Japan to announce Iraq WITHDRAWAL; timed to coincide with DC visit!

[Bluebear]

I wonder if Chimpolini will still take Koizumi to Graceland?

====

Japan is expected to announce as early as today a schedule for the withdrawal of its ground forces from southern Iraq, government officials said yesterday.

They said this followed the announcement yesterday of the handover of security responsibility by British forces in the southern Mutthana province, where Japanese ground forces are stationed, to Baghdad.

Because Japanese troops are not allowed to fight, they depend on troops from the UK as well as Australia for their security.

Senior cabinet ministers met yesterday to discuss a timetable for the withdrawal, increasing the possibility that the pull-out could take place to coincide with a planned visit by Junichiro Koizumi, prime minister, to Washington at the end of this month.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/5e9f1c2a-fff8-11da-93a0-0000779e2340.html

[msongs]

1. whales can't shoot back nt

Msongs

can you sing?
www.msongs.com/vocalistwanted.htm

[Bluebear]

2. Be that as it may :)

[BuyingThyme]

3. No dinner for you!!

[Supersedeas]

4. yea, but don't forget Poland--so goes the coalition of the dwindling

[NNN0LHI]

5. Bush: "You are either with us or against us." We are now at war with Japan

Again.

Don