NYT/AP: Japan Begins Withdrawing Troops From Iraq

[DeepModem Mom]

Japan Begins Withdrawing Troops From Iraq
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: July 7, 2006

TOKYO (AP) -- The first batch of Japanese troops began pulling out of Iraq Friday, with about 30 arriving in Kuwait on their way home, news reports said Friday. A C-130 transport aircraft of Japan's air force carrying about 30 troops arrived at a Kuwaiti airport Friday afternoon, Kyodo News agency reported from Kuwait. Public broadcaster NHK had a similar report.

Japan's Defense Agency official refused to confirm the reports, citing security.

The Japanese troops have been stationed in the southern Iraq city of Samawah for about two and a half years on a non-combat, humanitarian mission.

The Japanese officials say the withdrawal of all 600 or so troops will be carried out over the next two weeks.

The reported pullout followed Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's announcement of plans last month to withdraw its troops....

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Japan-Iraq.html?_r=1&oref=login

[Poll_Blind]

1. Now it's just US and 4 cooks from the Marshall Islands. UNITED!

Or is that 4 marshals from the Cooke Islands? Fuck all...

PB

[Greeby]

2. Coalition of the willing indeed

Guess that trip to Graceland couldn't change Koizumi's mind :eyes:

[gratuitous]

3. 600 troops from Japan?

While any loss to the "coalition" is unfortunate, the very idea that the Iraq fiasco is being carried out by a "coalition" would be laughable if it weren't for all the dead bodies piling up. And Japan's pulling out after all the trouble Bush went to, watching their prime minister's spastic Elvis routine! That's gratitude for ya.

[cyberpj]

4. So who does that leave besides US? nt

[sweettater]

5. Poland

doncha know? :)

[Ian David]

6. They need troops at home to fend-off future attracks by Godzilla. n/t

[goforit]

7. Hats off to Japan!... North Korea is quite an incentive.

[0007]

8. Glad to hear that Japan is shagging their aw-shitty out of Iraq

[leesa]

9. But, Bush said we were bestest friends now! I guess Graceland wasn't

enough.