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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 004424 
 
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: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 09/25/07 
 
 
TOKYO 00004424  001.2 OF 011 
 
 
Index: 
 
Prime Minister's weekend schedule: Still in hospital but gave news 
conference on Monday 
 
Fukuda elected LDP president: 
1) Newly elected LDP President Fukuda picks four top party 
executives, three from old-guard wing of the party: Ibuki, Nikai, 
and Koga 
2) Ibuki comes in as LDP secretary general with unresolved issue of 
his exorbitant office expenses 
3) Outgoing Prime Minister Abe gives apologetic news conference from 
hospital, cites health reason for his sudden resignation 
4) Opposition Democratic Party of Japan will not be any easier on 
Fukuda in the Diet than they were with Abe, with clashes on taxes, 
pensions, anti-terror law 
5) Ruling camp is already panicky about possibility of Lower House 
election being forced on them by combative opposition that commands 
majority in Upper House 
 
Anti-terrorism special measures law saga: 
6) Fukuda to present new anti-terror bill to extra Diet session 
replacing expiring law 
7) Diet may have to be greatly extended is the new anti-terror bill 
can be passed by Lower House override 
8) US Secretary Rice in meeting with Foreign Minster Machimura in 
New York hopes to see MSDF oil services in the Indian Ocean continue 
 
9) Afghan President Karzai in New York meeting with Machimura makes 
pitch for continued MSDF service in Indian Ocean 
10) MSDF oil supplied for Afghan campaign may have been diverted for 
Iraq war use 
11) US Navy captain tells Asahi that his MSDF refueled ship was used 
for Iraq campaign, too 
12) Defense Ministry admits fuel actually supplied by MSDF to Kitty 
Hawk in Indian Ocean in 2003 was 800,000 gallons, four times amount 
reported earlier 
13) DPJ Secretary General Hatoyama to pursue government for 
allegedly allowing MSDF supplied oil to be diverted for use in Iraq 
conflict 
14) DPJ's Hatoyama expects US Embassy to respond soon with promised 
data 
 
15) US Navy nuclear-powered carrier George Washington will arrive at 
Yokosuka next year on Aug. 19 
 
Articles: 
 
1) Fukuda appoints faction leaders, Ibuki, Tanigaki, Nikai, and Koga 
to LDP executive posts, with Machimura named chief cabinet 
secretary 
 
SIPDIS 
 
ASAHI (Top Play) (Excerpts) 
September 25, 2007 
 
Newly elected Liberal Democratic Party President Yasuo Fukuda 
yesterday appointed Education, Science and Technology Minister 
Bunmei Ibuki, 69, as the party's secretary general and former 
Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki, 62, as policy research council 
chairman. He also decided to keep General Council Chairman Toshihiro 
Nikai, 68, in his post, and named former Secretary General Makoto 
Koga, 67, as first chairman of the election committee under the 
 
TOKYO 00004424  002.2 OF 011 
 
 
direct control of the party president. Fukuda has put up a line-up 
strong enough to face policy debate with the opposition camp, which 
has control of the House of Councillors, by giving the four 
executive posts to the faction leaders and bringing forth Ibuki and 
Tanigaki, who are reputably expert on policymaking. Fukuda has also 
decided to tap Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura as chief cabinet 
secretary in a new Fukuda cabinet to be inaugurated today. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
Fukuda initially planned to appoint Koga as General Council 
chairman. But since Koga himself desired to assume a post 
responsible for election strategy, Fukuda upgraded the post of 
director general of the Election Strategy Bureau to that of election 
committee chairman, placing it on a par with the three executive 
posts. 
 
Fukuda reappointed Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Tadamori Oshima 
(Komura faction) and Deputy Secretary General Hiroyuki Hosoda 
(Machimura faction) to their respective posts. 
 
The key party appointments were approved in an extraordinary session 
of the General Council yesterday. 
 
Those appointed to the four party executive positions were all 
faction leaders who supported Fukuda in the party presidential race. 
All members of the Tanigaki and Nikai factions are said to have 
voted for Fukuda, but many members of the Ibuki faction cast their 
votes for Aso. Given this, the appointment of Ibuki as secretary 
general surprised a number of party members. 
 
Secretary General Ibuki said in a press conference yesterday: "There 
 
SIPDIS 
is no magic for the party to immediately regain public support. We 
are determined to steadily implement policies and give explanations 
to the people in a modest manner." 
 
Fukuda will be named the 91st prime minister through a Diet vote 
today and then launch his cabinet tonight. 
 
Changes in cabinet ministers are expected to be at a small scale 
because the Diet is in session. Some suggest appointing Defense 
Minister Komura to succeed Foreign Minister Machimura. 
 
Some suggest Defense Minister Komura be reappointed to his post. But 
others propose appointing former Defense Agency Director General 
Shigeru Ishiba (Tsushima faction) if Komura becomes foreign 
minister. As a successor to Education Minister Ibuki, an idea of 
naming Upper House member Seiko Hashimoto (Machimura faction), who 
served as election campaign office head for Fukuda, is floating. 
 
2) New LDP Secretary General Ibuki: Criticism over high amount of 
office expenses declared by his office; Did Fukuda determine there 
is no problem? 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 25, 2007 
 
Bunmei Ibuki, who yesterday took office as the Liberal Democratic 
Party's (LDP) secretary general, and Toshihiro Nikai, who took 
office as General Council chairman, came under fire for their 
unclear handling of political funds. New LDP President Fukuda 
appears to have decided to pick them, judging, based on their 
explanations and other information, that there would be no problem. 
 
 
TOKYO 00004424  003.2 OF 011 
 
 
A high amount of office expenses reported by Ibuki's political funds 
management body was pursued in the Diet session this year. The 
body's main office was located in the rent-free Diet Members' Office 
Building. Nevertheless, the body entered 33.35 million yen as office 
expenses for 2006. Ibuki's office explained that rents for three 
offices located in Tokyo and Kyoto, fees for parking lots and lease 
payments for PCs totaled approximately 20 million yen. 
 
Ibuki during a press conference yesterday stressed that the body's 
handling of office expenses was proper in compliance with the 
Political Funds Control Law. He noted, "The law was revised in 1994 
with the aim of making political funds control bodies handle both 
incoming and outgoing political funds." 
 
It was learned that the LDP branch headed by Nikai and his 
supporters' association failed to report in its political funds 
report that its office was provided rent-free. 
 
3) "Deterioration in my physical condition is the major reason for 
my resignation," says Prime Minister Abe in press conference held at 
hospital: Apologizes for turmoil his resignation has caused 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) 
September 25, 2007 
 
Commenting on his resignation announcement, Prime Minister Shinzo 
Abe in a press conference held on the afternoon of Sept. 24 at Keio 
University Hospital (Shinanomachi, Tokyo), where he is receiving 
treatment, apologized that his abrupt resignation has paralyzed the 
government. He noted, "I announced my resignation at the worst time 
-- shortly after making a policy speech." 
 
Regarding the reason why he has decided to step down, Abe revealed 
that his health condition was the major reason, saying, "My physical 
condition has continued to deteriorate over the past month and I 
felt I have reached my limits. I concluded that I could no longer 
fulfill my responsibilities as prime minister." 
 
As reasons for his decision to quit, Abe in a press conference on 
the 12th cited the deadlock in the continuation of the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force's refueling operation in the Indian Ocean. He did 
not refer to his heath. 
 
Referring to this, he explained, "I thought the prime minister 
should not reveal his physical condition while in office." 
 
Concerning reasons why he did not appoint an acting prime minister, 
Abe noted, "I did not do so, based on the judgment reached from the 
legal perspective of whether not appointing an acting prime minister 
would cause trouble." Regarding his future political activities, he 
revealed his intention to run in the next Lower House election, 
denying the possibility of resigning as a lawmaker. He said, "I 
would like to continue my efforts as a legislator." 
 
In response to some media reports that former Secretary General Taro 
Aso, who ran in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential 
election, forced him to step down, Abe said, "There was no coup." 
 
4) DPJ to heighten their confrontation with government with focus on 
consumption tax, pension issues 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
 
TOKYO 00004424  004.2 OF 011 
 
 
September 24, 2007 
 
Yasuo Fukuda has expressed his readiness to cooperate with the 
opposition. However, opposition parties, such as the Democratic 
Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto), are set to heighten their 
confrontation with the government and the ruling camp, by focusing 
on  wasteful spending of revenues from the consumption tax, pension 
premium funds and tax money in order to play up differences with the 
government and the ruling parties. They intend to press the 
government and the ruling bloc with the adoption in the Upper House 
during the extraordinary session policies proposals they made during 
the Upper House campaign, including a bill prohibiting the diversion 
of pension premium funds. They will also adopt a strategy of 
realizing a dissolution of the Lower House and a general election in 
the form of cornering the new administration. 
 
Regarding Fukda's call for talks with the DPJ, DPJ Secretary General 
Yukio Hatoyama told reporters in New Hidaka Town, Hokkaido on Sept. 
23, "Mr. Fukuda's thinking may look similar to ours, but essential 
differences will appear sooner or later. His politics left in the 
hands of bureaucrats will give away. We will pursue debate on the 
front stage of the Diet." He took the position that voters supported 
the DPJ through the Upper House election not for talks with the 
government and the ruling parties but policies which cannot be 
realized unless the DPJ takes the reins of government. 
 
The DPJ adhered to their stance of opposing the continuation of the 
Self-Defense Force's refueling operation in the Indian Ocean, which 
has in the end forced Prime Minister Abe to step down. However, 
since Fukuda has no intention of bulldozing his way through the Diet 
over the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law as Prime Minister Abe 
did, the party finds it difficult to pressurize Fukuda's 
administration over this issue. 
 
Fukuda during the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) presidential 
election advocated policies that were close to those of the DPJ, 
including a review of the Disabled Persons Self-Support Assistance. 
His campaign slogan "self-support and coexistence" was exactly the 
same as the DPJ's. One senior DPJ officer revealed a possible 
approach to show differences with Fukuda, "Since Mr. Fukuda is close 
to bureaucrats, he will not be able to eliminate wasteful spending 
of tax money. He has also referred to a possible hike in the 
consumption tax." To be precise, the DPJ will exercise 
administrative investigation rights during the current Diet session 
with an eye on the year-end budget compilation and appeal to the 
public regarding how the government and the ruling camp are forcing 
them to shoulder more burden by leaving wasteful sending unattended. 
They will also make an issue over the overall structure of the draft 
budget, such as the subsidy and special account systems, during next 
year's regular Diet session. Their strategy is to vote down the 
budget-related laws, thereby realizing a dissolution of the Diet and 
a general election. 
 
5) Ruling coalition concerned about next Lower House election 
 
NIKKEI (Page 3) (Full) 
September 25, 2007 
 
Concerned about the next House of Representatives election, the 
ruling parties have begun looking into the possibility of 
implementing social security measures that would be generous to the 
people, including a freeze on medical copayments for the elderly. 
 
TOKYO 00004424  005.2 OF 011 
 
 
The ruling coalition has analyzed that an increase in the 
residential tax, following the suspension of the fixed-rate 
across-the-board cut, was one of the reasons for its defeat in the 
July Upper House election. The ruling camp appears to have 
determined that its policy of calling on the public for "pain" would 
bring disadvantages to it in the next Lower House election. 
 
In discussions with the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), coalition 
partner New Komeito demanded measures to decrease the burden on the 
people and socioeconomic disparities, similar to Yasuo Fukuda's 
campaign pledges for the LDP presidential race. It can be said that 
it was easy for the LDP and New Komeito to make concessions on 
policy measures for the medical burden on the elderly, reform of the 
inheritance tax for small- and mid-size companies, and shortage of 
doctors. 
 
The LDP gave consideration in a way to the internal situation of the 
New Komeito. Since the largest opposition Democratic Party of Japan 
(DPJ) has called for freezing the increase in medical copayments by 
elderly, the New Komeito is alarmed about the possibility of the LDP 
and DPJ taking leadership on this issue. 
 
New Komeito leader Akihiro Ota has said that his party will play the 
role of applying a brake in the ruling camp. However, in the 
religious sect Soka Gakkai, which is the support body of the New 
Komeito, a move calling for achievements in concrete policy measures 
has increasingly become stronger. One member said: "What Ota has 
said is abstract and difficult to understand." 
 
There is a wide gap in response to the politics-money issue between 
the two parties. The LDP and New Komeito, in their discussion on 
forming a coalition government, has reached on an agreement that 
politicians would be required to attach receipts to their fund 
reports every time costing one yen or more. However since the New 
Komeito accepted the LDP's assertion that the contents of receipts 
would not be made public, there will be little change in the 
situation. 
 
6) Fukuda eyes submitting new antiterrorism legislation to current 
Diet session; Aso wants to enact legislation in current Diet 
session 
 
MAINICHI (Top Play) (Lead paragraph) 
September 22, 2007 
 
Former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda and Liberal Democratic 
Party (LDP) Secretary General Taro Aso, who are now running in the 
LDP presidential election, attended on Friday a panel discussion at 
the Japan National Press Club. At the discussion, Fukuda revealed a 
policy of submitting to the current Diet session alternative 
legislation to the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law so that the 
Maritime Self-Defense Force would be able to continue its refueling 
mission in the Indian Ocean. He stated: "We have no choice but to 
consider new legislation. If so, we will present it to the current 
extraordinary session." Aso also expressed his intention that the 
new legislation should be enacted at least in the ongoing session. 
He said: "If extending the (Antiterrorism Law) is difficult, new 
legislation (will be needed). The legislation should be enacted at 
least in the present Diet session." 
 
7) Lengthy extension of current Diet session unavoidable; Priority 
on passage of new antiterrorism legislation may affect budget 
 
TOKYO 00004424  006.2 OF 011 
 
 
compilation, next Lower House election 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
September 22, 2007 
 
Former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda and Liberal Democratic 
Party (LDP) Secretary General Taro Aso, candidates for the ongoing 
LDP presidential race, clarified on Sept. 21 their policy of aiming 
to enact alternative legislation to the Antiterrorism Special 
Measures Law during the current extraordinary session of the Diet. 
With this, the outlook is that a lengthy extension of the extra 
session, which is set to run until Nov. 10, will be inevitable. The 
government and the LDP are considering exercising Article 59  of the 
Constitution that stipulates failure by the House of Councillors to 
take final action within 60 days after receipt of a bill passed by 
the House of Representatives, time in recess excepted, may be 
determined by the House of Representatives to constitute a rejection 
of the said bill by the House of Councillors. The reason for the 
Diet extension is that if the government submits the new legislation 
in early October, it would be difficult to enact it during the 
ongoing Diet session. 
 
Contrary to the determination by Fukuda and Aso, however, the main 
opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has expressed its 
opposition to the new legislation that would allow the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force to continue its refueling operation in the Indian 
Ocean. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to extend the extra 
session to secure time schedule for discussions and an option for 
re-passage of the legislation. Article 2 of the Diet Law writes that 
an ordinary session shall be annually convoked in January as a rule. 
If follows the precedents that at least one day should be open 
between extra and ordinary sessions, it will be possible to extend 
the extra session until Jan. 29 at the longest. 
 
Since it is allowed to extend an extra session twice, the government 
and LDP appear to be looking for ways to extend the session until 
late January, as well as to extend again after watching what action 
the DPJ will take, after extending once until early December. 
 
The question is compilation of budget for next fiscal year. It is 
possible to compile a budget while the Diet is in session, but it 
takes more time than doing it while the Diet is closed as cabinet 
ministers have to spent time to reply questions. If the government 
puts priority on the enacting of the new legislation that would 
allow the MSDF to continue its mission in the Indian Ocean, the 
compilation of state budget for next fiscal might be carried over to 
next year. 
 
8) In meeting with Machimura, Rice expresses hope for extension of 
refueling mission, reiterates consideration of abduction issue in 
dealing with North Korea 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) 
September 29, 2007 
 
Yasunori Ishikawa, New York 
 
Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura met United States Secretary of 
State Condoleezza Rice in New York for about 25 minutes on the 
afternoon of Sept. 22. In reference to the United Nations Security 
Council resolution expressing appreciation for the countries 
participating in maritime interdiction operation (MIO) by the 
 
TOKYO 00004424  007.2 OF 011 
 
 
coalition of the willing in the Indian Ocean, Rice expressed her 
hopes for an extension of the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law (to 
enable the Maritime Self-Defense Force to continue its refueling 
mission). According to informed sources, Rice said: "The resolution 
is designed to clearly express the international community's 
perception that the continuation of the operations is necessary. I 
expect the resolution will help (Japan) (to extend the law)." 
 
Machimura replied: "We are determined to make utmost efforts to 
extend the law while doing our best to solicit cooperation from the 
opposition camp." 
 
On North Korea's nuclear weapons program, Rice reiterated that the 
US would give consideration to the issue of North Korea's past 
abductions of Japanese nationals in determining whether it should 
delist North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism, remarking: "We 
will not sacrifice Japan-US relations." Rice and Machimura also 
agreed that the two countries will cooperate in the process of 
disabling its nuclear facilities. 
 
Machimura also met with Afghanistan President Karzai, UN Secretary 
General Ban Ki-moon, and Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki, 
separately. 
 
9) Machimura to play up Japan's utmost efforts for continued MSDF 
refueling operations in talks with leaders of concerned countries on 
sidelines of UNGA 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Abridged slightly) 
September 23, 2007 
 
Yuichi Suzuki, New York 
 
Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura arrived in New York on the 
morning of Sept. 22 (late at night of Sept. 22, Japan time) to 
attend the UN General Assembly. Later in the day, he is scheduled to 
hold separate meetings with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, 
Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, and US Secretary of State 
Condoleezza Rice. Machimura intends to extract from them positive 
evaluations of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling 
operations in the Indian Ocean and comments requesting an extension 
of the MSDF mission in a bid to help persuade the major opposition 
Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto or DPJ), which has been opposed 
to the continuation of the refueling operations. 
 
Machimura is also scheduled to announce Japan's continued grant aid 
to the Air Self-Defense Force's airlift operation and projects to 
improve infrastructure in a cabinet-level meeting on Afghanistan to 
be held at the UN headquarters. In the Sept. 23 cabinet-level 
meeting on Afghanistan, he is expected to announce Japan's 
determination to make utmost efforts to continue the MSDF refueling 
operations to root out terrorists in Afghanistan, a breeding ground 
for terrorists. 
 
Earlier, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution including 
words of appreciation for the maritime interdiction operations, in 
which the MSDF is taking part. Following this, Machimura intends to 
obtain "seals of approval" from the UN secretary-general and the 
Afghanistan president for continued MSDF refueling operations to 
send a strong message to the general public and the DPJ. 
 
The foreign minister, who already cast an absentee vote in the LDP 
 
TOKYO 00004424  008.2 OF 011 
 
 
presidential election, is scheduled to return home on the afternoon 
of Sept. 24. 
 
10) Oil supplied by MSDF to US warship suspected of being diverted 
for use in Iraq war 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
September 22, 2007 
 
Questioned about a Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) supply ship 
having directly supplied fuel to the US Navy carrier Kitty Hawk on 
Feb. 2003 prior to the start of the Iraq war, the Ministry of 
Defense (MOD) at first explained in a Diet reply that the amount 
supplied was 200,000 gallons (760 kiloliters), but a spokesman later 
corrected it to fuel volume of 80,000 gallons (3030 kiloliters). It 
has been discovered that the carrier, after being refueled, entered 
the Persian Gulf and became engaged in the campaign against Iraq. 
The possibility is strong that fuel provided by Japan was used for a 
purpose other than that set by the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures 
Law. 
 
The issue was exposed at the time when Rear Admiral William A 
Moffett returned to Yokosuka with the Fifth Fleet led by the 
flagship Kitty Hawk in May 2003. Moffett stated that the carrier had 
directly been refueled by an MSDF supply ship. At the time, then 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda told reporters: "The Kitty Hawk 
consumes 200,000 gallons of fuel in a day. (The fuel supplied by the 
MSDF ship) would be consumed immediately. It is inconceivable that 
it was used in connection with Iraq." But his explanation clashes 
with the corrected figure of 800,000 gallons. 
 
MOD at a press conference on Sept. 21 admitted the mistake, with 
director of international cooperation division Oka saying, "There 
was a mistake in inputting the data at the time it was tallied at 
Maritime Staff Command." He explained that the US was checking to 
see if the fuel was used in the Iraq war. MOD contended that the 
fuel was used for the anti-terror campaign since that had been an 
exchange of notes with the US confirming the purpose of refueling US 
warships was for the anti-terror campaign. But at the press 
conference, the spokesman added that "it could not be ascertained in 
detail" where the fuel was used once it was supplied. 
 
Regarding indirect refueling, the citizens' group Peace Depot on 
Sept. 20 discovered from ships' logs and other documents obtained 
under the US Freedom of Information Act that the US supply ship 
Pecos was fueled by an MSDF supply ship on Feb. 25, 2003. The US 
Navy carrier Kitty Hawk then was refueled the same day and directly 
entered the Persian Gulf to participate in the Iraq war. An 
influential defense-policy specialist in the Liberal Democratic 
Party revealed to the Asahi Shimbun: "It is as the civic group said. 
It cannot be ruled out that the fuel supplied by Japan was possibly 
used in the Iraq war." Several MOD sources also confirmed, "There is 
concern that Japan's fuel was diverted for operations related to 
Iraq." The Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law, which was enacted in 
order to provide logistical support for the anti-terrorist 
operations near Afghanistan, has a provision that states the purpose 
of the anti-terrorist operations in the Indian Ocean is "to assist 
the international community in stopping and eliminating 
international terrorism." Iraq operations are outside the scope of 
this law. 
 
11) Former US Navy captain affirms MSDF provided fuel in 2005 to his 
 
TOKYO 00004424  009.2 OF 011 
 
 
ship that was engaged in the Iraq campaign 
 
ASAHI (Top play) (Full) 
Eve., September 22, 2007 
 
By Masato Tainaka 
 
A US Navy captain has affirmed that a ship he once commanded was 
directly refueled by a Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) supply 
ship in the Indian Ocean when his vessel was not only engaged in 
anti-terrorist operations near Afghanistan, making such refueling 
appropriated under Japan's Anti-terrorism Special Measures Law, but 
also was engaged in the Iraq campaign, which would place such 
refueling outside the scope of the law. The former ship captain 
pointed out that it was common US military practice for ships to be 
involved in a number of operations. His testimony about the actual 
situation conflicts with explanations of the Japanese government 
that refueling operations were limited only to anti-terror purposes. 
 
 
Captain Ronald Horton (47), who now commands the US Navy carrier 
Enterprise that is deployed to the Persian Gulf, responded recently 
to an interview on board his ship. According to the captain, he 
commanded in 2005 a US military landing craft, the USS Juneau 
(LDP-10), which was home-ported at the US Navy base at Sasebo. He 
said: "At the time, we received refueling from supply ships more 
frequently than now. The Japanese contribution was immeasurable." 
According to the captain's explanation and US Navy documents, the 
USS Juneau in 2005 was deployed as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom 
(OIF) to the northern part of the Persian Gulf in order to land in 
Iraq US Marines who had been stationed in Okinawa. At the time, the 
vessel reportedly received refueling and provisions three times from 
an MSDF supply ship. 
 
The USS Juneau at the time also was folded into Operation Enduring 
Freedom (OEF), a part of war on terror that began in Oct. 2001 under 
the US lead to carry out maritime interdiction operations (MIO) to 
stop movements of terrorist group members and their weapons on the 
high seas. Because the timing of these operations was never clearly 
differentiated, it seems to have been difficult to determine in 
which of the two operations the fuel from the MSDF supply ship was 
used. 
 
The Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law limits the activities of the 
MSDF to logistical support to US warships and those of other 
countries carrying out anti-terror operations in the area near 
Afghanistan. However, with the spreading of the activities of the 
international terrorist group al-Qaeda from the Afghanistan area to 
within Iraq, the US Navy deployed simultaneously ships to cover both 
the anti-terror and Iraqi campaigns. The US Navy warships in the 
fleet of the Enterprise or other carriers are now carrying out 
simultaneously anti-terror and Iraqi campaigns inside the Persian 
Gulf. The special measures law did not assume that US warships 
carrying out several tactical operations in a series of marine 
maneuvers would be serviced with supplies from MSDF ships. The 
concept for the area receiving support activities in 2001, when the 
law was enacted, did not match the reality of the situation. 
 
From last August to today, warships of US, UK and other countries 
have been operating in three oceanic areas: CTF-150 in strategic 
waters outside the Persian Gulf; CTF-152 in the southern part of the 
Persian Gulf; and CTF-158 in the northern part. The MSDF insists it 
 
TOKYO 00004424  010.2 OF 011 
 
 
supplies only those US vessels engaged in CT-150 operations, and 
that it did not supply fuel to any US warship engaged in operations 
toward Iraq. 
 
12) Defense Ministry corrects amount of ship-to-ship fuel to 800,000 
gallons -- four times the volume mentioned in Diet reply in 2003 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Excerpts) 
September 22, 2007 
 
In May 2003, then Defense Agency Director-General Shigeru Ishiba 
told the Upper House Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that the 
Maritime Self-Defense Force's supply vessel Tokiwa had indirectly 
provided 200,000 gallons of fuel to the USS Kitty Hawk in Feb. 2003 
under the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law. In this connection, 
the Defense Ministry yesterday corrected the amount of fuel provided 
by the Tokiwa to 800,000 gallons, saying the government had made a 
mistake. 
 
Back in 2003, the Tokiwa was suspected to have fueled the Kitty Hawk 
in deviation from the Antiterrorism Law since the Kitty Hawk was 
taking part in the Iraq war. But the government explained that the 
aircraft carrier consumed 200,000 gallons a day and that the fuel 
provided by Japan was not used for the anti-Iraq operation. 
 
The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto or DPJ) has 
been opposed to the law's extension, citing a lack of information. 
Extending the law will now become even more difficult. According to 
the Defense Ministry, the Maritime Staff Office mistook the amount 
of fuel for another vessel in storing data. The US supply vessel 
fueled by the Tokiwa provided the Kitty Hawk with 800,000 tons of 
fuel on the same day. All the fuel from the Tokiwa might have been 
indirectly provided to the Kitty Hawk. 
 
The Defense Ministry has queried the US government about the Kitty 
Hawk's actions. The ministry has indicated that there was no problem 
with the Tokiwa's provision of fuel, saying the notes exchanged with 
the US limit Japan's fuel strictly to the antiterrorism operation 
and that such was confirmed by the receiving vessel in the Indian 
Ocean, as well. 
 
13) DPJ's Hatoyama: "Japanese oil was used in Iraq war," reiterating 
opposition to extension of MSDF refueling mission 
 
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Full) 
September 23, 2007 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama 
renewed his opposition to an extension of the refueling mission 
being carried out by the Maritime Self-Defense Force's (MSDF) based 
on the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law yesterday. In a press 
conference in Tomakomai, Hokkaido, Hatoyama said: "Suspicions are 
growing that Japanese fuel provided to be used in the war in 
Afghanistan has been used in the Iraq war. The public will naturally 
react to the government's cooperation in the war while telling a 
lie." 
 
The main opposition party intends to question the government 
regarding the possible linkage between the refueling operation and 
the Iraq war by invoking its administrative investigation right. 
Hatoyama said: "The environment has been arranged to prove it is 
proper for us to oppose the extension of the MSDF refueling 
 
TOKYO 00004424  011.2 OF 011 
 
 
mission. 
 
In the press conference, Hatoyama also said that Administrative 
Defense Vice Minister Kohei Masuda had asked him to support the 
government's plan to extend the mission. Hatoyama quoted Masuda as 
saying: "Since Japan has said it would provide oil for Afghanistan, 
it is inconceivable that US warships that have received fuel from 
the MSDF have used it for other purposes." 
 
14) Hatoyama reveals plan to grill government in Diet over corrected 
refueling amount 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
September 23, 2007 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto or DPJ) Secretary-General Yukio 
Hatoyama held a press conference in Tomakomai City, Hokkaido, on 
Set. 22. In it, touching on the Defense Ministry's correction of the 
amount of fuel provided to a US refueling vessel in the Indian 
Ocean, Hatoyama said: "The US vessels that received fuel (from the 
MSDF) in the name of the war on terrorism were suspected to have 
been used in the war in Iraq. (The Defense Ministry's correction) 
has made it clear that the allegation was probably a fact." He thus 
indicated that the largest opposition party would grill the 
government on the issue in the ongoing extraordinary Diet session. 
 
15) George Washington to arrive at Yokosuka base on Aug. 19, 2008 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Abridged slightly) 
September 25, 2007 
 
The USS George Washington, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, is 
expected to arrive at the US Yokosuka Naval Base on Aug. 19, 2008, 
its new home port, according to Rear Adm. Richard Wren, the 
commander of the Japan-based aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk's 
battle group, in a press conference on Sept. 21. 
 
According to Rear Adm. Wren, the Kitty Hawk will leave the Yokosuka 
base in May 2008, and hold a ceremony at the Pearl Harbor base in 
Hawaii to hand over duties to the George Washington. Part of the 
crewmembers of the two vessels will also be replaced. 
 
Meanwhile, some 1,000 metropolitan area residents, mostly members of 
civic groups, have filed a class-action lawsuit seeking a 
provisional injunction to halt the construction work at the Yokosuka 
base, saying a nuclear accident would cause extensive damage to the 
area. Attention is focused on a court decision. 
 
SCHIEFFER