| Japan to pull troops out of Iraq
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asi...ic/5097148.stm Quote:
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has announced plans to withdraw his country's troops from Iraq.
Mr Koizumi said Japan's presence had been "highly appreciated by the Iraqi government and its people".
The 600 non-combat troops have been working on reconstruction projects in southern Iraq since February 2004, protected by UK and Australian forces.
The decision was unpopular with the Japanese public, many of whom said it violated Japan's pacifist constitution.
It was Japan's first foray into an active foreign war zone since World War II.
| 2 ways to look at it, I suppose.....either Iraq is stable enough to permit this, or it's another of the Coalition of the 'Willing' who's actually listening to their constituents. No prizes for guessing which view I'm taking... 
I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered.
-George Best, on being asked what he did with his footballing fortunes. |