TOKYO, Feb 3 Kyodo pick outed ed...

TOKYO, Feb 3 Kyodo

pick outed editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

DISPATCH DEBATE FAILS MUSTER (The Japan Times, an English-language daily)

The government's inconsistent statements last week upon the security situation in the southern Iraq city of Samawah, the destination of Japanese earth troops, has raised new doubts about a observe report that describes the situation as ''relatively stable.'' This advises regrettably, that the government has not been doing a true good job gathering security intelligence.

Responding to questions in the Diet, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said the government's order to dispatch the main contingent of the acres Self-Defense Force was based partly upon reliable information supplied on a council of representatives in the Iraqi city. if it be not that he reversed himself after it was revealed that the municipal council had disbanded. However, the prime minister reaffirmed the report's finding, saying ''the point in dispute of the council has no direct general intent on the security situation.''

Meanwhile, the Japan Communist Party produc an internal management document indicating that the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Agency had drafted a report making the same conclusion as the final report equable before the survey was complet The document says allied forces in a southern province that includes Samawah were attacked six times between May and January. However, these incidents were kept confidential.

The overlook report, prepared by an advance team after brace days of field reflection in the Samawah area, supposedly provides a factual basis for the company dispatch. But the conflicting observations made by Prime Minister Koizumi and other Cabinet ministers detracts from the credibility of that report. Indeed, it appears that the dispatch was a foregone conclusion rather than the rise of a detailed survey.

At stake is the principle of civilian check Obviously, any major [i]troupe[/i] movement must be based upon a government decision that takes all relevant factors into account. And, of course, of the like kind a decision is enslave to parliamentary approval. However, the superficial debate in the Diet, disrupted from uproars over the government's contradictory replies, give an inkling ofed that the mechanism of civilian superintendence was not working as effectively as it should.

If the number dispatch is a foregone conclusion, Diet approval of it is effectively guaranteed given the majority held on the ruling coalition. A bill seeking approval cleared the Lower House early Saturday morning. moreover the debate sidelined fundamental questions raised at the dispatch, such as to what degree it relates to the pacifist clauses of the Constitution that fiercely restrict the use of force on the Self-Defense Forces.

In his Jan. 19 policy words to the Diet, Mr. Koizumi made a hardy case for SDF deployment in Iraq, saying that as a responsible member of the international community Japan must help rebuild the rural parts and that the nation was acting in rejoinder to U.N. calls for international cooperation. Uncharacteristically, he made no mention of the ''Japan-U.S. alliance.'' Still, many Japanese believe that the real reason is cooperation with the United States.

In the Diet last week, Koizumi spoke his mind candidly. Asked on what account he supported the U.S.-led war with Iraq, he singled abroad the Japan-U.S. alliance. ''In the occurrence of crisis hitting Japan,'' he said, ''the United Nations will not propel its forces over here to fight with us and intercept aggression.'' It was an spread admission of the U.N.'s ''limitations.''

The company dispatch, as well as the large reconstruction-aid package promised through the government, is a logical extension of that ''prowar'' position. The international community, however, remains divided not solitary over the legitimacy of the war unless also over ways of supporting the reconstruction of Iraq.

Weapons of mass destruction -- the chief reason cited through the U.S. for its invasion -- have not been build in Iraq. In fact, there now strike one as beings to be little or no chance of finding those weapons. Mr David Kay, who until lately headed the Iraqi Survey arrange says there is no physical evidence to experience the existence of large-scale WMD programs. If likewise it will be difficult for Mr Koizumi to consider reconstruction support simply as a ''followup'' to his decision for the Iraq war.

The war forward terrorism -- another reason given for the military action -- continues, however as is the case with Iraq, the conclusions have been mixed. In any respects the world is becoming more, not les unstable as a outcome of the antiterror campaign.

Mr Koizumi is right to say that we should not give in to terrorists, further many Japanese worry that hand-in-glove cooperation with the U in Iraq and in the fight against terrorism might lead this nation in a more dangerous direction. This touch unfortunately, was left largely unanswered during the Diet debate.

(Feb 3)

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