Replies

If they (Japan) go they will be highly targeted by al Qaeda, al Aqsa Martrys Brigade, Ansar al Islam, Ba'athists or whoever else is over there, as part of a clever psy war operation. They know the soft underbelly of the Japanese population, easily intimidated unless directly attacked. Their UN mission in Cambodia is instructive.

I have been following Japanese newspapers and found a website called Nichi Bei Times (www.nichibeitimes.com) with a message board.

The message board has had very strange messages which pop up temporarily and appear to be erased by a moderator.

These messages appear to be posted by a person who is feeding Al Qaeda propaganda as part of a psyop game.

AQ operatives may be posting to US internet boards from foreign IP addresses.

Regarding the "soft underbelly" of the Japanese, the reality is that the Japanese are interested in conflict resolution AND conflict avoidance. So, if the Iraqi government personally requested assistance from the Japanese and provided the security, I suspect that Koizumi's government would be there.

However, in this regard, it is a third party (the US gov't) requesting aid for a second party (the Iraqi people). Since the parties are now fighting, the Japanese choose not to stand between the sides.

That is not irrational or weak.

It is logical and a strong stand... they are basically telling the US Administration that they need better assurance that their investment of men and money does not go to waste. They are not interested in sending their aid and men while the US gov't leaves.