Despair and anger in Japan as troops stay in Iraq despite kidnap drama

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040409/wl_afp/iraq_japan_kidnap&cid=1512&ncid=1473

TOKYO (AFP) - The families of three Japanese hostages in Iraq (news - web sites) voiced anger and despair as the government refused to pull its troops from the country as the deadline for their threatened execution drew nearer.

Speaking to reporters for the first time since the worst crisis of his three year administration began, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi vowed Friday Japan would not withdraw troops from Iraq.


"We must not yield to terrorists' foul threats," he said.


"There is no plan" to withdraw troops from Iraq, he said, adding the government would "do our utmost so that they (kidnap victims) will be released immediately." snip

In Washington Thursday, US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld welcomed Japan's resolve.


"Clearly, that is a good, sound decision and it's appreciated," he said.

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[displacedtexan]

1. Japan only sent 550?

"Japan has deployed some 550 troops to the southern Iraqi city of Samawa for humanitarian work, despite widespread opposition on the grounds the move violated the country's post-war pacifist constitution."

Can Japan's government survive the backlash from their unholy alliance with the freak monkey?

[NNN0LHI]

3. I think we are about to see another regime change very soon

Hari-kari seems to be a popular option in Japan for those in Koizumi's position?

Don

[KharmaTrain]

2. And Cheney's Coming To Visit!!!

This hasn't been played up on our media (I had to hear it on NWI)...Cheney is in Japan and is going to be hit by the Japanese PM for some kind of assurances about Iraq. This could be interesting. Will Unka Dick just yank out the checkbook and tell the Japanese...ok, how much to shut ya up???"

I sure hope there are plenty of pictures...methinks Tokyo has a welcoming committee already waiting.

[rfkrocks]

4. Clearly that is a good, sound decision

Not if you are a friggin hostage-you moron! Rummy always there with a helpful comment

[mourningdove92]

5. If the kidnappers do as they have said they will do,

the backlash in Japan will be terrible. If they indeed burn these people alive, and I believe they will do just that, it will be impossible to keep the lid on this. This is making me ill. Of course Rummy would say this is a sound decision for Japan to stay.
How do we manage to manufacture such evil individuals?

[cap]

6. Possible endings:

either the Japanese public will demand that the troops withdraw...or they will send more troops....or they will riot and kill Middle Easterners living in Japan.

[madrchsod]

7. if anything happens

i think the japanese will have his head. the japanese people are not happy to have their troops there and it will only get worse. the japanese "troops" are in their compound which was under mortar attack thrusday ,they will not resume their mission until the fighting is stopped. most of the coalition troops are back to their bases waiting for the fighting to stop. the brits are sending more troops to the south to protect these "troops" .the wheels are coming off the buss