Posted on 06/16/2006 12:06:24 PM PDT by yankeedame
JAPAN denied a newspaper report today that it was considering pulling its troops out of southern Iraq after Britain told Tokyo the multinational forces in the south would soon hand over responsibility for security to the new Iraqi Government. <I>The Yomiuri</I> newspaper reported today that Britain had told Japan the transfer of the security authority for Muthanna Province in southern Iraq would be announced on June 20 and the transfer would be carried out promptly.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe told reporters he was unaware of any decision on a specific date or place for the transfer of the security authority.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has repeatedly said Japan would have to carefully consider the situation in Iraq before deciding to pull its troops out, and that coordination with Britain and Australia was needed to decide the timing.
<I>The Yomiuri</I> said that after receiving information from Britain, Tokyo was considering announcing a decision later this month to withdraw its non-combat troops from the southern Iraqi city of Samawa.
"I can't confirm these reports because essentially first and foremost this is a matter for the Iraqi Government," a spokesman for British Prime Minister Tony Blair told said.
"But the way this would work would be that the Iraqi Government would decide when it is ready to take over a province, the authority would be taken by the Iraqi authorities and then gradually that would affect troops numbers," he added.
He said the process would likely take weeks, but he did not know when it would start.
<I>Kyodo</I> news agency reported that Koizumi could announce the withdrawal of Japanese troops as early as next Wednesday.
While declining to confirm the reports on the timing of the troop withdrawal, Foreign Minister Taro Aso said the security situation in Iraq was improving.
"With respect to whether we can withdraw (our troops), I somehow think that we are getting to a situation where we can do that early," Mr Aso said.
Tokyo has long said its withdrawal from Samawa would have to be coordinated with the British and Australian governments, whose troops have been providing security for the roughly 550 Japanese ground troops there because their activities are limited by Japan's pacifist constitution.
The Japanese troops are engaged in reconstruction such as repairing buildings and providing medical training.
Arrigato Nippon!
"...whose troops have been providing security for the roughly 550 Japanese ground troops there because their activities are limited by Japan's pacifist constitution.
The Japanese troops are engaged in reconstruction such as repairing buildings and providing medical training."
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It doesn't sound like they are making more than a symbolic contribution. They could probably send more construction engineers. If the Japanese know anything, its concrete. From what I have read, they have practically paved over half their country in government make-work projects. Kansai airport, built on an artificial island, is a classic example of such boondoggles.
I doubt they are in much danger of islamist domestic retaliation. The number of Middle-easterners in Nippon can probably be counted on one's fingers, and I rather doubt islam has taken much hold there.
It never ends.
Best for Japan to keep it's troops at the ready.
Isn't that the thing that keeps (or kept) sinking little-by-little? I think it was the Discovery Channel that had a piece on this a few years back.
To all you lurkers, DUers, and folks in Rio Linda, this is what we're talking about:
The Discovery Channel special was only about what an amazing architectural miracle it was.
It was elsewhere that I read about the sinking problem and that it would have been far cheaper to build the damn airport on land.
Hmmm
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