USA beseeches Japan to keep their 1000 troops in Iraq

[Bluebear]

TOKYO - The United States has asked Japan to extend its troop deployment in Iraq beyond the scheduled expiration of the current mandate in December, a Japanese newspaper reported Sunday.

The U.S. State Department asked Japan's Foreign Ministry earlier this month to consider extending Japan's current mission, which is set to expire in December, the nationwide daily Asahi Shimbun reported.

Ministry officials discussed the possibility last week but remained undecided, due to uncertainty over the security conditions in Iraq, the newspaper said.

Just last Thursday, an explosion damaged a Japanese military vehicle outside the nation's base camp near Samawah in southern Iraq.

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/world/11991260.htm

[Postman]

1. Why aren't the other Arab states in the region offering their troops?

Isn't it peculiar that none of the Arab states in the region have offered "help" in Iraq?

[Bluebear]

2. Yet, DR. Rice says Iran is "out of step" with the region

Your question is a great one.

[Mortos]

3. My experience with the Japanese troops in Iraq

was they do nothing by themselves. When I was there, the Japanese rolled around in their armored vehicles and escorted convoys in the safer parts of southern Iraq. When they were in the convoys, they were escorted by American troops (proteced by). So the Japanese are little more than window dressing but they keep up the international coalition pretense. I was told, though I can't verify it, that the Japanese troops were not alowed to have ammo or engage attackers.

Now don't get me wrong, anyone who goes to Iraq (for longer than a turkey dinner) is braver than those who sit back and talk about it but the Japanese could leave tomorrow and have no effect on the overall military mission.

For the lurking freepers who think I am lying, look at the picture below. It is me and some Japanese troops in Iraq earlier this year. I invite any war supporters to go to Iraq and support the troops or war you so love.

[Coexist]

4. thanks for your service

great post.

[Postman]

5. Were you military or there as a civilian?

What are your perceptions of how the Iraqi people view the US presence?