Govt (of Japan) drops plan to send SDF (Self Defense Force) troops to Afghanistan

[FarCenter]

Source: The Yomiuri Shimbun

The government will not expand the role of the Self-Defense Forces in and around Afghanistan by sending SDF personnel to the country due to the worsening security situation there, it was learned Thursday.

According to sources, many lawmakers from junior coalition partner New Komeito have expressed concern on the matter. Additionally, the government judged it would be difficult to come to agreement with New Komeito and others because of the current security situation in Afghanistan, which has rapidly worsened with a spate of recent insurgent attacks.

The government and the ruling coalition parties were considering sending SDF personnel to Afghanistan ahead of the expiration of the new Antiterrorism Law in January 2009.

...

The bolstering of the SDF's activities would have been undertaken to show Japan's proactive stance toward restoring peace in Afghanistan, a matter of major concern to the international community. The government sent a fact-finding team to the country in June.


Read more: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/world/20080719TDY02303.htm

[Muttocracy]

1. given recent violence there, not too surprising I guess. nt

[WrongWingLosing]

2. Finally, New Komeito is doing something more in line with...

... its own proclaimed ideals rather than just kissing up to the "L"DP and going along with whatever they want.

[psychopomp]

3. Sending troops to Afghanistan is a non-starter

That notion has no public support whatsoever.

[international_prog]

5. That didn't stop them from participating in the foolhardy Iraq mission. -EOM-

[DainBramaged]

4. Why should Japan worry about terrorism in the rest of the world?

Just keep selling their crap to the Western world and keep bowing in agreement. It's easy for them to watch anybody coming into their country, their society was never open anyway.



:sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm: