When invasion is the name of the game

Japan, being a second-grader in international politics, is looking desperately for a way out to bypass all existing barriers to join that 'great game' by sending its troops to the treacherous Iraqi deserts. But as country's constitution is still upholding the principle of denouncing the war, the policy-makers in Tokyo are finding it a bit difficult to fulfill the desire of being part of the game. At the same time, this in no way means that they are sitting idly and accepting the specific clause of the Japanese constitution as fait accompli.

In the fertile ground of politics there always remains loopholes that can provide skilful politicians rooms for careful manoeuvring. The main ruling political party of Japan, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and particularly Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, are presently involved exactly in such calculative handling of sensitive political issues. This might soon result in heavily armed Japanese troops being stationed in troubled spots around Iraq. That would definitely turn our existing understanding of the military forces of Japan completely obsolete. And that would mark the start of a whole new chapter in Japanese reality, when for the first time after country's unconditional surrender in 1954 Japanese soldiers will be seen again patrolling the streets of cities far outside the border of their own country. But a number of hard obstacles still remain to be overcome before that collective dream of a group of leading Japanese politicians might turn into reality.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

The LDP recently gave backing to a controversial bill allowing the government to send troops to Iraq. The proposed law has already been heavily criticised as going against a constitution that even puts a barrier on having a regular army for the country. And passage of the bill within the main ruling party too was not an easy job. As many senior politicians within the LDP voiced concern that the bill would put Japan's Self Defence Forces in danger, the party delayed the approval of the bill by a day before it was ready for submission to the cabinet. At the end of the day Koizumi was able to put down dissent and pass it over to the cabinet for its prior approval before submitting the bill to the Diet. The government now wants the Diet to enact the new bill by late July. The ruling coalition has already extended the current session of the Diet by 40 days to enable lawmakers to meet the deadline. But the passage of the bill would need much more than just extending the parliamentary session as opposition parties, angered by ruling camp's decision to go ahead with the bill without consulting properly with others, are refusing to discuss a timetable with the governing coalition. The opposition camp is insisting that their own fact finding missions to Iraq have come to a definite conclusion that the situation in Iraq remains volatile. It is also not clear what exact role Japan's Self Defence Forces personnel are to perform in Iraq.

As the loggerhead continues, observers in Japan believe that the passage of the new bill at the parliament will not be easy for the government. Not only because the opposition camp is expected to oppose the bill, but also because some LDP heavyweights too remain dissatisfied with its provisions. The move for a possible dispatch of Japanese military personnel to Iraq came after Koizumi met US President George W. Bush in Texas last month. There President Bush asked Koizumi for visible cooperation in the reconstruction of Iraq, and Koizumi agreed to do so in a best possible way. As a result, critics are also charging that the new law is another symbol that Japan is merely following the US lead in dealing with Iraq. No doubt Washington is pleased to find Japan moving along the road just as the US would like to see her to do.

The bill, officially named as the bill for humanitarian and reconstruction aid in Iraq, comprises 21 clauses in three chapters. In its original form the bill mainly detailed activities to be carried out by Japan's Self Defence Forces in three different fields, namely: distributing humanitarian aid and reconstruction support; logistic support for US and British forces to help restore and maintain public order; and activities to help dismantle biological, chemical and other weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. But the last part was later removed due to objections from leading LDP members. They claimed that it made no sense to include such responsibility when no weapons of mass destruction was uncovered in Iraq.

Overtly, the bill subscribes to the idea of global cooperation in the process of reconstructing Iraq. But critics claim that the dispatch of Japanese troops for that purpose would definitely amount to involving them in clearing up the mess that has been created as a result of direct intervention from outside. They also think sending Self Defence Forces personnel to help rebuild Iraq might pose a danger to their lives.

The bill also mentions that Japanese Self Defence Forces personnel are to carry out their mission in places where presently there are no combat operations going on and where there are less chances that combat operations are to take place any time soon. This provision too is being criticised for not taking into consideration the realities of situation in present day Iraq. The question that many are asking is just where in Iraq Japanese troops will actually be deployed? The US army has just started a major mop-up operation across the country and US soldiers continue to be killed and wounded in a steady stream of ambush by Iraqis. As a result, many are now inclined to believe that sending Japanese military personnel without carefully calculating the risk might turn out to be catastrophic.

Moreover, Japanese Self Defence Forces personnel will be given permission to use weapons only for self protection and to protect colleagues and other people involved in works related to reconstruction under their supervision. This too raises further question about what they are supposed to do in case another wave of looting and destruction starts in Iraqi cities where they are to be deployed. Are they supposed to remain 'neutral' spectators just like the Americans did when Baghdad was systematically looted and robbed?

There is an urgent need for Japan to clarify such important issues before sending troops to so-called non-combat zones of a country where there is no shortage of any combat operation. But it seems the present Japanese leadership is not in a rush to find out satisfactory answers to any such queries. Their thoughts are probably too occupied by the superficial presence of an enemy next door. And to contain that enemy in a meaningful way, they would probably need strong support and cooperation from the mightiest of all military powers in human history. Hence, it would not be wise at all to ignore the request coming from that power, be it at the cost of risking lives of its own citizens.