SDF ships sent disregarding Afghan situation and supporting possible attack
on Iraq

Three Maritime Self-Defense Force ships left Japan on November 25 for the
Indian Ocean to support the U.S.-led retaliatory war against Afghanistan.

It is the first time since WWII that Japan's warships have been
dispatched to assist combat forces abroad. Akahata of November 26 said this
was prompted by Japan's zeal for "flying the Rising Sun flag."

No serious examination was made to determine whether sending Japanese
warships will help root out terrorist actions. The rapidly changing
situation in Afghanistan has been disregarded.

In Afghanistan, the Taliban regime is on the verge of collapse, and
observers point out the possibility that the U.S.-led operations will be
curtailed.

The question now is why the Japanese government had to send its warships?

The minesweeper tender "Uraga" may not reach Karachi before December 8.
The supply ship "Towada" and the destroyer "Sawagiri" are expected to begin
their logistical support activities for U.S. forces much later.

To resolve the time lag, the Japanese government plans to order the
supply ship "Hamana" and destroyers "Kurama" and "Kirisame," which have been
dispatched in advance of the "main units," to engage in activities in
support of U.S. forces.

Furthermore, the government is studying the possibility of using these
SDF ships to support possible U.S. air strikes against Iraq, on the
assumption that military operations in Afghanistan will be reduced.

Referring to Pentagon officials repeatedly making remarks in favor of
launching air strikes against Iraq, senior Defense Agency officials have
stated that if the United States carries out air strikes against Iraq as
"antiterrorism action," Japan's support for the U.S. Forces based on the SDF
dispatch law will not be excluded.

The latest dispatch of SDF units entails a growing danger that the SDF
will be deployed in unlimited areas. We must warn that SDF dispatches are
and will be allowed under the pretext of the need to act to eradicate
terrorism, which actually will enable the SDF to join with the U.S. Forces
anywhere in the world. (end)