U.S. demands Japan 'shape up' and send troops to Iraq early

JapanToday ^ | Sept. 15, 2003

[bruinbirdman]

TOKYO — The United States is demanding Japan send its troops to Iraq early to help rebuild the war-torn country, the Tokyo Shimbun reported Sunday. It said the U.S. is displeased with the uncertain outlook for sending the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to Iraq as Japan plans to delay the dispatch until next year.

Japanese government sources cited by the daily quoted a U.S. Defense Department official as asking Japan, "Why don't you shape up?" The U.S. also wants SDF troops to operate on their own in Iraq without relying on U.S. troops, it said. (Kyodo News)

[optimistically_conservative]

"Japanese government sources"

"a U.S. Defense Department official"

Has anyone else noticed that everyone working in government lost their names?

Sorry, this story is BS until it can be attributed to a source.

It is long past time that consumers demand their "free press" name names - otherwise we are being shortchanged as constituents in our ability to hold our officials accountable.

This story says more about Japan Today, and it's lack of ethics, than either government.

[cwb]

"Japanese government sources cited by the daily quoted a U.S. Defense Department official as asking Japan, "Why don't you shape up?"

I didn't catch that name? I don't think I've ever seen so many un-named sources in my life as I've seen the last 2 1/2 years.

[BenLurkin]

I hope it is B.S.; that turn of phrase, IMO, would not be well received in Japan.

What's the word in Tokyo on this subject?

[AmericanInTokyo]

Japan is getting cold feet. They are incredibly risk averse and 'gun shy'. They need to be reminded who stands between Kim Jong il and their own 120 million people.

[hasegawasama]

Come on let's go Japan, stop drinking your pocari sweat and hanging out at the local arcade and get in touch with reality.