Japan's Cabinet extends military mission to Iraq
Mainichi reports that “Japan’s Cabinet on Thursday approved the extension of the country’s troop deployment in Iraq for one year, paving the way for the government to prolong Tokyo’s largest military mission since World War II.”
The details:
Japan deployed about 600 troops to the southern Iraqi city of Samawah on a humanitarian mission in early 2004 as part of the U.S.- led coalition. The one-year renewal extends the deployment—due to expire next week—to Dec. 14, 2006.
The extension, however, does not require the troops to remain in Iraq for the full year, and local media have reported that Tokyo intends to pull out around the middle of next year as opposition to the mission rises in Japan.
This makes me think: the humanitarian mission is very important, but this mission is involved in many matters. A documentary about Iraqi on NHK showed a small Iraqi boy saying: “I want to go out and play soccer, but I can’t because I am frightened of the explosions.” When I heard his comment, I was a little bit perplexed while I felt really sad and sorry.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said, “We decided that we need to support the effort of the Iraqi people to establish a stable and democratic government,” However we must also consider that Japan’s constitution bans the country form taking offensive military action. If Japan wants to help the Iraqi people, we must disobey the constitution, which is really a grave matter. But Japan wants to lend support. What should we do? Every side contradicts the other. Besides, we must also consider many relationships such as between Japan and the U.S.
It will take a long time to solve the problems of the Middle East. However, I think we must consider how can Iraqi people live in safety and happily in reality above all.
• • •
Comments
Christmas event in department store Classes I take at Mie university