Japan in historic Iraq deployment

[1024]

IRAQ/KUWAIT BORDER (Reuters) -- Japanese troops have entered Iraq from Kuwait to begin Japan's most controversial and risky deployment since World War II.

An advance party of soldiers that will prepare the ground for the likely deployment of about 1,000 troops crossed the border at around 12:50 p.m. (0950 GMT) Monday in a convoy of about 12 jeeps and military vehicles.

The dispatch marks a historic shift away from Japan's purely defensive postwar security policy and poses a huge political risk for Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, whose government could be rocked if, as many expect, casualties occur.

Japanese public opinion is divided over Koizumi's decision to send troops to Iraq but he defended the dispatch in a speech prepared for the opening of a new session of parliament.

"We would not be meeting our responsibilities as a member of the international community if we were to leave the contribution of personnel to other countries because of the possible danger," Koizumi said.

The troops will be based in the mainly Shi'ite southern city of Samawa, where they will conduct reconstruction and humanitarian operations.

If Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba judges the area safe after team members report back, he will likely order the main body of troops to set off from late January.

A law enacted last July allows the troop dispatch, but in line with Japan's pacifist constitution, limits the military's activity to "non-combat zones," a murky concept in Iraq, which continues to see daily attacks on occupying troops.

Security was tight in Tokyo after media reports said late last year al Qaeda had warned Japan it would attack the heart of the capital as soon as Japanese troops set foot in Iraq.

Controversy in Japan
About 48 percent of respondents to a weekend poll by Japanese daily Asahi Shimbun said they opposed the dispatch, down from 55 percent in the previous poll in December. About 40 percent said they supported it, up from 34 percent.

A similar poll conducted by Kyodo news agency found 51.6 percent against and 42.8 percent in favor.

While the deployment -- which critics say violates the pacifist constitution -- has divided public opinion in Japan, it has generated huge anticipation in Samawa, a mainly Shi'ite town 300 km (175 miles) south of Baghdad.

The promise that the Japanese are coming has raised hopes of jobs for all.

"The Japanese will bring jobs for everybody -- good jobs," said Ali Khadim, a student. Unemployment is seen as the biggest problem in Samawa with estimates that up to half the men in the town are out of work.

Earlier this month, two people were killed in violent protests over a lack of jobs. But the town has been remarkably quiet since the end of the war in April, said the commander of the Dutch military contingent responsible for security in area.

"If you look at the number of incidents, it's one of the quietest areas," said Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Opelaar who heads a force of just over 1,000 Dutch troops.

There have been no casualties among his force since it deployed six months ago, he said.

But there are concerns that the Japanese troops, who are prevented from engaging in combat operations and can only use weapons in self-defence, may become a target for insurgents.

Monday's convoy was guarded front and back by Dutch armored personnel carriers.

No member of Japan's military has fired a shot in combat or been killed in an overseas mission since World War II although Japanese forces have taken part in United Nations operations since a 1992 law made that possible.



SOURCE (http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/01/19/sprj.nitop.iraq.japan.troops.reut/index.html)

[ObnoxiousFrog]

Mothra deployment to follow, say 2 little fairy twins.

[Neon Apocalypse]

they want in on the oil methinks

[1024]

? they want oil, so they send troops?

they said why they're sending troops... "We would not be meeting our responsibilities as a member of the international community if we were to leave the contribution of personnel to other countries because of the possible danger," Koizumi said.

[Neon Apocalypse]

its a cover up, if they wanted to help they could have sent in troops when the major combat occured, they were scared and now they help, they see that its their chance to get oil

btw im kidding, but it definitly seems fishy

[Squeeky]

Fucking ****, finally doing SOMETHING right.

[Onizuka]

EDIT: SOME Anime is right and they "did" that ;)

[Squeeky]

Anime is not right. The only shit that comes out of Japan is German Sheppherd and Anime.

[EineBeBoP]

:clap:

Mothra deployment to follow, say 2 little fairy twins.

:rofl: was watching thoes movies last night. they pwn all.

[1024]

its a cover up, if they wanted to help they could have sent in troops when the major combat occured, they were scared and now they help, they see that its their chance to get oil

btw im kidding, but it definitly seems fishy
They sent troops now - not during all the fighitng - because of their pacifist constitution.

Fucking ****, finally doing SOMETHING right.
Fuck you. Asshole.

[Squeeky]

Fuck you. Asshole.

What? It's true. I suppose them bombing Pearl Harbor was "the right thing"?

[EineBeBoP]

Indeed Squeely. :( thats not cool. **** are mostly good people now. (im not talking about the past here)

[Neon Apocalypse]

*** lover

ps i dont hate ****, i just dont stick up for them

[Onizuka]

Wait, what about like playstations and stuff...and nintendo and stuff

[EineBeBoP]

I DO like japanese people. Their culture is interesting, their business is booming.
They make games and anime. 2 of the 3 things in life that i love.

[Onizuka]

3rd one being masturbation?

[EineBeBoP]

oops: maybe...

:lol: nah but im not telling... ;)

[Onizuka-GTO]

I find that really offensive! The only reason they didn't send troops in the first place, is because they are a pacifist nation!
No due to the fact of having a history that tells them that war in general is costly, wrong, evil and most of all full of (radioactive) suffering!

Also you might say "Anime is not right" but its the one thing that is truly part of the internet, and its invading your precious USA, so sit back and watch the Anime take over your TV! :mad:

I also think this is the wrong place for this topic to be, it should be in the Political Section.

Squeeky, if you can't help being a racist jerk just don't bother to post. Some people can't forgive and remember what happen 50yrs ago, but I do, and I won't forget the one country that has done the most evil thing ever. To have detonated two atomic bombs on civilian cities, and still think they have the right to gloat, boost, and laugh about it.

/rant

I'm going to cool off. You do not know how much your comments hurt.

[1024]

Squeeky, if you can't help being a racist jerk just don't bother to post. Some people can't forgive and remember what happen 50yrs ago, but I do, and I won't forget the one country that has done the most evil thing ever. To have detonated two atomic bombs on civilian cities, and still think they have the right to gloat, boost, and laugh about it.

Thats exactly what i was going to say in response to you, Squeeky. Go fuck yourself. (and thats an expression, so please don't try and take it literally, as i know you will.)

[Bighoss]

[QUOTE=Onizuka-GTO]Squeeky, if you can't help being a racist jerk just don't bother to post. Some people can't forgive and remember what happen 50yrs ago, but I do, and I won't forget the one country that has done the most evil thing ever. To have detonated two atomic bombs on civilian cities, and still think they have the right to gloat, boost, and laugh about it.QUOTE]

I don't wanna turn this into a Hiroshima thread but both those cities were heavily industrialised to my understanding. BTW did you know during coup attempt to stop the emperor from surrendering the president had ordered the construction of another A bomb with the target tokyo... good thing the Japanese stopped when they did!!!

and Onizuka horrific tragedies become funny eventually, in a hundred years kids and adults probauly won't think twice about making fun of the Abombs in Japan. Squeeky just hasn't waited long enough.

[Squeeky]

Hiroshima and Nakasaki were not tragedy's. They were justified acts against the fucking **** who bombed pearl harbor. Motherfuck them. I'm not racist, but if you want to turn this into a Hiroshima or Japan/US conflict discussion, open up a thread in POL Debate. I will join you there.

[Navaron]

Wow, dumb people shouldn't post.

Japan is not, nor has ever been a pacifist nation.

The Atom bombs were justified, and the arguements have filled volumes on either side, but everyone at the time of the decision felt it was the correct one. Hindsight being what it is, the fact that they aren't reviled by history proves that they were most likely neccessary. Go read some history. The people who died in those bombings weren't any higher than in many other strategic bombings.

Most people who fought in WW2 do not continue to hate the Japanese, so punk ass kids who can't even be drafted certainly don't have the right to spout off their ignorant mouths about it.

You guys need to spend less time talking out of your asses and more time actually reading the books you act like you know.

[Squick]

You guys need to just let Squeeky's and the other juvi's comments around here just go over your head... They are not participating members of society to any marked degree.

It is like getting pissed at your baby for pissing in your eye while changing them; they are just stupid babies and will get over it in a few years.

[AztecWarrior]

I'm OK with that (Japanese sending troops to Iraq, thread's been derailed fast.) Hell, should have their own army, the cause of the war (nationalism) has died out, their economy is booming, the conditions are not right anywhere for fascism/nationalism/national socialism.

With China as a neighbor, they also sure need it.

I find it of more concern that the EU is trying to raise a land army.

PS: I am "juvi", does my post look like it?

[Spee]

their economy is booming


I may have missed something, but, the last time I checked (about a year ago) the Japanese Economy was starting to tank.


And Squeeky, you're being a dick.

[Onizuka]

Hiroshima and Nakasaki were not tragedy's. They were justified acts against the fucking **** who bombed pearl harbor. Motherfuck them. I'm not racist, but if you want to turn this into a Hiroshima or Japan/US conflict discussion, open up a thread in POL Debate. I will join you there.

Not Tragedy's? Can you contemplate even how many innocent people died to get their fucked up gov to stop pissing us off. Innocent people dying, no matter what their race or how stupid their leaders are, IS a bad thing, and the thousands and thousands and thousands that died from those nukes is a tragedy.

[EineBeBoP]

The Atom bombs were justified, and the arguements have filled volumes on either side, but everyone at the time of the decision felt it was the correct one. Hindsight being what it is, the fact that they aren't reviled by history proves that they were most likely neccessary. Go read some history. The people who died in those bombings weren't any higher than in many other strategic bombings.


Ok, I agree that at the time it was completely necessary, and had i been in the president's place I would likely have made the exact same choice. But...
Any loss of life is a tragedy. It may be a necessary tragedy to stop MORE loss of life, but that dosent stop it from being bad. The fact that we couldn't talk this out like mature adults shows just how far the human race needs to mature. There will always be bad people, and we may need to do things equally horrible to stop them, but that dosent stop them from being bad.

Squick, that "juvies" comment was unnecesary. Squeeky, while i respect your opinions, you're being unfair and condeming the japanese as a race, when it was really a corrupt Gov't who is to blame. I'm positive that the japanese didn't ban together and all agree to attack us. That little 5 yr old girl missing an arm sure as hell didn't have a say! All I ask is that you realize that the Japanese as a whole are not to blame, but only a few of them.

[ghost018]

Wow, dumb people shouldn't post. The Atom bombs were justified.
:cheers:

Apparantly nobody remembers history class and the estimated number of US Soldiers that would have died if we attempted to storm the Japanese mainland. The men and women of the former Japanese culture were suppossedly prepared to give up their lives for the "living God", their Emperor.

Japan was given a chance to surrender before the first bomb was dropped. They declined. Japan was given another chance to surrender before the second bomb was dropped. They declined. Finally, only when we threatened them with a third bomb (a bomb that didn't even exist at the time) they gave up. Start directing the blame where it belongs; the Empire of Japan. Truman did what was neccesary to end the war and avoid the deaths of more Americans. Yeah, he did have regerts afterward....but I think anyone would when placed in that situation.

ghost

What was the original topic of this thread again? :groovy:

[AztecWarrior]

Well, Spee, it is tanking, but not on the scale of the Great Depression, which started these nationalistic beliefs.

[SDM]

This thread is going to wind up locked tighter than the Olsten twins' chastity belts.

[1024]

The Atom bombs were justified, and the arguements have filled volumes on either side, but everyone at the time of the decision felt it was the correct one. Hindsight being what it is, the fact that they aren't reviled by history proves that they were most likely neccessary. Go read some history. The people who died in those bombings weren't any higher than in many other strategic bombings.
Ok, I agree that at the time it was completely necessary, and had i been in the president's place I would likely have made the exact same choice. But...
Any loss of life is a tragedy. It may be a necessary tragedy to stop MORE loss of life, but that dosent stop it from being bad. The fact that we couldn't talk this out like mature adults shows just how far the human race needs to mature. There will always be bad people, and we may need to do things equally horrible to stop them, but that dosent stop them from being bad.
Hiroshima and Nakasaki were not tragedy's. They were justified acts against the fucking **** who bombed pearl harbor. Motherfuck them. I'm not racist, but if you want to turn this into a Hiroshima or Japan/US conflict discussion, open up a thread in POL Debate. I will join you there.
Squeeky, while i respect your opinions, you're being unfair and condeming the japanese as a race, when it was really a corrupt Gov't who is to blame. I'm positive that the japanese didn't ban together and all agree to attack us. That little 5 yr old girl missing an arm sure as hell didn't have a say! All I ask is that you realize that the Japanese as a whole are not to blame, but only a few of them.

I almost completly agree with Eine on this. The bombings were defiently fucking TRADGEDIES. 180,000+ innocent people were killied that day. No matter if it was justified or not, that many people dying is a tradgedy. Anyone who thinks otherwise is an immature dumbass who needs to look at what happened in a realistic fashion.

And Squeeky - reiterating what Eine said - how could you accuse an entire race by the acts of its government? Do you seriously think that every person in Hiroshima and in Nagasaki - let alone the entire race - wanted the bombings of Pearl Harbor to happen? Some might of, but not enough to claim the entire race supports it.

Your comment about not being racist was a complete lie, and i'm surprised no one else has brought this up. Other might not feel as strongly about it as I, I am part japanese, and am proud of my heritage.

Let me clear this up:

Racism - a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities

You are saying that the entire japanese race was accountable for what happened at Pearl Harbor. You're also telling me that this justifies killing thousands of innocent people.

So by your logic, the bombing of, lets where you live, would be justified, since we bombed Baghdad?

That, my friend, is 100% racism.

This thread is going to wind up locked tighter than the Olsten twins' chastity belts.
I hope not. At most i hope it jsut gets moved to the Pol. Debate forums.

[AztecWarrior]

This thread is doomed.

[1024]

At most i hope it jsut gets moved to the Pol. Debate forums.

[ghost018]

I think Pearl Harbor was a Tragedy; as well as the Japanese invasion of Manchuria.

ghost

[1024]

I agree with Pearl Harbor> Not sure about the invasion, not familiar with that. I'll read up on it now.

[ghost018]

Basically when Japan invaded China, they comitted a bunch of atrosities people like to forget. Horrible things like how they practiced bayonet drills on pregnant Chinese women....based on their belief of racial superiority. Google something like "The Rape of Nanking" if you're interested.

ghost

[Everay]

wow, i didnt know 1024 was part japanies, i mean, he has long hair, and a sweater, i thought he was a white surfer/goth/musician. shows how little you really know about people. anywho, 1024, you may come from japan, but your american now, just a reminder, and anyone, that threatens my country, the good ol US of A, wether it be Spain, Mexico, or some eropean country my mothers side comes from, i side with america.

and about history, yes, japan did kill alot of people, i will not defend them, not in WW2, or now, at least most americans know their forfathers killed off the indians like mad. and there are two kinds of deaths, wasted deaths, and nessacary deaths, if those 200 thousand people didnt die, 2 million at least would have. thus, its good that they died, and ill be the first to admit, raiation poisoning, and severe burns are not pretty, nor do they feel good.

as for the rpae of nanjing, i find that i have to enlighten people often about it. see, japan didnt treat their.....prisoners very well, IE, the death march, where they force ever soldier in the philpines(SP?) that they captured to walk quite a long time, and the man that forced them to take this walk, would once in a while behead someone with his sword, or kill stragilers, or the sick, and so on. but thats just one of many things that happened, the "incident" at nanjing, infact, killed 300,000 chinese civilians, through such means as beheading, rape to death( did infact happened, they would rape girls from 5 on up to 80, and their...how do you say, scars from that, eventualy lead to them bleeding to death), exacution with rifles, side arms, ect and so on. and in the end, today, noone in japan belives that event happened, and the goverment denies it, even though, ill assure you, there are many video tapes, pictures, and mass graves to prove it did happen.

[ghost018]

just a reminder, and anyone, that threatens my country, the good ol US of A, wether it be Spain, Mexico, or some eropean country my mothers side comes from, i side with america.

Was looking for those exact words. Kept drawing blanks though. I agree with you 100% there.

ghostie

[1024]

wow, i didnt know 1024 was part japanies, i mean, he has long hair, and a sweater, i thought he was a white surfer/goth/musician. shows how little you really know about people. anywho, 1024, you may come from japan, but your american now, just a reminder, and anyone, that threatens my country, the good ol US of A, wether it be Spain, Mexico, or some eropean country my mothers side comes from, i side with america.
Don't get me wrong, i may be proud of my heritage, but i'll be joining the US army much faster than the Japanese. MUCH faster.

Asian, White, wahtever. I'm American.

and about history, yes, japan did kill alot of people, i will not defend them, not in WW2, or now, at least most americans know their forfathers killed off the indians like mad. and there are two kinds of deaths, wasted deaths, and nessacary deaths, if those 200 thousand people didnt die, 2 million at least would have. thus, its good that they died, and ill be the first to admit, raiation poisoning, and severe burns are not pretty, nor do they feel good.

No deaths would of been better. Theres no reason anyones has to die. Also, that many might of died if the bombs didn't get dropped, but there could of been another way of preventing it other than killing civilians.

[Everay]

well, that is true, but unfortunatly, people dont see life as...white and black as we want it to be, at the time, japan wouldnt surrender, and if we didnt fight and, kill, and ultimatly bomb them, they would have kicked or pasifist asses back to california, and then begun the invation, which would have happend had we lose hawaii.


i agree 1024, i wish noone had to die from wars, but not everyone sees it like me and you do, and they let petty differences cloud their judgement

[Mtx]

Just a bunch of old men sending young guys to die over a chest game. War's politics gone worse but damn is it entertaining. I get to see that building explode from three different angles thanks to the media.

Gah.. the real world is so disappointing.

[1024]

Gah.. the real world is so disappointing.

[Everay]

back the the video games

[Neon Apocalypse]

what the **** did was still dishonorable IMO, they bombed pearl harbor without notice, they didnt even say they declared war, and the **** are supposed to be honorable...

i have nothing against them, the atom bombs were wrong, and so were the internment camps, but why the hell did japan attack the US in the first place, we wanted peace, we weren't threatening them at the time, we were the ones who wanted to avert a war. And when the negotiations were going on they decided to stop them and just fuck us up the ass at pearl harbor. They asked for it, they got it. They started the war not us. And most countrys know, you dont bark up our door at 4am and bomb our whole fleet when we were trying to stop that from happening. The US got really pissed by that and they went overboard. We never hated the japanese, they hated us, and they got hate back when they gave us hate.

[Everay]

the latter part of what you said, almost made you sound like you know the answer to the former, but since you dont ill tell you. japan at the time didnt mean to bomb pearl harbor without notice of war, they were infact, decoding the transmision at the japanies embasy, but since they didnt want any americans to do it, they did it, and they (belive it or not) could not type for shit, sooooo, the decleration of war was late.

[Neon Apocalypse]

yes but still, they could have waited