By Hiroaki Konno

In July of 2003, the Koizumi cabinet established the Special Measure Law for Support Restoration in Iraq, and the Ground Self-Defense Forces (SDF) in Hokkaido, consisting mainly of the 2nd Division in Asahikawa, headed for Iraq this February for logistical support and security duty, and humanitarian and reconstruction assistance. Iraq is where the U.S. led coalition forces are still suffering from attacks by insurgents, and where two Japanese diplomats, Mr. Katsuhiko Oku and Mr. Masamori Inoue, were shot and killed last November 29. There is no "non-combat area" in Iraq.

The SDF could only go to Iraq under the Special Measure Law, but not by the PKO (Peace Keeping Organization) cooperation Law. Unlike previous support activities the SDF's duty places them in the middle of the conflict. Considering some of the SDF's equipment such as the recoilless cannons, armored vehicles, machine guns, there is an indication of the possibility of killing or of being killed.

The Self Defense-Forces are not an Army. The SDF is only responsibile for guarding Japan, and they can be deployed abroad for Peace Keeping Operations. This time their duties include providing clean water and medical assistance in Samawah, which is in southern Iraq. Their duty schedule, such as the date of their withdrawal, is not yet known. We need to reconsider whether this deployment is worth providing this assistance. There is one suggestion that the SDF could help some NGOs who are engaged in relief activities, yet this suggestion is also dangerous.

The stance of the Koizumi cabinet, by following and relying on the U.S., seems to distort the ideal of Japanese pacifism. Japan ought to be engaged in reconstruction assistance within the framework of the UN, which is the most important organization committed to peace. It is enough at present for Japan to engage in indirect support, such as material support. Flying the Japanese flag in Iraq should not be allowed unless all Japanese are for the SDF's deployment there. It is not genuine international cooperation if these activities continue under the command of the U.S. and Britain. Also, there is a great fear that the use of force, which could happen, will hurt the name of the Self Defense-Forces, as it has been committed only to self-defense for 50 years.

Japanese citizens and politicians seem to be irresponsible. It is ludicrous that the mass media only reports the approval and disapproval rates about the dispatch of the SDF on TV or in newspapers and the arguments between the government party and the opposition party. It is predictable that the members of the SDF will be sacrificed. Japan is now facing the prospect of abandoning its dignity as a war-renouncing nation. In doing so, Japan will be obliged to recognize itself as a normal nation. Japan needs decisiveness in how to face terrorism and in what the Japan's role in the world based on Japanese pacifism should be. Japanese will join in war again unless all Japanese nationals contemplate the meaning of peace and cherish the will of pacifism.