I would certainly hope so. I would expect serious consideration of risks and rewards by government officials before any troop deployment.
December 2, 2003 The Honorable Mr. Ryozo Kato Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Embassy of Japan 2520 Massachusetts Ave. N.W.
Dear Mr. Ambassador: It was very shocking and saddening to learn of the untimely deaths of two Japan Foreign Ministry personnel stationed to Iraq in order to assist in reconstruction. It must be a great loss for the Foreign Ministry not to mention for the bereaved families and for all of Japan to have Third Secretary Masamori Inoue and Counselor Katsuhiko Oku brutally stolen away by an act of unforgivable and unfathomable violence. It is still inconceivable--if not an outrage--that such young Japanese professionals as Inoue-san and Oku-san--in the prime of their lives and careers and likewise dedicated to a goodwill mission to bring peace and reconstruction assistance--would have been attacked in this way. Words cannot even be easily found. From what I have learned by media reports, both of these men were dedicated to their families, mission, and country. I note that they were specialists on the Middle East and had even learned to speak Arabic—a bridge between their own culture and the people whom they merely endeavored to help in Iraq. They will be surely missed. The Government and People of Japan can no doubt be proud of the courage and accomplishment of the two slain diplomats. Their passing causes me to offer even greater encouragement to your Government to continue the course of not only rebuilding Iraq with other allies, but in also standing firm against terrorism wherever it may occur, until our civilized nations stamp out the last vestige of this kind of barbarism and cruelty. There is no doubt the enemies of Japan and of all modern civilized democracies are now watching Japanese policy very closely. With keen interest in the steadfastness of Japan must be the current leader of North Korea. Mr. Kim has already established himself as an international renegade who would think nothing of harming Japanese citizens or Japanese domestic tranquility through acts of domestic terrorism, were he to detect weakness. Japan’s response to the loss of the diplomats therefore must, by necessity, be one of firm and determined resolve. To fail to do so will send the worst possible message about Japan and it’s international integrity to such outlaw individuals as the murderers of your colleagues or rogue nations which also harbor such agenda and people. I do trust you will accept, as a private American citizen, and on behalf of many of my fellow Americans, our utmost regret over this recent tragedy. And in closing, in encouragement, I cite for you one of my favorite Japanese ‘kotowaza’ proverbial sayings that seems appropriate at this time for Japan, despite this loss and setback: "Ame futte ji katamaru." "Water hardens the ground." "Adversity breeds strength." Accept, sir, the assurance of my highest consideration, Sincerely, [AmericanInTokyo] signed w/name & hand-delivered by courier by tomorrow