iraq

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Government considering expanding Air SDF mission in Iraq

Defense Agency Director General Nukaga Fukushiro on April 17 virtually admitted that the government, while considering finding a way for the withdrawal of Ground Self-Defense Force units from Iraq, is preparing to expand Air SDF activities in Iraq. He confirmed that the Air SDF units deployed in Iraq are gathering information about Iraqi airports other than the ones the ASDF units are using at present.

Nukaga stated this at the House of Representatives Special Committee meeting on the Iraq Question in answer to Akamine Seiken, Japanese Communist Party lawmaker.

Based in Kuwait, the ASDF units are involved in airlifts to Iraq supporting U.S.-led multilateral forces in Iraq.

Concerning the ASDF survey of Iraqi airports other than Basra and Tallil, to which the ASDF units are chiefly assigned, Nukaga said, "It is natural for the ASDF to collect information about the alerts at those airports."

Asked about the ASDF's assessment of security at airports in Iraq and its neighboring countries, he answered that they will benefit the SDF. However, he declined to discuss the details of the survey results.

JCP Akamine demanded that the Japanese government immediately take steps to get all SDF units returned to Japan.
- Akahata, April 18, 2006