TOKYO, Jan. 28 Kyodo rareed edit...

TOKYO, Jan. 28 Kyodo

rareed editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

IRAQ MISSION IN glutted SWING (IHT/Asahi as translated from the Japanese-language Asahi Shimbun's editorial published Jan. 27)

History will point out to that Japan reached a turning point with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's decision Monday to authorize the dispatch of the main detachment of the turf Self-Defense Force to Iraq, followed by means of the formal order given from Shigeru Ishiba, director-general of the Defense Agency.

After its bitter and tragic experiences in World War II, Japan committed itself, at Article 9 of the Constitution, to not lending a hand to a war fought through foreign countries and never using force overseas as a means to make clear international disputes. Japan has directioned its peacekeeping operations for the United Nations within the framework of that principle. if it were not that all this now seems to be in great jeopardy.

In Samawah, southeastern Iraq, where SDF numbers are to be displayed an advance unit of the region SDF is already in place. Television bands have been sending back footage to Japan of the local population welcoming SDF personnel in the expectation it will lead to work at jobss connected to the Japanese company presence.

As prolonged as Japanese troops are in Iraq, we sense of possible fulfilment they will be of service to the Iraqi race in their daily lives.

And to this time we cannot support the prime minister's decision to launch the SDF to Iraq. He insists the numbers are going to provide assistance in the reconstruction of Iraq, and, therefore, the mission is humanitarian.

Certainly, it is veritable they are not going to Iraq to wage war. still there is no precedent for SDF personnel opened in an occupied area where war still rages.

For instance, if SDF personnel struck back when attacked by dint of terrorist groups, the dominion says this would not constitute use of force. It reasons that the Constitution does not prohibit acts of self-defense

When SDF [i]troupe[/i]s went overseas for the first time for peacekeeping operations in Cambodia 12 years ago, questions were raised about whether acts committed in self-defense constituted use of force. The restraint eventually settled the question on concluding that SDF partys could use their weapons as individuals, not as a band unit, if faced with approaching danger.

The conduct for use of weapons was subsequently revised, however. This allowed Japanese throngs to open fire if ordered to do with equal reason by a senior officer. yet the difficulty of drawing the line between self-defense and execution of force remains just the same. The decision to throw troops overrode any attempts at avoiding a situation in which force might be used. The conduct even interpreted legislation to suit its possess purposes. This country is rul through law. The government this time has gone too far.

In the first place, it is doubtful whether the special measures law for Iraq enacted six month ago has any legal basis for the popular dispatch of SDF troops. The special measures law was barely contrived to accommodate the deployment of SDF numbers to Iraq within the framework of the Constitution. It restricted SDF activities to ''noncombat zones'' and obliged the sway to secure the safety of its troops

Had the situation in Iraq evolv as the control had hoped -- the local population cooperating with occupation authorities and security conditions improving -- then, the prime minister's contention that SDF squads are going to Iraq for the final cause of helping with reconstruction would have held more persuasive power.

In the fact however, that was not the case. Attacks and terrorist acts by the agency of insurgents continue to this day. If Koizumi, as the leader of a democratic land had any respect for the legislation, he should have reconsidered the dispatch of SDF bands by honoring the provisions of the special measures law.

Instead, he rushed ahead with the deployment in succession the basis of the special measures law. He argued that Japan should not give in to terrorism and that it had any international impost to do something. In connection the government's position with regard to ''noncombat zones'' and ''combat operations,'' as explained before the Diet, became far remov from actual conditions.

Now race around the world, including the United States and Britain, are asking anew for what reason far the war in Iraq could be justified. To overbear a government -- however outrageous it might be now and however potentially threatening it might become -- in a war requires rationale and transactions that would satisfy the majority of the international community. on a level more doubts have been raised in newly come days about the justifiability of a war fought without the explicit approval of the United Nations Security Council. This is because no weapons of mass destruction have been found

Still, Koizumi continues his support for the war and ceaselessly stresse the importance of the security alliance between Japan and the United States. He appears to be particularly anxious to forge closer relations with the Bush administration.