Cablegate: Media Reaction Q Gsdf Withdrawal From Iraq

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UNCLAS TOKYO 003447

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION Q GSDF WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ
- TOKYO

LEAD STORIES: Wednesday morning's business daily Nihon
Keizai front-paged the GOJ's start of preparatory work to
expand ASDF airlift operations in Iraq following its
decision to withdraw GSDF troops from the southern Iraqi
city of Samawah.

1. "GSDF Withdrawal Not an End to Japan's Assistance for
Iraq" The top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri editorialized
(6/21): "...Following the GOJ's decision Tuesday to
withdraw GSDF noncombat troops engaged in humanitarian
and reconstruction assistance from the southern Iraqi
city of Samawah, JDA Director-General Nukaga issued a
withdrawal order.... At present, troops from 28
countries, including the US, are deployed in Iraq to
maintain security and provide humanitarian and
reconstruction assistance. The activities of the GSDF
confirmed the 'US-Japan alliance in the global context'
and helped strengthen bilateral relations. With the
launch of a permanent government in Iraq, there has been
major progress in the political process there, and
British and Australian troops will shortly hand over
security duties in Samawah to the Iraqi authorities. The
GOJ determined that the conditions were right for a
withdrawal...

2. "Instability in Iraq would harm the stability not only
of the Middle East but of the international community as
a whole. Iraq's reconstruction is of critical importance
to Japan, which is dependent on the Middle East for
nearly 90 percent of its oil imports. At the request of
UN Secretary General Annan, the GOJ has decided to
continue and expand ASDF airlift operations in Iraq. If
the security situation improves, the UN office there will
become functional again, leading to an expansion of
Japan's role and responsibilities. Japan needs to
increase its official development assistance (ODA) for
Iraq.... It is imperative for the SDF to work for the
peace and stability of the international community."

3. "GSDF Withdrawal: Hardly a Good Outcome" An editorial
in the liberal Asahi commented (6/21): "...The mission of
the first GSDF troops to be dispatched to a war zone,
which began with a request from a senior USG official for
'boots on the ground,' is coming to an end after two-and-
a-half years. The ASDF will continue airlift operations
in Iraq.... The security situation in Iraq has not
improved at all, with sectarian violence intensifying....
The GOJ insisted on deploying GSDF troops in Iraq to
demonstrate its alliance with the US, which was the
subject of withering international criticism....

4. "The ASDF, whose operations will be expanded to
include Baghdad and northern Iraq, will continue to be
exposed to danger. Following the GSDF withdrawal, the
ASDF role in supporting the multinational forces will
come to the fore. The ASDF should be withdrawn along with
the GSDF. We cannot allow the SDF, which are increasingly
being integrated into America's global military strategy,
to be sent to the 'next Iraq,' and we are unable to feel
relief over the GSDF withdrawal."

SCHIEFFER

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