Most Japanese say PM right to send Iraq troops

TOKYO (Reuters) – With their troops in the midst of a
withdrawal from Iraq, a poll showed most Japanese now believe
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was right to send the forces
on their riskiest mission since World War Two.

Japan dispatched around 550 troops to the southern Iraqi
town of Samawa starting in February 2004 in a show of support
for its most important ally, the United States. With their
activities limited by Japan’s pacifist constitution, they were
involved mainly in humanitarian and reconstruction activities.

A poll in the English-language Daily Yomiuri showed 59
percent of respondents believed Japan’s government was right to
send the troops, up eight percent on a similar poll in April.

The opinion poll result shows a complete turnaround from
surveys carried out before the non-combat mission was sent,
which showed a majority of Japanese opposed to sending troops.

Japanese soldiers have suffered no casualties during their
Iraqi mission.

Defense Agency chief Fukushiro Nukaga is set to visit
Kuwait at the weekend to offer encouragement to the soldiers
involved in the pullout, which domestic media have said could
be complete by the end of July.

Japan’s air force plans to step up its transport activities
in Iraq when the ground forces depart.