Japan to return to US-led 'war on terror' - Had anyone noticed they left?

[NNN0LHI]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080111/wl_asia_afp/japanpolitics

by Miwa Suzuki
Fri Jan 11, 11:13 AM ET

TOKYO (AFP) - Japan ordered the resumption Friday of a naval mission supporting the US-led "war on terror" as the government overrode a rejection in parliament for the first time in the modern era.

Embattled Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda won US praise for taking the drastic measure to restart the mission but analysts said he risked a domestic backlash by ramming through the controversial legislation.

The opposition, which won control of one house of parliament last year, in November forced an end to the naval mission, under which Japan provided fuel in the Indian Ocean to coalition forces operating in Afghanistan.

The opposition-led upper house voted down legislation to restart the mission on Friday, the last day it had to take action on the bill.

[Thothmes]

1. Noticed they left

Up till a few months ago, the JMSDF kept an oiler in the Gulf region to fuel Navy and allied ships. This is more of a moral support type of mission than critical to Naval operations in the area. The U.S. Navy has plenty of refueling tankers available.