Japan to order navy ships home from Afghan mission

[cal04]

Source: Reuters

Japanese ships will be ordered to withdraw from a mission backing U.S.-led military operations in Afghanistan, Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Thursday as a midnight deadline to extend the mission was set to expire.

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has been struggling against a resurgent opposition to enact a new bill to allow Japan's navy to keep providing free fuel for U.S. and other ships patrolling the Indian Ocean, a mission seen as vital by close ally Washington.

"It is very regrettable that Japan's important activity will have to be suspended," Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura told a parliamentary panel debating the bill.

"Japan must rejoin the international team to fight terrorism as soon as possible by enacting new legislation."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071101/wl_nm/japan_afghan_dc

[FREEWILL56]

1. I didn't even know Japan was allowed to have a navy after ww2.

[Thothmes]

2. JMSDF

Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force. Operated with them in the 70's. Quite professional and capable. Little offense strength, but excellent ASW capability.

[saigon68]

3. Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force

Used for NeoCon Global Expansion

LOL

[Stella_Artois]

4. I'm sure they will be missed

Although what role they have in conducting operations in a land locked country hundreds of miles from the sea is something of a mystery to me.