Iraq asks Japan to extend mission

[cal04]

Iraq's Foreign Minister has asked Japan to extend the presence of its soldiers in the country past next month's scheduled end of their mission.
Australian soldiers are helping provide security for the Japanese troops in the southern province of Al Muthanna. Japan's ground self defence force has more than 500 soldiers working on humanitarian projects in southern Iraq.

Special legislation that authorised their mission is due to expire next month.
On a visit to Tokyo, Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari has renewed a call for the mission to be extended.

Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has been considering that issue, with the expectation that the mission will be extended for another year, although the troops may be withdrawn by June. The decision may affect the ongoing presence of Australian troops in Iraq, who are in part responsible for the security of the Japanese contingent.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200511/s1517159.htm

[Greeby]

1. I sense another fistfight coming up in the Japanese Parliament

I saw the footage of what happened when the idea of sending defense forces to Iraq was initially proposed, makes the Commons look tame :wow:

[spinbaby]

2. They're working on water purification

A very valuable service in a country like Iraq.

[daleo]

5. The coalition shouldn't have blown up the water plants

I think Iraq handled its water supply issues just fine before the invasion.

[enigma000]

7. They blew up the water plants?

Did they think Saddam was hiding WMD there? I didn't know about this.

[daleo]

8. Sure, they hit water treatment plants during the invasion

Part of shock and awe.

[cal04]

3. Iraq says troop pullout will lead to violence

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari urged Japan on Friday to keep its troops in southern Iraq, saying an early pullout of coalition forces would lead to more violence by insurgents. Zebari said his war-torn country had made progress on improving security, but added it faced a crucial period ahead of the December 15 parliamentary election. "The difficult part has gone in my view. We're very close to reaching a more stable form of government and of security," Zebari told a news conference following a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

"Now, any premature withdrawal will send the wrong message to the terrorists, to the opposition ... that this coalition is fracturing and running, that their policies and strategies of undermining this process is winning." He said he could not give a time frame for when the coalition forces would be able to leave Iraq, but added that it would be at least months after the new Iraqi government was formed.
U.S. defense officials said this week that the Pentagon planned to reduce the number of U.S. troops in Iraq, currently 155,000, to about 138,000 after next month's election. This could be reduced further to about 100,000 next summer if conditions allowed.
http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-11-25T122802Z_01_RID538894_RTRUKOC_0_US-IRAQ-JAPAN.xml

[Orsino]

4. Translation: "* Tells Iraq to Ask Japan to Extend Mission" n/t

[jwirr]

6. Which Iraq - the people of Iraq or the puppet government?

[HuffleClaw]

9. iraq my foot

what a sham.