 Defense chief says he can't explain specific cases that would require SDF withdrawal from Iraq The Defense Agency head has admitted his inability to be more specific regarding cases that require the Self-Defense Forces to withdraw from Iraq. This was in answer to a Japanese Communist Party representative in a House of Representatives special committee meeting on November 10. JCP representative Akamine Seiken demanded that the government immediately withdraw the SDF from Iraq, pointing out that there are no 'safe zones" for SDF units in Samawah and that the government has lied about this. Akamine asked Defense Agency Director General Ohno Yoshinori to be more specific about "an imminent danger that makes it difficult for Japanese SDF to continue to work in a safe environment," one of the four cases that require him to order the SDF to suspend, shelter, or withdraw from Iraq as explained in parliament by Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro on November 2. The Defense Agency director general said, "I don't have the capacity to be more specific about those cases." Akamine said to the defense chief, "If you don't have the capacity to explain it, you cannot convince the people the need to extend the SDF dispatch to Iraq." Regarding the state of emergency imposed on Iraq, Akamine asked what the government would do if specific measures are taken in this regard in Samawah where SDF units are deployed. Ohno just said that judgments on the ground will be made in accordance with the situation at the time and that SDF units in Samawah are taking safety measures. Referring to the New Zealand withdrawal from Iraq in September, Akamine said that the situation that forced New Zealand to withdraw troops from Iraq is similar to the situation in Samawah. (end) |