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RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2007

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 005456 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA 
WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION; 
TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; 
SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN, 
DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA 
FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR; 
CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA. 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA
SUBJECT:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 09/21/06 
 
INDEX: 
(1) How to use personnel network hold the key to new LDP President 
Abe's policy of attaching importance to growth; Selection of central 
command drawing attention 
 
(2) "Abe is a nationalist," says US university professor Curtis 
 
(3) Abe considering having senior vice ministers serve also in key 
LDP posts, strengthening the role of chief cabinet secretary 
 
(4) Profile of LDP President Shinzo Abe 
 
(5) Poll: 45 percent weigh China, South Korea 
 
(6) Japan takes step toward becoming a "nuclear export country," 
with IAEA fuel-supply registration proposal 
 
(7) Responsibility of Japan that supported the US; Situation in Iraq 
deteriorating 
 
ARTICLES: 
(1) How to use personnel network hold the key to new LDP President 
Abe's policy of attaching importance to growth; Selection of central 
command drawing attention 
 
YOMIURI (Page 9) (Full) 
September 21, 2006 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe, who was yesterday elected the Liberal 
Democratic Party's (LDP) new president, has stressed his intention 
to accelerate the Koizumi Cabinet's structural reform line, as well 
as to surmount such challenges as the declining birthrate, rapid 
aging of society and globalization through enhanced productivity of 
the Japanese economy. Prime Minister Koizumi has promoted structural 
reforms by installing private citizens into key posts, such as the 
appointment of Heizo Takenaka, a former college professor, as 
minister of internal affairs and communications. Abe is advocating a 
policy of placing emphasis on economic growth. How he will use his 
personnel network in business circles will likely hold the key to 
his economic and fiscal management. 
 
Technical innovation 
 
The keyword in Abe's economic policy lexicon is "technological 
innovation." During a press conference held after his election to 
the LDP presidency, Abe indicated his intention to look into the 
possibility of introducing a tax system that encourages investment 
in information technology (IT) or nanotechnology areas. 
 
Many business leaders are hailing Abe's policy of attaching 
importance to economic growth. Fujio Mitarai, chairman of the Japan 
Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren), plans to make an "innovate 
Japan" proposal in its future initiative to be compiled possibly by 
next January. His view coincides with that of Abe. Mitarai is 
believed certain to be picked as a private-sector member of the 
Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy (CEFP). 
 
Among Abe's personnel network in business circles is Jiro Ushio, 
chairman of Ushio Electricity, who is currently serving as a 
private-sector member of the CEFP. Ushio's eldest daughter is 
married to the elder brother of Abe. A senior official of an 
economy-related government agency noted, "Educational reform 
advocated by Mr. Abe is very similar to Mr. Ushio's pet argument." 
 
TOKYO 00005456  002 OF 011 
 
 
Chances are that Ushio, who is well versed in the management and 
policy of global companies, could be picked as Abe's mentor. 
 
Abe is attending the Four Seasons Group, a study group launched in 
2002 by State Minister for Economic and Fiscal Policy Kaoru Yosano 
and JR Tokai President Yoshiyuki Kasai, at the invitation of 
Yosano. 
 
Kasai is also a member of the Study Council on Overseas Economic 
Cooperation, a private advisory organ reporting to the chief cabinet 
secretary, whose members Abe picked. Kasai has thus an understanding 
 
SIPDIS 
with Abe. The Four Seasons Council meets four times a year even now. 
The panel members have also association with Takashi Nishioka, 
chairman of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. 
 
Absence of advisors? 
 
Who will serve as a central command, a role Takenaka fulfilled in 
the Koizumi Cabinet, will draw attention in the later stage of 
personnel selection. 
 
Prime Minister Koizumi appointed Takenaka to head the CEFP and 
pressed ahead with the reform effort to move services from 
government to the private sector in cooperation with private-sector 
members, including Hiroshi Okuda, then chairman of Nippon 
Keidanren. 
 
Abe has also characterized the panel as an extremely important venue 
in setting basic policy for budget compilation. However, a number of 
sources noted, "At present, there are no specific economic 
advisors," as the same senior official at an economic ministry put 
it. 
 
Some see that economic policy proposed by Abe is no more than the 
government's new economic growth strategy or basic policy guidelines 
on economic and fiscal management and structural reforms, testimony 
to the absence of economic advisors. 
 
What is worthy of attention is to what extent Abe can place his 
imprint on the structural reform policy promoted by Prime Minister 
Koizumi and Takenaka. 
 
It is said that the Koizumi reform initiative has created an 
economic divide in society. As a main feature of his campaign 
pledge, Abe advocated supporting those who failed in business with 
second chances, noting, "We must not let losers remain losers." 
 
However, some take the view that Abe's stance of constraining the 
Bank of Japan's zero interest rate policy and giving priority to 
economic growth is similar to that of Takenaka. The focus for the 
moment is on the selection of key economic ministers, such as an 
economy, trade and industry minister and a finance minister, and a 
chairman of the LDP Policy Research Council. 
 
(2) "Abe is a nationalist," says US university professor Curtis 
 
AKAHATA (Page 2) (Full) 
September 21, 2006 
 
Gerald Curtis, a professor at Columbia University in the US whose 
works include, "The rise and fall of Nagata-cho politics," yesterday 
gave a speech at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan on Shinzo 
Abe, who has just been elected the new Liberal Democratic Party 
 
TOKYO 00005456  003 OF 011 
 
 
president. 
 
He pointed out the danger of Abe fundamentally changing postwar 
Japan's pacifist policies, noting that if a comparison is made 
between Abe and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on the foundation 
of their support, that of Koizumi comes from his popularity with the 
public, while Abe's support comes from nationalists. 
 
Curtis said, that "there are no problems now in US-Japan relations," 
but he underscored, "The only issue for the US is Japan-China 
relations." He noted, "China will try to repair relations with Japan 
as soon as the Koizumi administration ends," but he cautioned that 
Abe's stance of not clarifying whether he had visited Yasukuni 
Shrine or not (this April) is a dangerous position to take since "it 
tells China that foreign pressure (against Japan justifying its 
aggressive war and that he intends to do whatever he pleases." 
 
Curtis stressed that Abe's economic policy "have no important 
content." He also criticized the education voucher system Abe 
advocates: "Why is he insisting on the worst aspects of US policy 
(i.e., market principles)?" 
 
"Personally, I hope Mr. Abe will do his utmost to correct the 
economic divide and maintain the universal health insurance coverage 
system," he said. 
 
(3) Abe considering having senior vice ministers serve also in key 
LDP posts, strengthening the role of chief cabinet secretary 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 20, 2006 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, who is certain to become the 
next prime minister, is now looking into the possibility of having 
senior vice ministers and parliamentary secretaries serve also as 
division chiefs (bukaichou) in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 
Policy Research Council as a means of running the government under 
the lead of the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei. Abe's 
aim is to centralize control under the Kantei by creating a 
policy-making system shared by the government and ruling coalition 
parties. He wants the political administration to emerge from the 
tendency of depending on the bureaucracy. Having determined that the 
role of chief cabinet secretary, a key cabinet post, is vital for 
allowing the Kantei to take the lead.  He also is mulling the 
possibility of reducing the chief cabinet secretary's administrative 
work as much as possible, as well as of creating a system under 
which the chief cabinet secretary will be able to concentrate on 
coordination of important policy issues. 
 
The LDP's National Vision Project Team submitted to Prime Minister 
Junichiro Koizumi in 2002 a report proposing that senior vice 
ministers and parliamentary secretaries concurrently serve in 
important posts of the LDP Policy Research Council. However, the 
Koizumi government failed to implement the proposal, and it has 
carried it over to the next government. 
 
In a debate in Tokyo on Sept. 15, Abe clarified that he would 
appoint only those who hold basic policy stances similar to his to 
serve on his cabinet and in senior vice ministerships. He said that 
he would like the government and ruling camp to work as one by 
having the senior vice ministers serve also as division chiefs in 
the LDP Policy Research Council. Koizumi used the standoff between 
the opposition and the ruling coalition as a driving force to 
 
TOKYO 00005456  004 OF 011 
 
 
implement policies. Abe is, however, trying to strengthen his power 
by winning the LDP over to his side. 
 
If a multilayered setup is formed, the role of chief cabinet 
secretary, coordinator in the government, will become significant. 
 
SIPDIS 
The Cabinet Law stipulates that the job of chief cabinet secretary 
is to plan, draft, and comprehensively coordinate basic policies on 
key issues of the cabinet. Therefore, the new government seems to be 
placing importance on this basic line. 
 
The chief cabinet secretary is in charge of a wide range of 
administrative duties, including awards and decorations, public 
relations, the preservation of government documents, measures to 
secure intelligence, disposal of abandoned chemical weapons, and 
urban redevelopment. The chief cabinet secretary also has to reply 
many questions at the Diet. Abe attended 77 days of the 150-day 
committee sessions during last ordinary Diet session. Therefore, Abe 
aims to reduce the chief cabinet secretary's administrative works. 
 
Specifically, other cabinet ministers and five prime ministerial 
assistants to be appointed would handle such duties as disposal of 
abandoned chemical weapons and urban development. Another issue up 
for consideration is to reduce the press conference that is now 
given twice a day by having the cabinet public relations secretary 
speak to the press. 
 
(4) Profile of LDP President Shinzo Abe 
 
MAINICHI (Page 12) (Full) 
September 21, 2006 
 
Name:  Shinzo Abe 
Sex:   Male 
Birth date: September 21, 1954 
Age:   52 
Address:  Tomigaya, Shibuya Ward, Tokyo 
Hometown: Nagato City (formally called Yuya Town), Yamaguchi 
Prefecture 
Academic record: 
      Political Science Department, Law Faculty, 
      Seikei University 
Political party: 
      Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 
Constituency: Yamaguchi No. 4 constituency 
 
Number of times elected to the Lower House: 
      Five times 
 
He is allowed to run in both the proportional representation segment 
and a single-seat constituency. 
 
The reason he decided to run in the LDP presidential election: 
 
I pledge to do my best to take over the flame of reform, to make 
Japan a country with vitality that would provide a second chance to 
business failures, to make Japan a country open to the world, to 
make Japan a beautiful country which our children would be proud 
of. 
 
Book:  Toward a Beautiful Country 
 
Joint works: Conservative Revolution, 
      Declaration 
 
TOKYO 00005456  005 OF 011 
 
 
      Determination to Protect This Country 
Shinzo Abe: Series of Interviews 
 
Hobbies:  Enjoy watching movies, reading books, 
      playing golf 
      Belonged to the university's archery club 
 
Motto:  Never forget the ideals with which 
      you started out. 
      (Words by Noh actor Zeami) 
      To live with utmost sincerity (by Confucius) 
 
Favorite books: 
      Yo ni Sumu Hibi (Ryotaro Shiba) 
      Ryukonroku (Kaoru Furukawa) 
 
Person he respects: 
      Yoshida Shoin (Edo period) 
 
Favorite foods: 
      Grilled beef, Chinese noodles, watermelon 
      Ice cream ("PuPu" made by Napoli Ice Cream Co.) 
 
Foods he dislikes: 
      Raw oysters 
      Drinks no alcoholic beverages 
 
Favorite personality: 
      Hikaru Nishida 
 
Song he sings at karaoke bars: 
      Omoide no Nagisa (by The Wild Ones) 
 
He is 175 centimeters tall and weights 70 kilograms. His blood type 
is B. 
 
He lives with his wife Akie and his mother Yoko. He has a miniature 
dachshund. 
 
(5) Poll: 45 percent weigh China, South Korea 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Abridged) 
September 17, 2006 
 
The Japan Polling Organization conducted a face-to-face nationwide 
public opinion survey on Sept. 9-10 to probe into public attitudes 
on foreign relations. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will now step 
down late this month, with his successor coming into office shortly 
thereafter. In the survey, respondents were asked about the 
post-Koizumi cabinet's diplomatic stance. In response to this 
question, 45 percent said the next prime minister should prioritize 
improving Japan's relations with Asia, including China and South 
Korea, and 20 percent said Japan should further prioritize its 
alliance with the United States. As seen from these figures, the 
survey resulted in urging the next premier to reconstruct Japan's 
Asia diplomacy confused with Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine. 
 
When asked about Japan's relations with China, a total of 80 percent 
gave negative impressions, broken down into 23 percent saying "bad" 
and 57 percent saying "bad to a certain extent." In response to a 
question asking about Japan's relations with South Korea, negative 
impressions totaled 67 percent. 
 
 
TOKYO 00005456  006 OF 011 
 
 
Respondents were also asked if they were feeling a threat from North 
Korea, which fired seven ballistic missiles in July. In response, a 
total of 84 percent said "yes," broken down into 38 percent saying 
"very much so" and 46 percent saying "somewhat." 
 
When asked about Japan's future defenses, 27 percent said Japan 
should further strengthen its readiness to shoot down missiles, with 
26 percent saying Japan should also acquire the capability of 
striking enemy bases within the scope of its self-defense rights to 
be invoked. As seen from these figures, a total of 53 percent 
answered that Japan should further reinforce its defensive 
preparedness. Among other answers, 32 percent said Japan should 
prioritize diplomatic efforts instead of building up its defenses," 
with 12 percent saying Japan may stay at the present level of 
defenses. 
 
Asked if Japan should expedite its negotiations with North Korea for 
diplomatic normalization, 53 percent said "yes," with 42 percent 
saying "no." 
 
Respondents were further asked if Japan should have a permanent law 
so that Japan can send Self-Defense Forces personnel overseas 
whenever necessary. In response to this question, affirmative 
answers totaled 46 percent, broken down into 17 percent saying "yes" 
and 29 percent saying "yes to a certain degree." Negative answers 
totaled 49 percent. As seen from these figures, public opinion was 
split over the permanent legislation. 
 
(Note) Figures rounded off. 
 
Polling methodology: For the survey, a total of 3,000 persons were 
sampled out of males and females aged 20 and over at 250 locations 
throughout the country on a stratified two-stage random-sampling 
basis, so as to epitomize the nation's voting population of more 
than a 100 million. The survey was conducted over a period of two 
days, Sept. 9-10, on a face-to-face interview basis. Answers were 
obtained from 1,742 persons, excluding those who could not be 
interviewed because of their having moved away or being on a trip, 
or for other reasons. The retrieval rate was 58.1 percent. In the 
breakdown of respondents, males accounted for 49.1 percent, and 
females 50.9 percent. 
 
(6) Japan takes step toward becoming a "nuclear export country," 
with IAEA fuel-supply registration proposal 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Slightly abridged) 
September 20, 2006 
 
Japan as the only nation that suffered from atomic bombings would 
start exporting nuclear technology in an effort to prevent nuclear 
proliferation. This "paradox" is gradually taking on a realistic 
touch as Japan, a country noted for its sophisticated nuclear power 
technology, has decided to fully participate in a new strategy 
worked out by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to 
"prevent nuclear proliferation with nuclear technology' in the face 
of North Korea and Iran pushing ahead with nuclear weapons 
development programs. 
 
Concept 
 
In the IAEA's convention in Vienna starting on Sept. 18 to 
commemorate the 50th anniversary of the agency's establishment State 
Minister in Charge of Science and Technology Policy Iwao Matsuda 
 
TOKYO 00005456  007 OF 011 
 
 
read out from a draft written in English of a report on "an IAEA 
fuel-supply registration system," Japan's new proposal for nuclear 
nonproliferation. At that moment, Japan took a first step forward 
toward becoming an exporter of nuclear fuel and nuclear-related 
technology in the near future. 
 
IAEA Director General El Baradei initially proposed a plan to place 
nuclear fuel for atomic power generation under international 
control. But under the current situation in which there are 
countries engaged in nuclear development programs, it is impossible 
to prevent a spread of technology convertible to weapons only by 
inspection activities. Keeping this in mind, some countries came up 
with a proposal in which nuclear technology powers would guarantee 
nuclear fuel supplies to countries that give up their independent 
nuclear development. 
 
This June, the six nuclear exporting countries, including the United 
States and Russia, submitted the supply-guarantee proposal. They 
decided to hold a general meeting in Vienna to launch a full-scale 
discussion on this plan. 
 
Countermeasures 
 
Japan, itself having top-level nuclear technology, blocked the 
six-nation proposal, fearing that only those countries would be 
allowed to export nuclear fuel. 
 
Under the Japan-proposed IAEA fuel-supply registration system, 
nuclear technology powers would register the technology they wished 
to provide, and IAEA would then distribute it according to need. 
IAEA member countries would be allowed to take part in the 
registration system, and the way would be paved for Japan to export 
nuclear fuel in the future. 
 
Nuclear Energy Council Chairman Shunsuke Kondo plans to explain 
Japan's proposal at special IAEA meeting. Prior to it, Kondo held a 
press conference on Sept. 18 and said that Japan's exports of fuel 
and related technology Is "conceivable as a future possibility." 
"There also might be emergency supplying, besides constant exports," 
he added. 
 
Market 
 
Japan's concept of exporting nuclear-related technology did not 
emerge suddenly. In February 2004, the Japanese Nuclear Energy 
Industrial Conference (then) composed of nuclear power companies 
submitted a report that called for measures to revive the nuclear 
power industry, including exports. The panel also compiled a set of 
guidelines on atomic power in October 2005, which noted: "An 
introduction and expansion of atomic power plants by countries will 
lead to easing international competition over fossil fuel and to 
combating global warming. In this sense it is significant for the 
technology fostered by the Japanese nuclear power industry to be 
distributed to the world." 
 
Japan's eagerness about nuclear-fuel exports reflects growing demand 
of energy demand mainly in Asia. It is inevitable that more atomic 
power will be needed as energy in place of oil, the price of which 
has skyrocketed. In actuality, plans to construct power plans are 
afoot in Indonesia and Vietnam. Japan does not want to be left 
behind in the global nuclear power market. 
 
(7) Responsibility of Japan that supported the US; Situation in Iraq 
 
TOKYO 00005456  008 OF 011 
 
 
deteriorating 
 
ASAHI (Page 15) (Full) 
September 21, 2006 
 
The Ground Self-Defense Force has withdrawn from the southern Iraqi 
city of Samawah after completing the two-and-a half years of its 
mission there. Incurring no casualties in the GSDF personnel, the 
Iraq mission is regarded as a success in Japan. But in Iraq, US-led 
reconstruction efforts are facing difficulty and the security 
situation has worsened. Japan supported America's decision to go to 
war with Iraq and its Iraq policy by sending SDF troops there. But 
America's Iraq policy is being criticized at home and abroad. How 
Japan should make contributions must be reexamined. 
 
By senior writer Yasunori Kawakami, Samawah 
 
Law and order broke down, death tolls grow three-fold 
 
"Japanese companies will come after the SDF troops." People in 
Samawah still voice their hope for Japan's assistance in the wake of 
the SDF withdrawal. Mayor al-Jaberi (?) of Hadar in southern Iraq 
said: "Japan has recovered from WWII devastation. I am certain that 
experience can be utilized in Iraq." 
 
But in truth, the GSDF's activities were limited to small-scale 
emergency support, such as repairing schools and roads and aiding 
hospitals. High hopes for Japan resulted in support for the SDF. 
 
"I am glad that the mission has been accomplished successfully 
without one bullet having been fired and not one person injured," 
Prime Minister Koizumi praised the returned GSDF troops during a 
flag-returning ceremony. 
 
No GSDF personnel were injured largely because Muthannna Province, 
where the GSDF troops were based, was a predominantly Shiite area 
that successfully blocked entries by Sunni militants, who repeatedly 
attacked US forces. 
 
A person connected with an armed Sunni group said to me, "We don't 
target at Japanese troops because they haven't hurt any Iraqis." 
 
The logic of retribution is still alive in the Arab world. Behind 
continued attacks on US forces in Iraq lies a chain of retributions 
for America's war on terror causing collateral damage against 
ordinary civilians. 
 
"Noncombatant" SDF troops were protected by the pacifist 
constitution banning the use of force. If they had been in battle 
position, Samawah would not have been a "non-combat zone." 
 
SDF troops were deployed to Samawah on an extension of the Japan-US 
alliance. They played only a minor role in the extremely difficult 
efforts to rebuild Iraq. 
 
The SDF's flag-returning ceremony began with Prime Minister 
Koizumi's speech that went: "You have accomplished the difficult 
mission very well under the extremely condition where temperatures 
could fluctuate between 50 degrees Celsius and below zero." There is 
no other national leader who speaks of difficulties in Iraq as if 
civil engineering had been conducted. 
 
In a report presented to the Security Council on Sept. 11, UN 
 
TOKYO 00005456  009 OF 011 
 
 
Secretary General Kofi Annan said: "Iraq is one of the most violent 
 
SIPDIS 
conflict areas in the world. Iraqi government figures show that an 
average of 100 civilians die everyday in Iraq. If current patterns 
persist, the country faces the prospect of civil war." 
 
According to Iraq Body Count, a Western civic group tallying 
civilian death tolls since the opening of the Iraq war, at least 
43,000 people died as of August 31. The number of deaths in the six 
months since in May 1, 2003, when President Bush declared an end to 
major combat operations in Iraq was about 3,200. Between February 
this year and the end of August, the number increased three-fold to 
9,500. Law and order have broken down. 
 
Criticism of Bush expanding in US 
 
In Baghdad recently, tortured bodies with bullet holes in the head 
have been found daily. They show signs of "ethnic and religious 
cleansing" resulting from conflicts between different groups, as 
Shiite and Sunni groups. Reuters reported that 60 bodies had been 
found on Sept. 13, 32 bodies on Sept. 14, 50 bodies on Sept. 15, 47 
bodies on Sept. 16, 24 bodies on Sept. 17. 
 
Upon winding up his Middle Eastern trip, Annan held a press 
conference on Sept. 13 in which he said: "Most leaders I met 
indicated that the invasion of Iraq and its aftermath were a total 
disaster. They also think the region has become destabilized." 
Speaking for Middle Eastern leaders, Annan concluded, "The United 
States can neither stay in Iraq nor withdraw from there," while 
criticizing America's Iraq policy. 
 
The Bush administration is under growing criticism in the US, as 
well. According to the New York Times in late August, 53 percent of 
respondents in an opinion survey said the Iraq war was a mistake and 
62 percent said the situation in Iraq was not good. 
 
In a speech on the fifth anniversary of 9/11, President Bush linked 
the war with the al-Qaeda terrorist network to the US military 
presence in Iraq, saying, "The safety of America depends on the 
outcome of the battle in the streets of Baghdad. If we yield Iraq to 
men like bin Laden, they will gain a new safe haven. They will use 
Iraq's resources to fuel their extremist movement. America will stay 
in the fight." 
 
The United States, which has toppled Saddam Hussein's regime, is 
destined to fight with al-Qaeda over Iraq someday. 
 
The Bush administration cited cooperative relations between the 
Saddam regime and al-Qaeda as a reason for going to war with Iraq. 
But earlier this month, the US Senate Intelligence Committee 
produced a report denying cooperative ties between the two. 
 
It was the United States itself that has invited al-Qaeda to Iraq. 
That can be explained by two factors: 
 
(1) The military presence of the United States that waged a war on 
Iraq has drawn fierce fire from the Islamic world, prompting 
extremists to fight a "holy war" against the United States. 
 
(2) Because the US has destroyed the old regime without any postwar 
vision, the civil administration and law and order have been thrown 
into turmoil, and ethnic and religious conflicts have erupted. 
 
Iraq looks similar to failed states, such as Afghanistan and Somalia 
 
TOKYO 00005456  010 OF 011 
 
 
that became bases of al-Qaeda in the 1990s. 
 
Weight should be shifted to UN-led system 
 
Before going to war with Iraq, US conservatives voiced opposition to 
sending troops to Iraq, fearing a possible outcry from the Islamic 
world and tremendous difficulty in postwar reconstruction efforts. 
The permanent members of the UN Security also split. Of the five 
permanent members, France, Russia, and China opposed the war. 
Germany also objected to it. 
 
Against all odds, Japan supported the US decision. In a press 
conference to announce the government's decision to pull the SDF out 
of Iraq, Prime Minister Koizumi was asked his view on the Iraq war. 
In response, he said: "It is Japan's policy to cooperate with the 
international community, recognizing the importance of the Japan-US 
alliance. Based on that policy, Japan has extended assistance to 
Iraq." The preamble to the Constitution of Japan reads: "We are 
resolved that never again shall we be visited with the horrors of 
war through the action of government." Iraq is experiencing the 
"horrors of war." US Congress also concluded that Iraq's alleged 
possession of weapons of mass destruction - another reason America 
went to war with that country -- "groundless." The Iraq war clearly 
lacks justification. Despite that, the Japanese government does not 
seem regrettable or review its policy. 
 
Troops of Spain and Italy that had supported the Iraq war along with 
Japan came under major terrorist attacks after the war's end. People 
raised questions about the significance of sending troops to Iraq 
that cost the two countries heavily, and the administrations of the 
two countries have been replaced through elections. 
 
In Japan, Iraq policy did not make a campaign issue in the general 
election last fall. The government and the general public's 
awareness of the Iraq war has been low, given the SDF's unique 
mission that did not require the Japanese troops to fire even a 
single bullet. 
 
Iraq is now at a critical conjecture, and Japan's responsibility is 
being questioned. In dealing with Iraq, the Koizumi administration 
put the Japan-US alliance ahead of cooperation with the United 
Nations. The Iraqi situation is deadlocked due to the unilateralism 
of the Bush administration. To break the impasse, there is no other 
way but to shift weight back from the US-led framework to the UN-led 
system in reconstructing and building peace in Iraq. 
 
US and UK forced played central roles in coalition forces in the war 
in Iraq. Postwar reconstruction projects are being criticized and 
attacked as being led by US corporations. In fact, such permanent 
UNSC members as China, Russia, and France have left those projects, 
and Arab nations have been avoiding joining them, as well. 
 
Even if Japan proposes strengthening the UN role, the UN would be a 
target of attacks as an organ to complement the United States. That 
is because Iraq would remain in chaos, as the war that was started 
by the US would continue. To restore normalcy, there is no other way 
but to begin bridging fissures in the international community that 
resulted from the Iraq war through the United Nations. 
 
Immediately pulling US forces out of Iraq is not a prismatic 
approach to avoiding civil war and restoring law and order. It is 
essential to create a new UN-led peace implementation force joined 
by China, Russia, and France. 
 
TOKYO 00005456  011 OF 011 
 
 
 
Toward the Arab world, Japan has maintained its image as a nation 
that has successfully risen from ruins after the war and as a 
peaceful nation different from the US and the UK. In order to meet 
Samawah citizens' expectations for continued reconstruction 
assistance, Japan should search for new diplomatic bedrock centering 
on the United Nations. 
 
SCHIEFFER