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| Iraq |
| Japan May Assist in Iraq Effort with Air, Sea Units |
| 2003-11-24 |
| Japan may send military transport aircraft and ships as a stopgap contribution to the U.S.-led mission in Iraq while continuing to weigh the risks of a long-discussed deployment of ground forces, national media reported Monday. The Japanese government reportedly hoped to send an advance party of peacekeepers on a humanitarian mission to southern Iraq by next month but put the plan on hold after a series of guerrilla attacks and suicide bombings highlighted the dangers of the mission. As a lower-risk alternative that would show solidarity with Washington, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s administration is considering sending C-130 transport aircraft from Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force to fly in humanitarian aid as well as supplies for U.S. troops, the nationally circulated Yomiuri and Asahi newspapers reported. Helpful, and we don’t want to put Koizumi in a bind. The government has already begun preparations to have military aircraft fly runs between Kuwait and destinations in Iraq including Baghdad, the Yomiuri reported, without citing sources. Japanese naval transport vessels may also be used to help transport supplies, the newspapers said. The timing of such a mission was unclear. The Asahi quoted ruling party and government sources as saying it was "difficult" to envisage a deployment before the end of the year. Koizumi won approval from Parliament in July to send Japanese ground troops to help with reconstruction and other non-combat duties. But the legislation specifies they can only serve in "non-combat areas" - which the prime minister’s political opponents say don’t exist in Iraq. The government has responded by commissioning a series of fact-finding missions, the latest of which left for Iraq earlier this month. A senior member of Koizumi’s ruling party, Fukushiro Nukaga, said Sunday it was "important" for Japan to consider all options including transporting supplies by air and sea. Sounds like the deal is done. |
| Posted by:Steve White & Dragon Fly |