New group of Japanese troops enter Iraq

Reuters | 3/20/04

[kattracks]

KUWAIT-IRAQ BORDER, March 20 (Reuters) - A new group of Japanese troops crossed into Iraq from Kuwait on Saturday to join countrymen serving as part of U.S.-led forces in Iraq, days after Spain said it plans to withdraw soldiers from the country.

Some 130 Japanese troops rolled into Iraq in a convoy of about 50 trucks and armoured personnel carriers mounted with heavy machineguns. They were heading towards the city of Samawa in southern Iraq, where some 250 Japanese troops are building a base and conducting humanitarian operations.

The deployment comes several days after Spain's Prime Minister-elect Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who swept to power after guerrilla attacks killed 202 people in Madrid, vowed to withdraw Spanish forces from Iraq unless the United Nations takes control by mid-year.

U.S. President George W. Bush has urged allies to stay the course after Zapareto's comments.

Japan plans to deploy a total of 1,000 military personnel in Iraq for what it says a purely humanitarian mission, the riskiest overseas Japanese deployment since World War II.

Critics at home say the mission violates Japan's pacifist constitution, but Japanese officials say troops are authorised to fire their weapons only if attacked.

The soldiers, wearing flack jackets and camouflage fatigues and helmets, carried automatic rifles and pistols as they rolled into Iraq.

Lieutenant-Colonel Shigeru Yamasaki, in charge of training, said about 60 other troops, part of a 190-strong force that arrived in Kuwait last week, will move into southern Iraq on Monday.

The force conducted live fire exercises as well as convoy and communications training at the U.S. Camp Virginia deep in Kuwait's northwestern desert in preparation for the deployment.

[Bonaparte]

I think we're about to see which countries want to be known as cowards who cringe before the islamists and which want to be known as steadfast allies of freedom. I think Bulgaria is about to send more also.

[archy]

Thu Mar 18,12:37 AM ET

Japan says its commitment to support Iraq's reconstruction
remained unchanged despite a fresh bomb attack in Baghdad,
which killed at least 29 people. Here Japanese troops in Iraq

(AFP/File/Joseph Barrak)

[kevao]

Does the modern Japanese military still have that Bushido/Kamikaze thing going? It will be interesting to see who can out-suicide-bomb whom.

[sushiman]

If Japan were attacked / invaded / whatever , you'd see the Kamikaze spirit return . It is imbedded in their souls , but it has been 60 years since the end of the war , and Japan has lived in peace ever since . Most folks have grown complacent . But like I said , if push came to shove I believe the Japanese could still kick serious ass .

[Right_in_Virginia]

BTTT

[AmericanInTokyo]

quite agreed

[hasegawasama]

AGREED BANZAI