Japan Lawmakers Pass Bill to Quit Iraq

Japan Lawmakers Pass Bill to Quit Iraq
Kyodo News | November 27, 2007

TOKYO - The opposition-controlled House of Councillors committee on foreign affairs and defense approved a bill Nov. 27 to withdraw Japanese Air Self-Defense Force troops from Iraq by terminating the special law on reconstruction aid for the war-torn nation.

The bill, proposed by the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan to terminate the special measures law to support Iraqi reconstruction, will be approved during the upper house plenary session Nov. 28. But it is expected to be voted down or scrapped by the more powerful House of Representatives dominated by the ruling coalition.

The expected voting by one of the two chambers for the ASDF withdrawal will likely influence discussions on Japan's international contributions, which have often been criticized as following the United States, and on when the troops should withdraw.

The DPJ has presented the bill to highlight the differences between its stance and that of the government, which has submitted a bill aimed at resuming Japan's refueling mission in support of U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in and around Afghanistan.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura stressed the need to continue the reconstruction work in Iraq and denied the government is making any compromise over the bill on withdrawing from Iraq, saying at a regular press conference, "I believe the necessity for Japan to continue its transport activities remains unchanged. Furthermore, the expiration of the special law has just been extended in June, and the government has no plans to scrap the law right now."

"Of course, I think the lower house will vote down the bill," the top government spokesman added.


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