Brawl Breaks Out In Japanese Parliament Over “War Bill”

Michael Krieger: What do you get when you cross a collapsing economy with a government determined to pass a bill to make overseas military conflicts easier?
You get this:

Yep, this is what transpired overnight as tensions flared over the controversial “War Bill,” which Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is determined to pass in the face of public opposition. I covered this story last month in the post, Unusually Massive Protests Erupt in Japan Against Forthcoming “War Legislation.” Here’s an excerpt:

This story is very important. Not only will this action increase the likelihood of World War III in the Far East, but it’s another important example of a government acting against the will of the people.
Polling has indicated the Japanese public is against a pivot toward militarization and war, but Prime Minister Shinzo Abe  is pushing forward nonetheless. In fact, the current legislation to allow overseas military intervention has already passed the lower house of government. This prompted many Japanese to emerge from their decades long political apathy and get out into the streets. It’s estimated these protests were the largest in recent memory.

Now here’s the latest. From the Guardian:

Japanese politicians scuffled on Thursday during a heated debate over a security bill that could see the military fight abroad for the first time in decades, after thousands rallied to voice their anger.
In scenes uncommon for Japan’s normally sedate parliament, members of the opposition and the ruling coalition pushed and shoved each other as a committee chairman was surrounded.
Tensions fan high after the committee vote was repeatedly delayed over Wednesday night, as opposition MPs blocked doorways and packed the corridors of parliament in protest.
Thirteen people were also reportedly arrested during the evening for “interfering with officers” during a rally of an estimated 13,000 people outside parliament in Tokyo.
Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets to vent their anger during almost daily rallies over the past weeks, a show of public feeling on a scale rarely seen in Japan.
Under the planned changes, the military – known as the self-defence forces – would have the option of going into battle to protect allies such as the United States even if there was no direct threat to Japan or its people.
The prime minister, Shinzo Abe, is keen to get the bills passed before a three-day holiday next week.

Naturally, you can’t let little things like global peace get in the way of an incompetent, nepotist bureaucrat’s extra day off.
Meanwhile, here’s a shot of Abe during the brawl.

As suspected, this is the man’s primary leadership strategy.

Parliamentary rules say if the upper chamber does not pass the bills within 60 days, they can be returned to the lower house and voted into law.
Abe is reportedly ready to take this step, despite the risk of further angering an already hostile public.

Silly serfs, you thought you had a democracy?

Many legal scholars have said the changes are unconstitutional, and critics worry they would drag Japan into US wars in far-flung parts of the globe.

It’s not a “worry,” you can pretty much add “being dragged into U.S. imperial boondoggles overseas” to death and taxes.

In Liberty,
Michael Krieger

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