| Submit your comments on this article |
| Iraq |
| Japanese Lawmakers Back Mission to Iraq |
| 2004-01-31 |
| Japanese lawmakers early Saturday approved sending troops for a humanitarian mission in southern Iraq, a decision stalled until the last minute by concerns over the level of violence there. The approval in the 480-seat lower house saved Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi the embarrassment of having to cancel a mission already under way. The ballot early Saturday was the opposition’s last chance to freeze deployment and force Tokyo to call its forces home. The three major opposition parties boycotted the vote to protest the ruling coalition’s move to cut short debate and force a vote. Opposition parties had accused the government of rushing its safety assessment in southern Iraq, and demanded a more extensive probe during a committee hearing late Friday. The ruling bloc’s decision to close the session and send the legislation to the full chamber sparked a shoving match, as opposition lawmakers attempted to silence the committee chairman. "It appears very peaceful now (in Iraq), but a variety of different armed groups may draw near once the Self-Defense Forces are there and working," said Yoshinori Suematsu, a lawmaker from the opposition Democratic Party, late Friday, before the vote. "We must debate what you’re going to do if this happens." Yep, could happen, Yoshinori -- are you a man or a mouse? Squeak up! |
| Posted by:Steve White |