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The Diet has passed a bill to extend by two years the July 2003 ad hoc law to deploy Self-Defense Forces in Iraq for noncombat activi-ties. The Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Komeito supported it while the Democratic Party of Japan and three other opposition parties opposed it. The aim of the bill is to extend the operations of three C-130 air transports of the Air Self-Defense Force and about 200 ASDF personnel stationed in Kuwait. If the bill had not been passed, the ASDF unit would have had to be with-drawn by the end of July.
Under the law, Ground Self-Defense troops started their humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in Samawah, southern Iraq, in February 2004. They were withdrawn in July 2006. The ASDF aircraft are now transporting goods and personnel for the multina-tional force and the United Nations to Arbil in the northern Kurdish region, Baghdad and an airport near Samawah.
Although government data on the ASDF's mission is not detailed, it clearly focuses on support activities for the multilateral force. Regrettably, in Diet discussions, the government did not deal with the question of why the ASDF unit must continue its Iraq mission. Instead, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stressed U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon's expression of gratitude for the ASDF's activities and called for their continuation.
Iraq's security situation continues to deteriorate with ASDF personnel also in harm's way. Japan should consider making helpful diplomatic efforts. As the United States has started direct contacts with Iran to discuss Iraq, Japan should take advantage of its rather good ties with Iran to try to facilitate progress.
The enacted bill contains a rider calling for a review of the government's decision to support the Iraq war. The government and the Diet must carry out a strict review so that Japan can develop optimum diplomacy.
The Japan Times Weekly: June 30, 2007
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自衛隊のイラク派遣を2年間延長する改正イラク復興支援特別措置法が参院本会議で自民、公明両党の賛成多数で可決、成立した。
特措法の下で、陸上自衛隊は2004年にイラクのサマワで、人道、復興援助を開始した。陸上自衛隊は06年に撤退したが、航空自衛隊は連合軍、国連のため、イラク北部付近の空港へ物資、兵員の空輸を行っている。
政府は、なぜ航空自衛隊がイラクでの活動を継続する必要があるのか明らかにしていないが、安倍首相は、潘基文国連事務総長の航空自衛隊の活動に対する感謝のことばに言及している。
米国は、イラク問題についてイランと直接交渉を開始している。イランと友好関係を持つ日本は、交渉を支援すべきである。成立した法案の付帯決議は、イラク戦争開戦を支持した政府判断の検証を求めている。政府、国会は、日本が最適の外交政策を策定できるよう、厳密な検証を行うべきである。
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