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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 002507 
 
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 09/12/08 
 
Index: 
 
Opinion polls: 
1) Aso likely to win in the first ballot with survey showing 60 
PERCENT  of LDP lawmakers ready to cast their ballots for him in the 
LDP presidential election  (Sankei) 
2) Asahi spot poll shows 42 PERCENT  of the public back Aso in the 
upcoming Lower House election, with 53 PERCENT  giving his 
"effectiveness" as reason for support  (Asahi) 
3) Yomiuri poll gives Aso the election nod with 59 PERCENT  of 
public favoring him over DPJ rival Ozawa, who netted 28 PERCENT 
(Yomiuri) 
4) Internet poll shows Japanese favor Obama for U.S. president 
(Sankei) 
 
Election campaigning: 
5) Taro Aso in campaign speeches promised to spend fiscal money to 
boost the economy, while rival Kaoru Yosano promises to raise the 
consumption tax  (Nikkei) 
6) Poll: Aso grabs lead among LDP presidential candidates as person 
to lead LDP into Lower House election (Yomiuri) 
7) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) to sponsor 200 official 
candidates in expected Lower House election  (Sankei) 
8) DPJ President Ozawa begins nationwide stumping tour in 
preparation for next Lower House election  (Asahi) 
 
War on terror: 
9) Government to put in every effort to pass bill extending MSDF 
refueling mission in the Indian Ocean  (Yomiuri) 
10) U.S. understands Japan's reason for withdrawing MSDF from 
transport service in Iraq  (Yomiuri) 
11) With U.S. troop shift from Iraq to Afghanistan, Japan may be 
asked by U.S. to help foot the bill for the expanded operations 
(Asahi) 
12) With ASDF withdrawing from Iraq, and MSDF oil refueling service 
in Indian Ocean in doubt, Japan has reached crossroads in efforts to 
back war on terror  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
13) Iraq withdrawal decision received with surprise and relief 
(Asahi) 
 
14) Controversial Aircraft washer likely to be moved at Kadena base 
this month  (Okinawa Times) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) Poll: Aso secures 60 PERCENT  of LDP lawmaker votes 
 
SANKEI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
September 12, 2008 
 
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party has kicked off a race to elect 
its new president as the successor to Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. 
In the run-up to the party election set for Sept. 22, LDP Secretary 
General Taro Aso, 67, a candidate running from his faction in the 
LDP and up for his fourth challenge, is now certain to garner 230 
votes among the LDP's 387 lawmakers, having already secured 60 
PERCENT , the Sankei Shimbun found yesterday from its survey. 
 
The LDP also allocates a balloting slot of three votes to each of 
its prefectural federations, adding up to 141 votes. On the local 
side as well, Aso is reportedly leading all other candidates. As it 
stands, Aso is highly likely to garner a majority of the votes in 
 
TOKYO 00002507  002 OF 010 
 
 
the first ballot. The other four candidates are desperately trying 
for a roll back. The focus is whether they can slide into a 
run-off. 
 
The survey was conducted Sept. 10-11 by interviewing each 
candidate's camp, each LDP faction's leadership, and LDP lawmakers. 
The Sankei Shimbun tabulated survey results in its own way. 
 
According to findings from the survey, Aso has gained a wide range 
of support from various factions in the LDP. He has now secured a 
majority of 194 votes plus more than 20 votes among the LDP's 
lawmakers in the Diet's lower and upper chambers. The second 
runner-up is Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Kaoru Yosano, 70, 
unaffiliated with any faction, and he has secured around 50 votes. 
Former Defense Minister Yuriko Koike, 56, running from the Machimura 
faction, former LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Nobuteru 
Ishihara, 51, up from the Yamasaki faction, and former Defense 
Minister Shigeru Ishiba, 51, of the Tsushima faction, have also 
secured 20-30 votes. The voting attitudes of 20-30 LDP lawmakers are 
still unclear. 
 
Broken down into factions, Aso is supported by all of the Nikai 
faction and is also supported by almost all of the Ibuki, Aso, and 
Koumura factions. In the third-largest Koga faction, its chairman, 
LDP Election Strategy Council Chairman Makoto Koga, and more than 
half support Aso. In the Tsushima and Yamasaki factions as well, 
nearly a majority of their members clarified their support for Aso. 
 
2) Poll: 42 PERCENT  back Aso in LDP race 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
September 12, 2008 
 
In the wake of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's announcement of 
its presidential election, the Asahi Shimbun conducted a 
telephone-based spot nationwide public opinion survey. There are 
five candidates, and respondents were asked to pick the most 
appropriate one for prime minister. In this survey, LDP Secretary 
General Taro Aso ranked top at 42 PERCENT , outdistancing the other 
four. The second-ranking candidate was former LDP Policy Research 
Council Chairman Nobuteru Ishihara, standing at 10 PERCENT . Former 
Defense Minister Yuriko Koike was at 8 PERCENT , Economic and Fiscal 
Policy Minister Kaoru Yosano at 6 PERCENT , and former Defense 
Minister Shigeru Ishiba at 3 PERCENT . 
 
In the survey, respondents were also asked if they were interested 
in the LDP presidential election. In response to this question, 
"yes" came from 61 PERCENT , which was lower than the 69 PERCENT  at 
the time of the previous LDP race after Prime Minister Abe's 
resignation last year. Respondents were further asked about their 
impression of the LDP in the ongoing presidential race. Only 11 
PERCENT  answered that it has improved, with 21 PERCENT  saying it 
has worsened and 65 PERCENT  saying it remains unchanged. In the 
breakdown of public support for political parties, the LDP stood at 
29 PERCENT  (29 PERCENT  in the last survey taken Sept. 2-3), with 
the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) at 19 
PERCENT  (21 PERCENT  in the last survey). 
 
3) Poll: 59 PERCENT  favor Aso for premiership, Ozawa at 28 PERCENT 
 
 
YOMIURI (Top play) (Abridged) 
 
TOKYO 00002507  003 OF 010 
 
 
September 12, 2008 
 
In the wake of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's recent kick-off 
of its presidential election, the Yomiuri Shimbun conducted a 
telephone-based spot nationwide public opinion survey on Sept. 
10-11. Five candidates, including LDP Secretary General Taro Aso, 
are running in the LDP race. In the survey, respondents were asked 
who they thought would be appropriate for prime minister between 
each of the five and Ichiro Ozawa, president of the leading 
opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto). In response to this 
question, 59 PERCENT  chose Aso, with 28 PERCENT  opting for Ozawa 
in the head-to-head comparison of the two. 
 
Respondents were also asked who they thought would be the most 
appropriate person for the LDP presidency among the five candidates. 
Aso topped all others at 49 PERCENT , followed by former LDP Policy 
Research Council Chairman Nobuteru Ishihara at 12 PERCENT , former 
Defense Minister Yuriko Koike at 8 PERCENT , Economic and Fiscal 
Policy Minister Kaoru Yosano at 6 PERCENT , and former Defense 
Minister Shigeru Ishiba at 4 PERCENT . 
 
In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the LDP 
stood at 43.4 PERCENT , up 8.3 percentage points from 35.1 PERCENT 
in a telephone-based spot survey taken Aug. 1-2 after Prime Minister 
Fukuda's shuffle of his cabinet. The figures can be taken as 
reflecting the LDP presidential race and its effects. The DPJ was at 
26.3 PERCENT , up 1.7 points. In addition, respondents were further 
asked which political party they would like to vote for in the next 
election for the House of Representatives in their proportional 
representation blocs. To this question, 39 PERCENT  chose the LDP, 
with 33 PERCENT  preferring the DPJ. The difference between the two 
parties is smaller than that between their respective public support 
ratings, and the LDP presidential race's effects seem unlikely to 
directly affect the public's voting attitude. 
 
4) Majority of respondents in Internet survey favor Obama as next 
U.S. president 
 
SANKEI (Page 6) (Full) 
September 12, 2008 
 
Almost a majority of respondents answering an Internet questionnaire 
predicted that Senator Barack Obama, the Democratic Party's 
candidate, would become the next American president. 
 
The survey was conducted from Aug. 25 through Sept. 5 on the 
Internet and received replies from about 11,100 people. Survey 
results were released by the Nippon Foundation. Asked about which 
candidate would become the next U.S. president, 48.6 PERCENT 
favored Obama, while only 13.3 PERCENT  picked Senator John McCain. 
 
Asked about what would happen to Japan-U.S. relations if Obama 
assumed the presidency, 20.3 PERCENT  replied that relations would 
become better, while 25.5 PERCENT  gave negative replies. Asked 
about bilateral relations if McCain became president, 14 PERCENT 
said relations would become better, while 25.6 PERCENT  were 
negative. 
 
5) Aso pledges aggressive use of fiscal disbursements, while Yosano 
promises consumption tax hike in three years, in policy addresses in 
LDP presidency race 
 
 
TOKYO 00002507  004 OF 010 
 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) Full) 
September 12, 2008 
 
Five candidates for the Liberal Democratic Party presidency to 
succeed Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda gave addresses on economic, 
fiscal and other policies before party members at LDP headquarters 
yesterday. Secretary General Taro Aso emphasized: "I will take a 
three-stage economic approach - pump priming for the time being, 
fiscal reconstruction over the medium term, and economic growth in 
the mid- to long-term term." State Minister in charge of Economic 
and Fiscal Policy Kaoru Yosano stressed the need to raise the 
consumption tax by 2-3 PERCENT  as measures to rebuild the nation's 
finances. 
 
Stressing three years would be needed to bring the economy back on a 
solid recovery track, Aso said: "I will support the economy by 
taking every possible means," adding that he would use fiscal 
disbursements in an effective way. Aso also remarked that he would 
aim to reconstruct the fiscal system by increasing tax revenues 
through economic revitalization, but he did not refer to any 
specific tax-increase measures. 
 
To maintain the current social security system, Yosano said that an 
increase in the consumption tax is inevitable, stressing the need to 
raise the tax to 10 PERCENT  by 2015. But he added: "Different tax 
rates should be imposed on daily living necessaries and goods people 
need to buy every month." 
 
Former Policy Research Council Chairman Nobuteru Ishihara labeled 
the three years from now as an intensive reform period and said: "I 
am determined to build an independent welfare state only addressing 
(a hike in) the consumption tax as the overall finish of sweeping 
tax reform." Former Defense Minister Yuriko Koike stated: "There are 
other things we should do before raising the consumption tax." 
Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba just said: "A hike in the 
consumption tax in the future is unavoidable, along with reviews of 
the direct-indirect tax ratio and of the progressive tax-rate 
system. 
 
6) Poll: Aso grabs lead among LDP presidential candidates as person 
to lead LDP into Lower House election 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 12, 2008 
 
A Yomiuri nationwide telephone opinion poll, conducted on Sept. 
10-11, on the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election 
found that Secretary General Taro Aso had gained a great advantage 
over the four other candidates when the question was asked who would 
be most suitable as the one to lead the LDP into the next House of 
Representatives election in a head-to-head match with Ichiro Ozawa, 
president of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), the largest 
opposition party. 
 
Fifty-nine percent also said that Aso would be more suitable to 
become prime minister than Ozawa. Ozawa secured only 28 PERCENT  of 
the public's support. By age, about 80 PERCENT  of respondents in 
their twenties picked Aso. By sex, Aso garnered 64 PERCENT  of 
female respondents support, while Ozawa secured 22 PERCENT . 
 
Forty-seven percent of unaffiliated voters said that they wanted Aso 
to become prime minister, while 25 PERCENT  preferred Ozawa. Since 
 
TOKYO 00002507  005 OF 010 
 
 
nonaligned voters are believed to be the key factor for winning the 
next Lower House election, if an Aso-led government is inaugurated, 
it will likely become a threat to the Ozawa-led DPJ. 
 
How its own supporters will respond is a potential concern for the 
largest opposition party because 30 PERCENT  of DPJ supporters said 
that they preferred Aso, although 61 PERCENT  answered Ozawa would 
be more suitable than Aso. It seems that all DPJ supporters will not 
necessarily vote in the general election for the party of Ozawa, who 
has just been reelected for a third term as DPJ president. 
 
The poll found only 9 PERCENT  percent of LDP supporters replying 
that Ozawa would be more appropriate for the prime minister's post. 
But 37 PERCENT  of LDP supporters preferred Ozawa to Yuriko Koike, 
32 PERCENT  preferred Ozawa over Shigeru Ishiba, 30 PERCENT 
preferred Ozawa to Kaoru Yosano, and 23 PERCENT  preferred Ozawa to 
Nobuteru Ishihara. It is apparent that with the exception of Aso, 
none of four LDP presidential candidates are seen as having the 
capability to lead their party to victory in a head-to-head match 
with the Ozawa-led party in a general election. 
 
Sixty-one percent of LDP supporters found Aso suitable to become the 
new LDP president. Aso was followed by Ishihara who secured 11 
PERCENT , Koike with 8 PERCENT , Yosano with 5 PERCENT , and Ishiba 
with 4 PERCENT . 
 
By gender, Koike, who is the first Japanese woman to run for LDP 
president, garnered only 9 PERCENT  of female supporters, coming in 
third after Aso and Ishihara. 
 
7) DPJ to announce today 200 official candidates as first batch for 
Lower House election 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
September 12, 2008 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Ichiro Ozawa and other 
party executives in a board meeting yesterday confirmed that the DPJ 
will announce tomorrow its first pick of candidates for the next 
House of Representatives election. Although the DPJ has informally 
endorsed 246 candidates, including incumbent lawmakers and new-face 
candidates, it plans to reduce the number of candidates to about 
¶200. 
 
Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama, after the meeting, told reporters: 
"We will endorse those who will be able to win." The aim is to gear 
up those who are delayed in their preparations for the race. The DPJ 
aims to field a total of 260 candidates eventually. 
 
Attending the opening ceremony of the party's election headquarters 
in Sapporo, Ozawa gave words of encouragement: "I want you to be 
elected in all single-seat constituencies in Hokkaido where our 
party's support base is strong. I also would like you to lead our 
efforts to take over the reins of government." 
 
In order to come up with a manifesto (set of campaign pledges) for 
the next Lower House election, the DPJ plans to hold "manifesto 
public hearings" to exchange views with voters across the nation, 
starting next week. 
 
8) DPJ President Ozawa starts nationwide stumping tour 
 
 
TOKYO 00002507  006 OF 010 
 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
September 12, 2008 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Ichiro Ozawa arrived in 
Sapporo yesterday, hitting the campaign road on his nationwide tour 
for the first time after his reelection for a third term became 
certain. The DPJ plans to announce about 200 candidates as its first 
pick for the next House of Representatives election. With an early 
Lower House election in mind, the largest opposition party is 
accelerating preparations for that election. 
 
Ozawa attended an opening ceremony of his party's Hokkaido election 
headquarters and a rally hosted by the Japan Trade Union 
Confederation (Rengo). In the rally, he stressed his determination 
to take over the reins of government, saying: "I will do my best to 
create new systems for the daily lives of people." 
 
As the DPJ has a strong support base in Hokkaido, it won eight 
single-seat constituency races but it lost four competitions. Ozawa 
has started to strengthen the party's political base by 
participating in meetings of industrial associations. 
 
Ozawa will set full motion his nationwide stumping tour next week. 
He is expected to attend meetings that the DPJ will hold in regional 
areas in order to compile a manifesto (set of campaign pledges) for 
the next Lower House election. 
 
9) Government decides to end ASDF Iraq mission and make utmost 
efforts to continue refueling mission, while stressing need to 
eradicate terrorism in Afghanistan 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
September 12, 2008 
 
The government announced yesterday a plan to withdraw before the end 
of the year the Air Self-Defense Force troops deployed in Kuwait as 
part of Japan's Iraq reconstruction assistance, putting an end to 
the five years of the SDF's activities in Iraq. The government plans 
to make all-out efforts for the continuation of the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, slated 
to expire next January. But given the strong opposition of the 
Democratic Party of Japan, the largest party in the Upper House, 
there are no prospects for the refueling mission bill to pass the 
Diet. 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda yesterday explained this way to 
reporters the reason for withdrawing the ASDF from Iraq: "The 
security situation in Iraq has improved. I think the situation 
allows us to consider pulling the SDF out of the country." 
 
The government sent an ASDF advance unit to Kuwait in December 2003 
based on the Iraq Special Measures Law that was enacted in July that 
year. The ASDF has been airlifting troops and supplies between 
Kuwait, Baghdad, and Arbil for the U.S.-led coalition forces. As of 
Sept. 10 this year, the ASDF made 768 flights airlifting a total of 
640 tons of supplies. 
 
The Ground Self-Defense Force, too, carried out such reconstruction 
support activities as providing medical support, repairing public 
facilities, and providing clean water in the southeastern part of 
Iraq. By its withdrawal from the country in July 2006, the GSDF 
repaired a total 133 schools and medical facilities and provided 
 
TOKYO 00002507  007 OF 010 
 
 
53,500 tons of water. 
 
The government's decision to end the ASDF mission was prompted by 
the shift of weight to the war on terror in Afghanistan by the 
United States and other countries. 
 
The prime minister yesterday had this to say about Japan's 
international cooperation after leaving Iraq: "The interest of the 
international community is shifting to Afghanistan. We must 
eradicate terrorism." He thus emphasized the plan to make utmost 
efforts to contribute to the war on terror. 
 
Nevertheless, sending SDF troops to Afghanistan is extremely 
difficult as there is no legal basis. Japan's international 
contributions would center on its refueling mission in the Indian 
Ocean for the time being. As such, the prime minister pointed out 
the need to continue the mission at all costs. 
 
Five LDP presidential candidates are also calling for the 
continuation of the refueling mission. Former LDP Vice President 
Taku Yamasaki said: "The DPJ is opposed to the extension. We should 
make this a campaign issue in the next Lower House election." But 
even if the ruling coalition wins a majority in the next Lower House 
election, there will be no change to the divided Diet in which the 
opposition bloc controls the Upper House. 
 
In anticipation of its being forced to suspend the refueling 
mission, the government has begun studying its possible responses, 
such as enhanced humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in 
Afghanistan. 
 
10) U.S. shows understanding to ASDF pullout 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 12, 2008 
 
Igarashi, Washington 
 
The Japanese government announced yesterday that it would end the 
Air Self-Defense Force's airlift mission in Iraq before the end of 
the year. In response, the U.S. government released a statement 
showing understanding to Japan's decision: "The SDF has made 
important contributions to the coalition forces. Japan's sacrifice 
will never be forgotten." 
 
The statement released in the name of National Security Council 
spokesman Gordon Johndroe emphasized that the security situation in 
Iraq has improved owing to the reinforced U.S. troops and other 
factors, while referring to Japan's withdrawal from Iraq as the 
result of progress in that country. 
 
11) U.S. military shifts weight from Iraq to Afghanistan, may ask 
Japan to bear financial burden 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 12, 2008 
 
While the security situation in Iraq is improving, the situation in 
Afghanistan is worsening due to intensifying attacks by the 
antigovernment Taliban. 
 
The number of U.S. troops killed in fighting with the Taliban topped 
 
TOKYO 00002507  008 OF 010 
 
 
500 this year, more than the number in Iraq. The number of civilian 
casualties also increased 60 PERCENT  over last year. 
 
The U.S. Bush administration has decided to withdraw 8,000 military 
personnel from Iraq and to send 4,500 troops to Afghanistan. The 
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan has 
also been reinforced, with its members now totaling 63,000. But the 
situation is such that "We cannot say that we are about to win a 
victory in the war in Afghanistan," as said by Admiral Mike Mullen, 
chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs. 
 
It is also necessary to shift funds to Afghanistan. U.S. Defense 
Secretary Gates in congressional testimony on Sept. 10 expressed 
hope that allies that have not dispatched troops will bear a heavier 
financial burden. It is estimated that over one billion dollars will 
be needed to strengthen Afghanistan's troops. The secretary's 
reference to this topic itself reflects his strong hopes for allies' 
financial assistance. The U.S. is expected to come to ask Japan to 
shoulder a financial burden in exchange for the planned withdrawal 
of Air Self-Defense Force troops from Iraq. 
 
12) Japan's antiterrorism cooperation at crossroads; ASDF Iraq 
mission to end; Continuation of refueling mission also uncertain 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
September 12, 2008 
 
By Takayuki Shimizu 
 
The government decided yesterday to end the Air Self-Defense Force's 
mission in Iraq before the end of the year. As a result, the 
Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean 
will be Japan's only antiterrorism cooperation with the United 
States. Whether the government can continue the refueling mission is 
uncertain due to the divided Diet and opposition from the public. 
 
Japan's decision to withdraw the ASDF comes from the fact that a UN 
resolution serving as the basis for the ASDF mission expires at the 
end of the year, that the security situation in Iraq has improved, 
and that the U.S. government is shifting weight from Iraq to 
Afghanistan in its antiterrorism measures. 
 
Since the 9/11 attacks on the United States, Japan's international 
contributions have been centered on three activities: the Ground 
Self-Defense Force's reconstruction assistance in Iraq (ended in 
2006), the ASDF's airlift mission, and the MSDF's refueling mission 
in the Indian Ocean. With the ASDF pullout, the refueling mission 
would be Japan's only overseas operation. The government is eager to 
continue the refueling mission, with Defense Minister Yoshimasa 
Hayashi saying, "Japan must not drop out of (the war on terror)." 
The situation is severe, however. 
 
To continue the refueling mission, the government and ruling 
coalition intend to submit to the extraordinary Diet session in the 
fall a bill amending the New Antiterrorism Special Measures Law 
scheduled to expire in January. But there are cautious views not 
only in the opposition bloc, which controls the Upper House, but 
also in the New Komeito. Further, if the next prime minister 
dissolves the Lower House at the outset of the next Diet session 
after the LDP presidential election, the fate of the bill would 
become even more uncertain. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002507  009 OF 010 
 
 
The question is widespread in the public as to why Japan has to 
provide the vessels of the United States and other countries with 
fuel free of charge when crude oil prices are so high. 
 
Although all LDP presidential candidates are calling for the 
continuation of the refueling mission, they have yet to present any 
convincing plan to the New Komeito and the public. The "Japan-U.S. 
alliance in a global context" that started during the Koizumi 
administration is now at a crucial stage. 
 
13) Surprise and relief greet the government's decision to withdraw 
ASDF from Iraq 
 
ASAHI (Page 37) (Excerpts) 
September 12, 2008 
 
The government on Sept. 11 revealed that it planned to withdraw by 
the end of the year Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) personnel from 
Iraq. After almost five years of activities in a "combat zone" in 
Iraq, suddenly everything will stop. Although surprise has spread 
across the Defense Ministry and the Self-Defense Forces, there were 
senior officials and officers who took the news with relief on their 
faces. On the other hand, the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) 
continues to supply fuel for the multinational force operating in 
the Indian Ocean. Those involved in the peace movement will now be 
watching carefully to see what the government's next move will be. 
 
Sept. 11 was the day marking the seventh year since the terrorist 
attacks on America. The Defense Ministry held an event in which an 
appeal was made about the importance of the war on terror, and 
instructions went out from Minister Hayashi to senior officials. One 
senior uniformed officer could not conceal the surprise on his face 
about the news. 
 
The ASDF has dispatched three C-130 transport planes from Komaki 
Airbase in Aichi Prefecture. As of Sept. 10 this year, the planes 
have carried out 768 flights. Although the aircraft transport 
multinational and United Nations personnel as well as materiel, in 
fact, most of the work is reportedly related to U.S. troops. 
 
Since the C-130 pilots and maintenance crew are limited in number, 
the same personnel have been dispatched repeatedly. There seemed to 
be no exit for such dangerous work, with a British Royal Air Force 
C-130 having crashed in 2005. But with the news of withdrawal, a 
sign of relief passed over the face of one senior uniformed officer. 
 
 
14) Aircraft washer likely to be moved at Kadena base this month 
 
OKINAWA TIMES (Page 5) (Full) 
Eve., September 10, 2008 
 
A new aircraft washing facility is expected to go operational this 
month at the U.S. Air Force's Kadena base, sources revealed today. 
The new facility, designed to wash large- and medium-sized aircraft, 
is located away from the current aircraft wash rack in place, and 
has already been completed. Japan and the United States will shortly 
hold a meeting of their intergovernmental joint committee to go 
through procedures to transfer the new facility to the U.S. 
military. The wash rack will now be moved from its current location. 
"One of the base-caused sufferings we've had for years will be 
mitigated at long last," one local resident said. 
 
TOKYO 00002507  010 OF 010 
 
 
 
Kenji Chinen, director general of the Okinawa prefectural 
government's cultural and environmental affairs department, and 
other officials from the prefectural government requested today that 
aircraft noise around the U.S. military's Kadena base and Futenma 
airfield be reduced. In response to this request, Masahiro Akase, 
director general of the planning department at the Defense 
Ministry's Okinawa bureau, explained the aircraft wash rack's 
relocation. 
 
The current aircraft washing facility's location is contiguous to a 
residential area of Kadena Town's Yara district, and locals living 
there have been affected by splashing water. Kadena Town has 
requested for years that the aircraft washer be relocated at an 
early date. 
 
In 1996, the Japan-U.S. Special Action Committee on Okinawa (SACO) 
finalized a report that recommended Japan and the United States to 
relocate the aircraft washer and the adjacent naval tarmac to 
Okinawa City. However, their relocation will be completed in fiscal 
2010 or later. Kadena Town has therefore requested the aircraft 
washing facility be separately relocated earlier than scheduled. 
 
Kadena Mayor Tokujitsu Miyagi welcomed the aircraft washing 
facility's relocation, saying: "We've seen no progress in their 
action to relocate the tarmac, so we negotiated to move at least the 
aircraft washing facility to another location that is far from the 
residential area in the town." With this, the mayor stressed that he 
would continue to work on the government to relocate the hardstand 
at an early date. 
 
Atsuko Ikehara, 64, the principal of Eiko Yochien, a kindergarten 
near the aircraft washing facility, said with a relief: "We always 
hear U.S. military aircraft's roaring engine sounds, and this has 
been a heavy burden on the children here, too. It took so many 
years." 
 
Kadena Town's Higashiku district is across from the aircraft 
washing, with Route 74, a prefectural road, in between. This 
district has been troubled with splashing water that wets laundries. 
"We wanted that facility to be relocated," said Toshio Shimabukuro, 
who represents the district. "It's good to lighten the burden for 
local people," he added. 
 
Kensaku Nakamoto, 35, an auto sales firm employee, voiced concern: 
"I'm sure the cars here will not be wet. But I'm worried that they 
may do engine adjustments there in that space." 
 
Chinen and other prefectural officials requested the Okinawa Defense 
Bureau work on the U.S. government to regulate noise in a strict 
manner and abate noise so as to clear the environmental benchmark. 
 
Meanwhile, the Okinawa Defense Bureau conducted a monitoring survey 
of aircraft paths around Futenma airfield from this month. "We have 
yet to see the results, but we will let the local residents know the 
results." 
 
ZUMWALT