The Japanese government on December 8 decided to extend the deployment of the Self-Defense Forces in Iraq for another year.
Earlier in the day, Koizumi held a meeting with leaders of the Opposition: the Japanese Communist Party, the Democratic Party of Japan, and the Social Democratic Party.
JCP Chair Shii Kazuo emphasized that extending the Iraq deployment of SDF troops has no justification and demanded that the government immediately bring them home.
Shii pointed out that the Iraqi situation is worsening because U.S. forces are repeating crackdowns on Iraq's forces opposing the military occupation that followed the war of aggression. If the government continues to deploy the SDF to assist the U.S. forces, it will be useless for the constructive solution of the Iraqi question.
Pointing out that the SDF units in Iraq's Samawah have been attacked 11 times, Shii stated that the government explanation that SDF activities are restricted to "non-combat zones" is no longer tenable. With the Ground SDF water supply operation in Samawah ending last February, "humanitarian reconstruction assistance" can no longer be used to justify the deployment of SDF units in Iraq.
Shii asked Koizumi if extending the SDF mission for another year means ending the mission in December 2006.
Koizumi said, "I am not in a position to say when the SDF will be withdrawn or whether there will be another one-year extension next year or not."
Shii asked, "Does it mean that there can be another extension?"
Koizumi answered, "Theoretically, that is a possibility."
Shii asked Koizumi whether the GSDF will leave Iraq when British and Australian forces in Samawah end their public security mission and leave the city next May.
Koizumi replied, "I've not heard anything about their plan to withdraw. I'll decide on it only when the need arises."
Asked by Shii if GSDF units will be deployed to regions other than Samawah and if the Air SDF will expand its area of responsibility, Koizumi said that broadening the area of GSDF activities is a matter to be discussed with the United States. As regards the possible expansion of ASDF units' area of responsibility, the prime minister stated, "We will cooperate with the United States in considering what to do."
Shii said to Koizumi:
"After all, you have no exit strategy. You suggested that there may be another extension of the SDF deployment in Iraq even one year later. You made it clear that a withdrawal of the SDF will not be considered contingent upon the withdrawal of the British and Australian troops from Samawah, saying 'I'll consider it when the need arises.' You haven't denied the possibility of GSDF and ASDF mission in Iraq being broadened.
This is the way of forcing Japan to indefinitely act at the U.S. beck and call. Such a policy must be completely reconsidered."
