Japan shows extraordinary zeal for taking part in U.S. war -- Akahata
editorial, October 12, 2001

The parliamentary discussion of the bill for supporting the U.S. Forces
has revealed how absurd it is for the Koizumi Cabinet to seek to be involved
in supporting a U.S. war under the pretext of "combating terrorism."

The bill in support of the U.S. Forces is a foreboding scheme in that it
if enacted would allow the Self-Defense Forces to help the U.S. in waging
wars in any place in the world, including third nations' territories which
are far away from Japan.

NATO countries say 'No'

The dangerous nature of the bill was revealed when Prime Minister Koizumi
Jun'ichiro stated that it will be possible for the U.S. Forces to broaden
targets of military strikes to include countries other than Afghanistan.

Asked by Fudesaka Hideyo of the Japanese Communist Party to give his
thought as to what Japan would do to deal with this question, Prime Minister
Koizumi said he will only think what Japan can do when that actually
happens. He showed no concern about the possible escalation of the U.S. war
to include attacks on targets in countries other than Afghanistan; he even
indicated his willingness to cooperate with the U.S. in such an escalation

When the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. sent a letter to the Security
Council expressing U.S. intention to expand targets of military strikes, it
caused a concern that such an escalation may disrupt the international
anti-terrorist alliance. Such escalated military attacks won't be excused,
even if the U.S. insists that the suspects of the terrorist attacks against
the U.S. must be arrested.

Even Britain, which is taking part in military strikes against targets in
Afghanistan under the North Atlantic Treaty which allows the parties to
exercise the right of collective self-defense, stated that it has no
intention of attacking countries other than Afghanistan.

At a time when criticism of the U.S. for seeking to attack other targets
beside Afghanistan even among NATO countries is increasing, Japan's prime
minister, far from criticizing the U.S., stated that he will consider
helping the U.S. How can the government of Japan, which is not allowed to
exercise the right of collective self-defense under the Constitution, adopt
an attitude of cooperating with the U.S. in attacking other countries?

All this shows how extraordinary it is for Prime Minister Koizumi to be
prepared to do anything in support of the United States no matter what it
is.

As part of "cooperation with and support for the U.S. Forces," the bill
includes supply of munitions, transport of weapons and ammunition, repair
and maintenance of weapons, medical treatment of wounded soldiers, and
intelligence gathering.

These activities are exactly what NATO defines as an "exercise of the
right of collective self-defense." In parliament, Fudesaka Hideyo of the
Japanese Communist Party argued that measures laid down in the bill are
tantamount to exercising the right of collective self-defense, which the
government admits to be prohibited by the Constitution. Prime Minister
Koizumi Jun'ichiro in reply said, "The world's common sense aside, we should
follow a Japanese way of viewing things." The prime minister has thus
admitted that he knows that his explanation won't be accepted
internationally.

Article 9 of Japan's Constitution stipulates that "the Japanese people
forever renounce ... the threat or use of force." The bill clearly is
unconstitutional, even though the government tries to explain that the SDF
will not use force or that the SDF will operate in areas where there are no
combat operations.

In combating terrorists, any area may turn into a combat area once the
U.S. Forces counter terrorist attacks. The bill allows SDF members to use
weapons to defend those who are under their control, which makes the use of
force likely to occur.

U.N.-led measures

The task is for Japan with the peace Constitution to work in concert with
the United Nations so that the U.N. takes the initiative in accusing the
suspects and supporters of the terrorist crimes, bringing them into custody
through appropriate measures and then tried in courts. This is what the
international community asks from Japan.

The Koizumi Cabinet without making such efforts at all is bent on
sending the SDF on an expeditionary mission as part of a U.S. war, which is
outside U.N. provisions. Let us join forces in working for peace and ending
terrorism and foiling the extraordinary moves of the Koizumi Cabinet for
going to war. (end)