Japan is not an independent country, but rather a satellite of the United States.<p>from the article:<p>&quot;...ongoing debate over the mission of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Is their role truly one of self-defense, pure and simple? Or does the Japanese constitution allow for preëmptive strikes outside of domestic borders, in the manner of a traditional military?&quot;<p>This is kind of shocking to read when you think about it:<p>1) militaries, historically, are for more than self-defense, even pre-emptive self-defense.  The article leaves this out, casting the choice as &quot;in-border defense vs out-border defense.&quot;<p>2) In a rare moment of visible doublethink, the article <i>also</i> implies plainly that it is in doubt whether Japan has a military at all: Traditional militaries are the only kind, folks.<p>How does Japan survive as a sovereign nation without a military?  Answer: it doesn&#x27;t.<p>Strange times.