Newsletter No. 306
News-Analysis
June 15, 2006

 

THE SAMAWA MISSION -- DEADLINE? WHAT DEADLINE?

Prime Minister Koizumi indicated yesterday to reporters that the GSDF mission in Iraq may continue even after he steps down as the Japanese leader in September. This follows Foreign Minister Taro Aso’s comments in early April to the same effect.

Koizumi has set several deadlines for a GSDF pullout before, only to change his mind later. If he indeed hands the Samawa issue over to his successor without ever establishing a firm policy, then his irresponsible approach to this question will have come full circle.

Indeed, correct me out there if I’m wrong, but Prime Minister Koizumi has never once publicly acknowledged any discomfort at all with US policy in Iraq in the past three years, nor with the bloody civil war that has broken out in that country under the occupation regime. Presumably this silence owes to some fear of causing annoyance to his friends in the White House.

In a couple of weeks, Koizumi will make his last trip to Washington, and no doubt President Bush will give him a warm welcome as they reminisce about their years of friendship and alliance. One wonders if the Japanese prime minister, in order to mark the occasion, will bring yet another policy gift to console the spirit of the Decider.

If so, would that gift involve Japan’s policy toward Iraq?