Japan's PM in a bind over troops, funds for Iraq

[Barrett808]

Japan will provide at least $1 billion in aid for the reconstruction of Iraq, media reports said on Thursday, as the government struggles to balance promises made to Washington with voters' misgivings about the Iraq war.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will want to have something to satisfy President Bush, who is due to visit Tokyo on October 17, but he will also need to avoid alienating the Japanese public ahead of a general election widely expected in November.

"Japan has begun preparations to offer about $1 billion to help rebuild Iraq...but the sum has yet to be finalized and could swell to as much as $3 billion if Tokyo finds Washington is seeking more from it," Kyodo news agency said on Thursday, quoting a government source.

That compares with the $11 billion Japan provided for the 1991 Gulf War.

Top government spokesman Yasuo Fukuda said no decision had been made.

"The complete picture has yet to emerge," he said. "It's not just Japan, but we need to consider what other countries will do...and build an international consensus. This is not the stage for Japan to announce its plans." A proposal on aid is likely to be made to Bush during his visit to Tokyo and then officially announced at an international donors' meeting on Iraq in Madrid from October 23.

(more)

http://www1.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-09/18/content_265435.htm

[Art_from_Ark]

1. Well, there goes the recovery

Lots of Japanese blame the $11 billion dished out in 1991 as a move that helped to cripple the unstable recovery from the 1989 recession. Now they're saying that Japan is finally crawling out of a very long recession, and this comes up...

And the current proposal doesn't include the $1 billion+ that Japan has so far earmarked for Star Wars.

[molok555]

4. How's the LDP leadership race going?

On dial-up here in Viet Nam, so I can't keep up with ALL the news...Is Koizumi facing some anti-war challenges from the others?

[Art_from_Ark]

5. Looks like Koizumi is going to cruise to victory

The cynic in me says that the recent announcement about the "improving economy" was timed to coincide with the LDP intra-party election. The Asahi Shimbun is also reporting that Koizumi's approval rating is taking a nice jump, thanks to the, uh, recovery. As for the other three candidates, I haven't found anyone yet who can distinguish one from the other. What's more, they're all in favor of "rewriting" Article 9, to "make Japan's military role clear to herself and her neighbors".

And here I thought it was already pretty clear:eyes:

[InkAddict]

2. The Japanese PM Needs to Offer the Aid through the UN

that way George can't stash the cash in his buddies' war chests like the bloody pirate he is - Jolly Roger needs a big attitude adjustment very soon! I'd love to see the FAKE and/or END-AROUND from other nations through the UN by way of a third-party American who could make some repairs in our international relationships and deal effectively with the chaos.

Capt. Padded-Crotch Bligh needs to be locked into the Executive Office bathroom for a very, very long session on the "crapper." Where is Fletcher when you need him???

[DrBB]

3. Like sponsoring a mile o' highway

$1 billion is worth about 1 week's worth of Iraq war. So all I wanna know is: Do you get to pick your week? Or do ya have to take whichever one they give you? Cause obviously some weeks are better than others. I'd hate to have sponsored, for instance, the week when they blew up the UN headquarters. But I think it would be a nice idea if they'd make it a specific week, and then CNN and Faux and everyone would have to refer to it as "Japan Week" whenever they did a story about the Iraq war. "This is Japan Week in Iraq, and another 10 American soldiers have died." Adds a nice luster to the Japan brand, don't you think?

[Democat]

6. Another billion for Bush's 2004 election campaign

Too bad for Japanese tax payers.