Japan¡¯s defense posture has long relied on doublethink.

How else can you explain the nation¡¯s ability to simultaneously be devoutly opposed to atomic weapons, while sitting safely underneath the U.S. nuclear umbrella?

Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi faced those contradictions head-on recently when he referred to shifting attitudes toward such arms by countries like France and Finland. He told an interviewer that Tokyo must also ¡°discuss all policies, without any taboos.¡±