Japan to pull troops out of Iraq

[Matt W]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asi...ic/5097148.stm

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...

[tinybear]

Which?

[Matt W]

Debate the topic, tb....contribute once in a while. :rolleyes:

[dreamer]

lets hope listening to their constituents that other countries join this move in the right direction so that the Iraq people can get back to living normal what ever that maybe.
listening to their constituents should wake them up but normal they ignore its constituents in certain country's in world, unless its on mass scale.
Dreamer

[Boetie]

As far as listening to consitutents goes this current administration does not do that.

From what I understand this is the consensus, 80 percent of the people of Iraq wants us out, the sooner the better, the majority of Americans wants us out of Iraq the sooner the better, the vice president of Iraq told Bush Jr to get out, the president of Iraq was asked to comment on the vice president's remark, the president of Iraq states he agrees with the vice president.

The way Bush Jr is wording the will of the people is by calling it a poll and he says he doesn't listen to polls, in other words he doesn't listen to the people of the United States, He does listen to Bush Jr pioneers though, and the interest of the Bush Jr pioneers is to milk the people of the United States out of their money, to that Bush Jr listens and complies.

[bishop]

bush's approach to iraq is just beyond horrible.. the fact that he's simply going to leave this issue for his successor to solve is yet another example of how horrible a president he truly is... that is not responsible leadership at all.


i'm glad to see japan withdraw - i only hope that we would follow in kind.

and in seperate but related news...

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Senate Democrats offered an amendment Monday that would demand that a pullout of U.S. troops from Iraq begin this year. The plan, the product of weeks of intense negotiations between Senate Democrats and Minority Leader Harry Reid, is designed to give Democrats a unified position on Iraq as the November midterm elections near. The amendment would: Begin the "phased redeployment" or pullout of U.S. troops from Iraq in 2006. Require the administration to submit a plan by the end of 2006 for continued phased redeployment beyond 2006. Transform the role of troops left in the country to a "limited mission" of training and logistical support for Iraqi security forces, protection of U.S. personnel and facilities, and targeted counterterrorism operations. The Democrats' plan will be offered to a major defense bill that the Senate took up last week.

of course, american politicians have a horrible track record when it comes to doing the public's will.. let's hope their proposal is genuine, rather than mere lip service.

[Apeman81]

Oh look! Another Bash Bush thread! How wonderful.

But I thought it was about Japan?

As this was Japan's first foray into a foreign war since WWII, one may wish to consider the possibility that Japan recognized the importance of toppling Saddam. So much so that they were willing to join the coalition to support Bush's illegal, unilateral war.

Ooops! If Japan and a number of other countries joined the effort, it couldn't have been unilateral, could it?

I'd be a very unhappy constituent if the President flitted willy nilly under the control of something as ridiculously inaccurate as the polling system!

Maybe we can bring back Jim Crow Laws. They were very popular in their time.

[weasel]

Isn't it illegal for Japan to have a standing army under the post WWII treaty we made with them? Although I personally appreciate their help, aren't they at the same time violating the surrender agreement?

[Matt W]

From what the story was saying, their constitution does not allow them to use force to resolve international conflicts. I couldn't tell you the exact wording, but they have recently deployed troops to aid tsunami victims, etc...but I agree, I would have thought peacekeeping forces beyond their remit.

[RickSp]

Quote by: Apeman81 Oh look! Another Bash Bush thread! How wonderful. But I thought it was about Japan? As this was Japan's first foray into a foreign war since WWII, one may wish to consider the possibility that Japan recognized the importance of toppling Saddam. So much so that they were willing to join the coalition to support Bush's illegal, unilateral war. Ooops! If Japan and a number of other countries joined the effort, it couldn't have been unilateral, could it? I'd be a very unhappy constituent if the President flitted willy nilly under the control of something as ridiculously inaccurate as the polling system! Maybe we can bring back Jim Crow Laws. They were very popular in their time.

Jim Crow laws? And you complain about others being off topic? Damn, sounds like you are getting desperate Ape. You watch the continued collapse of the coalition of the bribed and bullied and you invoke Jim Crow? Will the non-sequitors never cease?

[Matt W]

Rick, leave it out.

[Apeman81]

Quote by: RickSp Jim Crow laws? And you complain about others being off topic? Damn, sounds like you are getting desperate Ape. You watch the continued collapse of the coalition of the bribed and bullied and you invoke Jim Crow? Will the non-sequitors never cease?

Hmmm. I was using absurdity to point the absurdity that came before my post.

As well, I was poking holes in the "unilateral" and "illegal" war claims rampant on this board.

You choose to make a personal attack instead of assailing my points on the subject.

At least you admitted that there is indeed a coalition in Iraq. Perhaps you can join me in pointing this out to some other posters.

While Japan's Defense Forces have limited ability to enage in actions outside their territory, it was allowable in this case as the government recognized that the nature of the enemy was such that they could be targetted because of the American Military bases in Japan.

[Matt W]

Quote by: Apeman81 While Japan's Defense Forces have limited ability to enage in actions outside their territory, it was allowable in this case as the government recognized that the nature of the enemy was such that they could be targetted because of the American Military bases in Japan.

Which is perfectly understandable. What confuses me - and others, such as weasel, is why they deployed troops in the first place, rather than logistical support - as their constitution appears to state that it's illegal for them to do so.

[Apeman81]

Quote by: Matt W Which is perfectly understandable. What confuses me - and others, such as weasel, is why they deployed troops in the first place, rather than logistical support - as their constitution appears to state that it's illegal for them to do so.

Japan's Forces In Iraq

"The Japanese force will number close to 1,100. Six hundred troops from the Ground Self-Defense Forces (GSDF) will begin deploying by sea and air over the next several weeks to the strategic south-eastern Iraqi city of Samawah. The force will consist of engineering and water purification units, a 100-strong medical team and a detachment of armoured troops to protect the Japanese base camp and vehicle convoys. Their stated mission is to rebuild infrastructure such as schools and provide water to the communities around Samawah, but the units are clearly preparing for armed conflict."

The Japanese troops are not participating in the war. At least not in a capacity of direct hostilities. The design is one of civlian aid. As such, at least to their government, their actions are within their constitutional boundaries.

[rmnunez]

Japanese "military" in Iraq deploy with only their officers armed and these just with sidearms. They are all specifically trained exclusively for the delivery of emergency assistance. The kidnapped one they decapitated worked in water treatment, lots of medics, engineers and all sorts of relief techies. Iraqis will suffer their loss, but at least the critical lefties seem pleased, maybe the foreign insurgents too, though they do lose an easy target.

[tinybear]

OK, so Japan's role was solely to rebuild Iraq and help the Iraqi people, right? Well, that didn't stop one of their citizens being beheaded by terrorists. Yeah, pull out your troops, Japan. It doesn't pay to be kind. Don't look for gratitude 'cos you're not getting any.

[rmnunez]

What tb said, even blowing the same kisses.