Gangster Rummy couldn't show up in Tokyo at a more propitious moment, with the Minshuto "looking stronger" post-election (a useful illusion) and carabinieri being blown shy high in Baghdad.
That's right, hit the weak spots in the armor:
http://www.asahi.com/english/politics/TKY200311130130.html
Koizumi: SDF dispatch still on The Asahi Shimbun ---------------------------------------------------------
The question is when. Certainly, Donald Rumsfeld will ask when he arrives Friday.
After months of hemming and hawing, plans to dispatch Self-Defense Forces to Iraq are still just that: plans.
However, the government Wednesday continued to insist it will dispatch troops before year-end-despite a decision to delay giving Cabinet approval to the mission.
The timing ought to have been working in the government's favor. After all, the ruling parties were returned with a working majority in Sunday's Lower House election and U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is due to visit Friday. All along, the government has pledged to help the United States with its mission to rebuild Iraq.
But it hadn't counted on the opposition Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) making so many gains in the election. Minshuto executives have said they plan to do their level best to block the dispatch of SDF troops, if necessary, by marshalling support among all opposition parties to present a united front.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, as usual, remained vague when asked by reporters Wednesday about the timing of the dispatch.
``If the circumstances allow (the dispatch will take place this year),'' Koizumi said. ``We will make a decision after carefully examining the circumstances.'' [after wiping all that itariajin blood off his face]
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda added, ``We still have definite plans for dispatching the SDF by the end of the year.''
The comments came a day after the government decided to hold off seeking Cabinet approval of the dispatch basic plan until after the end of the special Diet session, which convenes Nov. 19.
Initially, plans called for gaining Cabinet approval of the basic plan as early as Friday. However, government officials were concerned this would leave Koizumi's Cabinet open to sharp criticism from Minshuto. By waiting until the three-day special Diet session is over, government officials can avoid having to respond to Minshuto questioning in the Diet until the next regular Diet session, set to convene in January.
Basking in election success, Minshuto Secretary-General Katsuya Okada vowed to seek to build a common front among all opposition parties in trying to block the dispatch.
Even within the Liberal Democratic Party, some officials are now expressing grave doubts about the mission which they say is too dangerous.
Fukuda's comment Wednesday was viewed by analysts as a signal to Washington that, despite delays, it will abide by its promise to send troops one of these days.
The continuing delay is embarrassing, given that Rumsfeld is due to visit later this week. With Cabinet approval of the dispatch basic plan now put off until after Rumsfeld leaves, government officials want to downplay concerns among Americans that Japan is becoming timid.
Partly to appease those within the LDP who have been calling for thorough preparations before any SDF dispatch, Fukuda also indicated Wednesday that another fact-finding team made up of specialists would be included in the advance unit of Ground SDF troops to be dispatched to Iraq by mid-December.
Initial plans to send a specialist fact-finding mission were canceled because the government feared it would become an issue in Sunday's Lower House election. The government was also concerned about grumbling among U.S. military officials at having to accommodate so many large fact-finding missions sent to Iraq by Japan.
Defense Agency and SDF officials are also beginning to express frustration at having to prepare for a dispatch without full government backing.
``We see no sign of a responsible stance among government officials,'' said one Defense Agency official. ``Preparing for the dispatch requires making a difficult decision. No one is doing that.''
The Defense Agency meantime has been stealthily gathering supplies to take to Iraq and inoculating troops so SDF members are ready to move at a moment's notice.(IHT/Asahi: November 13,2003) (11/13)