Japan postpones Iraq deployment

[T_i_B]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3266215.stm

Japan has said it will postpone sending troops to join the US-led coalition in Iraq until next year because of the worsening security situation. Tokyo had hoped to deploy the first troops before the end of the year, but now says conditions are too unstable.

Japan's constitution bans its forces from engaging in offensive operations.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, a staunch supporter of the war in Iraq and the subsequent occupation, received parliamentary approval last July to send up to 1,000 troops to Iraq.

But BBC Tokyo correspondent Jonathan Head says that since then, as the security situation has deteriorated, an already uneasy Japanese public has turned against the policy. In last week's Japanese general election, the opposition Democratic Party gained 40 seats after campaigning against the deployment.

[jamesinca]

1. I guess Poland Italy Britan and Spain are all that is left

I love the size of this massive "Coalition of the Willing". If if continues to go bad for Italy they may pull out, Aznair has already stated he is not going to run for re-election in Spain. Howard of Australia has been censured by the Parliment there for this fiasco. Turkey and Japan have pulled back on troop offerings.

Lets see, 25 million Iraqs and 130 thousand U.S. troops? They out number us 192.3 to 1. The lies are not adding up in Georges favor.

[underpants]

2. Yeah but they don't to contend with giant lizards

[T_i_B]

3. LOL! Good one.

Mind you, at least Koizumi is listening his people to some degree, which is more than can be said for certain politicians round this neck of the woods.

[TahitiNut]

4. duplicate

See http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=216516

I'm locking this thread. Interested DUers are welcome to continue discussing this in the referenced thread.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation,
TahitiNut - DU moderator