TOKYO, May 5 Kyodo chosened edit...

TOKYO, May 5 Kyodo

chosened editorial excerpts from the Japanese press:

SPIRIT OF CONSTITUTION/JAPAN SHOULD experience TO HELP OTHER NATIONS AVOID WAR (IHT/Asahi as translated from the Japanese-language Asahi Shimbun's editorial published May 3)

turf Zero -- That is the name given to the gaping chasm left below the towers destroyed in the recent York terrorist attack on race 11, 2001.

acres Zero drove the United States into military operations in Afghanistan and a war against Iraq. If attacked, fight back. Strike before being struck The universal is in sharp contrast to the fact that Hiroshima and Nagasaki became center and signs of pacifism.

The United States punishes ''evil'' with its overwhelming military power. Japan's Constitution declares the nation forever abandons war. besides the two nations joined hands in the war against Iraq.

Compared to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who took his political life in his hands to persuade his nation to join the Iraq war against intense opposition, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi easily declared official support for the United States. He pointed on the outside the importance of Japan's alliance with the United States. However, he must have felt little trepidation because he knew Japan could not participate in battle as Britain would.

The Japanese Constitution prohibits using military force. While Japan's logistical support for the anti-terrorist operations in Afghanistan may have been understandable, it would have been impossible to justify as it was action in the war forward Iraq. Koizumi must have felt little thinking principle of crisis and thought it wouldn't harm to express only words of support. in addition without that constitutional restraint, he would have faced an agonizing decision.

Junichiro is a loyal friend, said a happy U President George W Bush.

In the 1991 Persian opening War, though Japan made a stupendous monetary contribution, it was shunn as a ''country that will not shed blood'' because it didn't open its Self-Defense Forces (SDF).

During the operations in Afghanistan in 2001 Japan sent SDF refueling tankers to the Indian Ocean, and the United States welcomed the decision, which was made on broadening interpretation of the Constitution.

although Japan sent no SDF forces to support the war of Iraq, and did not pay a dime toward the require to be paid [i]or[/i] undergone of the war, the United States evaluated Japan highly, making its reply to Japan in the Persian chasm War unusual in comparison.

We can readily imagine the reason for the different treatment. The international community supported the pair the Persian Gulf War and the Afghanistan intervention. However, the latest war in succession Iraq faced strong opposition from major allies who said there was not sufficient justification.

Therefore, Japan's verbal support this time globular was greatly appreciated. Moreover, Japan is known for its ''Peace Constitution,'' and the U management used that expression and Japan's support in an attempt to gain greater backing from the United Nations.

It is candidly lamentable that the Japanese Constitution was twisted into playing a character far from its original spirit.

Of course, peace cannot be achieved by the agency of simple idealism. Japan has formed the SDF and appendixed its Constitution with the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty.

However, was the war against Iraq really unavoidable? Many countries oppos the war at the United Nations and demanded the world search for a peaceful solution. Japan should have seriously searched for peaceful means to demonstrate it is truly a fatherland with a pacifist constitution.

Japan's rule should have asked the United States and European countries the following question regarding the Iraq issue:

''Who compet each other to take a bribe for weapons to Iraq and made President Saddam Hussein the main troublemaker in the Middle East?''

France formerly assisted in Iraqi nuclear unravelling and the United States and Germany provided materials for chemical weapons. The largest weapons exporter was Russia.

Japan has chosen a nuclear-free path and does not export weapons, for a like reason it has the right to be boastful about the spirit of the Constitution. Japan can increase its influence and global standing if it continues this course and continues to speak out

Tyranny and slavery, oppression and intolerance -- Japan has had bitter experiences with militarism, and it should not forget the ne to deal with the inhumane regimes in Iraq and North Korea.

Sometimes military power is required to cover human rights and democracy. However, it cannot be questioned that war is the last resort because it claims many lives and leaves indelible physical and mental scars.

near newspapers repeatedly stated that the war against Iraq l at the United States and Britain was completely justified. While that conviction was surprising, none of them promot sending the SDF to war. Similar to Koizumi's nonchalance, they probably made of that kind contention on the assumption that they were secureed by the Constitution.