Japan promises USD 1billion in aid for Iraq ! Possibly troops !

[syzygy]

the amount could soar to 3 billion !

a very pro-us koizumi is gearing up for his re-election campaign. if you're wondering where the american patriots are, call up his office. one will definitely answer.

the troops part is iffy. he needs to clear a public sentiment strongly against, but the mere thought is spectacular. to think that japan which has not fielded any military force overseas since ww2 would be contemplating the possibility to plant a few in iraq as part of a general peace keeping force - and without any direct mention of prior u.n. resolution approval ! ! !

swiss news link

 

[lozina]

Originally posted by: syzygy
the troops part is iffy. he needs to clear a public sentiment strongly against, but the mere thought is spectacular

Correct me if I'm wrong, but that statement is particularly disturbing. If the public sentiment is strongly against, and if they are indeed a democracy, how is he going to "clear" that?

 

[Miramonti]

:lips:ass

 

[SuperTool]

That's awesome. So instead of being on the hook for $300 for those 87B, each man woman and child in US is now only on the hook for $297. If that's not a reason to treat your whole family to a happy meal, I don't know what is.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

Go buy a good Japanese car . . .

 

[dexvx]

I highly doubt Japan will send troops. South/North Korea and China will not be comfortable with that. Its still relatively fresh in their minds what happened the last time Japan mobilized their troops. Although it has nothing to do with conquest, its just too symbolic.

 

[syzygy]

Originally posted by: lozina

Originally posted by: syzygy
the troops part is iffy. he needs to clear a public sentiment strongly against, but the mere thought is spectacular

Correct me if I'm wrong, but that statement is particularly disturbing. If the public sentiment is strongly against, and if they are indeed a democracy, how is he going to "clear" that?

he can't completely clear it. however strict the groundrules he insists upon with the u.s., he will be placing his forces in harm's way and he will
need to convince his people that the overall good, especially their own economic interests, outweigh their non-involvement. the arguement he
will make will emphasize the humanitarian aspect, limited deployment in friendlier zones, modest troop numbers, and assurances that a rebuilt
and reconstituted iraqi army will provide them with necessary relief in the near future.

i think koizumi will need a limited time frame of targeted deployments with an almost immediate timetable for scaling back. i understand this is
going to be a hard sell, on both sides given the demands koizumi might make, but i'm more amazed my the mere mention of japanese troop
deplyment in the context of the iraq conflict.

 

[Tab]

I thought Japan didnt have a standing army...I am so slow

 

[User1001]

It has a defense league.

 

[syzygy]

Originally posted by: User1001
It has a defense league.

and only a defense league. their navy swims around their local waters, shooting at fishes. now they are looking for a possible role
on the ground in a country a few thousand miles away. i doubt arabic is among the required language courses in japanese schools.

I highly doubt Japan will send troops. South/North Korea and China will not be comfortable with that. Its still relatively fresh in their
minds what happened the last time Japan mobilized their troops. Although it has nothing to do with conquest, its just too symbolic.

true, but how real these fears are and how much an obstacle they will prove to be will be settled soon. japan will have these troops,
assuming they ever come, under foreign command, either u.s. or u.n. supervision. this should allay some worry. the force will be small,
their mission humanitarian in scope and nature, and possibly with a limited time frame.