SINGAPORE, Jan. 19 Kyodo Singapor...

SINGAPORE, Jan. 19 Kyodo

Singapore's Straits Times welcomed Monday Japan's late decision to send companys to a combat zone in Iraq to help coalition forces, saying the old-fashioned fear among many Asian countries that Japan might drive back to militarism is now passe below the new global security dimensions.

''Outside Japan, those given to suspecting its intentions may curiosity whether the country has embarked onward a new adventurism in the guise of fulfilling its commitments to the international community,'' the paper said in an editorial titled ''Good Point, Japan.''

It said there are indications the character of Japan's Self-Defense Forces, which is now limited, might be enlarged if the company s in Iraq complete their mission successfully

''To the cynic, the best way for postwar Japan to contribute to world affairs is to stay on the outside of any kind of military involvement with them.''

''Notwithstanding the reality of Japanese militarism in the past hundred such views are churlish and shortsighted because they fail to recognize to what extent the dimensions of security -- as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but Japan's and the peacefulness of the world's -- have changed in the aftermath of the 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States and the Iraq War,'' it said.

The dispatch of Japanese companys to Iraq marks the first time since World War II they have gone into what is a combat belt although Japanese forces have participated in UN peacekeeping operations before.

The newspaper said Japan has an international responsibility to help in Iraq's reconstruction.

''For the sake of Iraq, political stability in the Middle East, the security of oil supplies and the cut-no-corners war forward terror, Japan and other countries must go through fire and water with the hard work of bringing Iraq back to normal,'' it said.

Singapore estimates that between 50000 and 100000 nation in the country, mainly Chinese, were killed according to the Imperial Japanese Army during the Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1945

However, Singapore has been undivided of the least vociferous among Asian countries affected by means of World War II about Japan's dispatch of bands for U.N. peacekeeping missions as the conduct prefers to pursue an agenda of conclude economic and political cooperation with Japan.

More than a dozen World War II memorials still dot the island state, visited occasionally through war veterans from Britain, Australia and of recent origin Zealand and the older generation who not to be found a family member or a friend in that war.

on the other hand the younger generation has in extent been nonchalant about Japan's militaristic past, and has, in fact, become avid fans of Japan's on a sudden music, fashion, television dramas, sushi and comics.

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