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East Asia
Japanese leader under fire over troops for Iraq
2004-01-22
EFL
Japan’s main opposition leader yesterday called for the prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi, to resign during a heated parliamentary debate on the deployment of Japanese ground troops to Iraq. Naoto Kan, leader of the Democratic Party,
"Kaaaaaaaan!"
said sending troops to a war zone, even on a supposedly peaceful mission, violated Japan’s constitution, which renounces use of force to settle international disputes.
Dispute's settled. We're cleaning up now.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s coalition partner, the Buddhist-backed New Komeito, will meet next Monday to discuss the troop dispatch. Despite opposition to the deployment among New Komeito MPs, the party leader, Takenori Kanzaki, is expected to signal approval at a meeting with Mr Koizumi later that day. Mr Koizumi replied that troops would carry out their humanitarian mission only in "safe" areas. But he added that they would be entitled to use weapons if attacked by rebels.
It's kind of a Japanese tradition...
The debate descended into a slanging match as opposition MPs accused the prime minister of dodging questions and refused to end the session.
Slanging match in the Japanese parliment - who’d have thunk it.
Divisions over Japan’s support for the US-led war in Iraq have deepened since an advance unit of about 30 ground troops arrived in Samawah, in Iraq’s south-east, on Monday.
Embed the journalists or your population will not rally to your cause. That may be one of the bigger reasons that HW Bush’s approval rating evaporated so quickly.
Posted by:Super Hose

#7  I wouldn't discount the Samarai/Warrior ethos so lightly.Give it a little time and the Jihadist will find out how mean and viscious the Japanese can be.
Posted by: raptor   2004-1-23 7:49:27 AM  

#6  "Kaaaaaaaan!"

Um, Fred, isn't that my line?
Posted by: Raj   2004-1-22 10:33:48 PM  

#5  B, the Samarai (sp?) concept is dormant. If they would embed their own journalists (preferably the Japanese Fox affiliate,) they could get in a firefight and we would immediately have anotehr strong nation to stand beside us with the UK, Australia and Poland.

The Japanese need to see their lads bravely rushing a bunker and whacking some jihadis. Too many of their generations have been brought up watching films of Godzilla kicking the ass of their defense force. WE NEED THEM WITH US.... Sorry, better take my meds.
Posted by: Super Hose   2004-1-22 7:31:53 PM  

#4  sooo...the brave Samari (sp?) concept is dead?
Posted by: B   2004-1-22 5:40:54 PM  

#3  And how will the headline
JAPANESE TROOPS SECURE OIL PIPELINE WITH US BACKING.
Play in Pretoria?
I like it. Now.. let's go find some more
closer to home.
Posted by: Shipman   2004-1-22 4:31:08 PM  

#2  carry out their humanitarian mission only in "safe" areas. But he added that they would be entitled to use weapons if attacked by rebels.
LOL! I expect Japan's troops to be circumspect.. but don't kid yourself....It could turn out that a Japanese soldat might define a safe area as anywhere he wants to go and an attack as not looking at the ground when he walks by.
One Life For The Parliment.
Posted by: Shipman   2004-1-22 4:26:14 PM  

#1  Banzai! Banzai! Banzai!
Posted by: Highlander   2004-1-22 2:37:34 PM  

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