Ruling coalition parties agree on sending SDF abroad

The three ruling coalition parties have agreed to use the Self-Defense
Forces in support of the U.S. Forces taking retaliatory military action
against the September 11 terror attacks in New York and Washington.

Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro (Liberal Democratic Party president)
met with the leaders of the ruling Komei and New Conservative parties and
agreed on a seven-point plan as Japan's response to the terrorist attacks in
the United States.

The seven-point plan included taking measures to enable the SDF to
provide logistics support in such areas as medical services, transportation,
and shipment of supplies to the U.S. Forces.

Other points in the plan include tightening security at U.S. military
bases in Japan as well as at major Japanese failities, helping gather
intelligence information, and organizing SDF operations to help refugees.

Later in the day, Prime Minister Koizumi met with U.S. Ambassador Howard
Baker to inform the United States of Japan's response.

Exacerbating the already worsening situation

Commenting on the Koizumi Cabinet's response to terrorism, Akahata of
September 20 stated as follows:

The Koizumi Cabinet fails to earnestly explore what the international
community should do to eliminate terrorism. Military retaliation will not
only cause damage and death, but has the danger of inciting further
terrorist attacks. Opinions at home and abroad show increasing concern about
a vicious circle of terrorist attacks and military retaliation.

The Koizumi Cabinet's decision, however, is based on the predetermined
policy of cooperating militarily with the U.S. in any circumstances. It goes
against international public opinion, and just worsens the situation.

The cabinet has decided to cooperate with the U.S. Forces in major
military operations that may take place against Afghanistan and other
countries. Japan will send SDF escort ships, cargo ships, aircraft, and
patrol aircraft to Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean to logistically support
the U.S. aircraft carrier task force in the Arabian Sea. In considering all
this, the cabinet has in mind a law to be enacted for this purpose.

There are further moves to legislate laws to make Japan capable of
militarily cooperating with the U.S. on a global scale, on the pretext of
having to respond to terrorist attacks. The purpose of such laws is to allow
the government to act on its own without restrictions put on it by the
"surrounding area" provision and U.N. resolutions. (end)