AP: Japan Weighs Extending Iraq Mission

[Eugene]

Japan Weighs Extending Iraq Mission

The Associated Press
Sunday, March 4, 2007; 10:55 PM

TOKYO -- Japan's top government spokesman said Monday that Tokyo is undecided
about whether to extend the nation's air force mission in Iraq when it expires in
July, but that a decision is expected by the end of this month.

Tokyo has been airlifting U.N. and coalition personnel and supplies into Baghdad
and other Iraqi cities from nearby Kuwait since last year as part of efforts to
support the reconstruction of Iraq.

The mission is set to end July 31, and debate is already gearing up about whether
Tokyo will continue its contributions to a war increasingly unpopular at home.

"Discussions are going on, but we have not decided on any specific policy yet,"
Chief Cabinet spokesman Yasuhisa Shiozaki said. "A decision will be made by the
end of this month."

-snip-

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/04/AR2007030401631.html

[anotherdrew]

1. it is a whale of a misison for Ahabe n/t

[Ignacio Upton]

2. Abe's as much of a war mongerer as Bush

He refuses to apologize for his country's "comfort woman" bullshit from WWII, and has called for ending Japan's post-WWII disarmament. While China and North Korea are genuine threats, combined with his denial of WWII atrocities, NO I say to Abe!)

[anotherdrew]

3. I'm betting they pull out n/t