framework for the deal, it still won’t be final until this summer. The negotiations have already gone on for more than 18 months, missing several earlier deadlines, but supporters say abandoning the process is not an option. They raise the specter of a “nuclear Iran” that could threaten prospects for stability in the Middle East.

Guest: Eric Hyer, BYU political science professor Nuclear negotiations with Iran are TOP OF MIND today. The US and five other nations are extending their deadline by one more day, hoping to get the framework of a deal in place with Iran over its nuclear capabilities. Iran is looking to have the US and European nations lift trade sanctions that have crippled its economy for years. If they settle on a framework for the deal, it still won’t be final until this summer. The negotiations have already gone on for more than 18 months, missing several earlier deadlines, but supporters say abandoning the process is not an option. They raise the specter of a “nuclear Iran” that could threaten prospects for stability in the Middle East.