Koizumi's subordination to U.S. -- Akahata editorial, June 12

The G-8 summit closed after adopting the chair's summary "welcoming" United Nations Security Council Resolution 1546 on Iraq and the political declaration on the "Greater Middle East Initiative".

Withdrawal is only viable option for SDF

With the military occupation of Iraq getting bogged down in an increasing quagmire, U.S. President George W. Bush asked for the NATO forces to take part in the multinational force in response to the new UNSC resolution on Iraq.

French President Jacques Chirac rejected the request, saying that the participation would mean interfering in Iraq. In contrast, Japan's Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro lost no time in telling President Bush that he is willingly order the Self-Defense Forces deployed in Iraq to participate in the MNF to fulfill his commitment to the Japan-U.S. alliance in a global context. How extraordinary Koizumi's subordination to the United States is!

At a news conference following the summit, Koizumi reiterated his plan to have the SDF participate in the MNF, expressing hope that the Iraqi people show willingness to reconstruct their country for themselves regardless of pro-U.S. or anti-U.S. sentiments.

If the SDF takes part in the MNF that uses force as a matter of course, it is a clear violation of the Constitution's Article 9 which prohibits "the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes." The Koizumi Cabinet has supported the U.S. lawless war of aggression against Iraq and sent the SDF in violation of the Constitution. Iraqi people used to have friendly sentiments toward Japan as a country with the peace constitution extending economic cooperation. They now have a critical view of Japan. This shows that Japan has no choice but to withdraw the SDF.

To resolve the Iraq question, it is essential for sovereignty to be restored in reality to the Iraqi people, allowing them to decide national affairs on their own.

If the prime minister really wants to help the Iraqi people rebuild their nation for themselves, he should give up the fallacious policy of dispatching the SDF to Iraq as a gesture to give the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty the highest priority. The only alternative for the Japanese government to take is to carry out humanitarian reconstruction assistance by peaceful means, without relying on military forces and develop an independent diplomacy based on the constitutional principles of peace so that peace will be ensured in Iraq and the Middle East.

The war of aggression against Iraq, the ensuing military operations, suppression, torture, and massacres by the occupation forces have left at least 10,000 Iraqi people dead. This has given rise to Iraqi people's anger and resistance, and the war deepens between the occupation forces and resistance groups.

The U.S. and British forces, which are responsible for the calamities and confusion caused by the Iraq war, will continue their presence in Iraq by changing their name to "multinational force." The U.S. forces assuming "joint command" will command the MNF. If the SDF are incorporated into the MNF, it will seriously damage Japan's relations with Iraq and other Middle East countries.

End occupation now

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell's letter attached to U.N. Resolution 1546 stated that MNF activities will include combat operations, internment, and search for weapons by forces critical of the provisional government or the U.S. forces. However, what the United States is called upon to do now is to severely restrain its military operations hostile to the Iraqi people and take steps to promptly withdraw the U.S. forces from Iraq.

This is the only effective way toward ending the occupation of Iraq.

Japan must act now to avoid catastrophic consequences. Deployment of the SDF in Iraq in the name of the Japan-U.S. military alliance must end now. Siding with the United States, which is critically isolated from the world because of its war of aggression and occupation of Iraq, will further rouse Iraqi people's hostility toward Japan. (end)