Start a full-fledged argument on Afghan and Iraq war at diet

My opinion of this week(544):

The U. N. Security Council has approved a resolution to extend the activities of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. The resolution also express gratitude for the first time for the maritime interdiction activities of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), to which Japan has dispatched Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels to help refueling in the Indian Ocean although no specific name of Japan was mentioned in the resolution.

The resolution was approved Wednesday with 14 votes in favor. Russia abstained from voting for several reasons. There exists a heated debate over how to interpret the wording of the appreciative comments in the preface to the resolution since the Antiterrorism Law, which underpins the dispatch of MSDF vessels used in OEF, is due to expire on Nov. 1. DPJ (Democratic Party of Japan) is against the extension of the Antiterrorism Law for such MSDF operation has never been approved by any of UN resolution. Afghan war itself was a kind of war started by US only according to the interpretation of DPJ.

The views of several major Japanese papers on how this UN resolution will affect on political stance of DPJ differed very much each others. While Nikkei and Yomiuri said the resolution would be a big blow for DPJ in coming diet debate, Asahi and Mainichi said the resolution would not provide any big support for ruling front to extend the Law. The resolution caused some kind of adverse sentiment among members of U.N. Security Council for Japan made some lobbying activities against US to pass the resolution.

Yukio Hatoyama, Secretary General of DPJ, confirmed that the party would not change the opposition against the Law denouncing such lobbying activities at UN demanding appreciation for MSDF activities is rather shameful. The party will provide the firm reason why they are against the Law in coming Diet discussion.

The diet runs idle right now. Prime Minister Abe expressed his resignation from the position suddenly last Wednesday and election campaign to select new President of LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) is underway. The new Prime Minister will be elected on September 25 after new president of LDP elected on September 23. The diet session will start finally after such long absence.

All most two months have passed since the land slide victory of DPJ at House of Councils election on July 29. The extension of Antiterrorism Law has been a major issue during this period between ruling and opposition fronts. There were a number of approach against DPJ which oppose the Law from diplomatic sources such as US ambassador to Japan and German Prime Minister who visited Japan incidentally during this time. President Bush expressed concern on it directly against Prime Minister Abe at Sydney ASEAN meeting. And there came another pressure from UN as stated above. All approaches were from outside as a matter of fact before people hear any debate at diet. It is very strange indeed, isn't it?

The government and ruling front should start diet session immediately after new cabinet is born on September 25. It is expected that people can hear a number of new facts and information first time on MSDF activities at Indian Ocean since this law was initiated. The issue is not just whether continuation of oil supply to US and other nations is OK or not.

The issue will be concerned with more fundamental issues how Japan would cooperate with US, other allies and UN on various activities at Afghan and Iraq. The issue is basically related with right of collective defense.It is the very issue of Article 9 of Constitution. This is very basic issue of this country. All of acts which concerned with Afghan and Iraq war are now reinvestigated from this point of view.

We people of Japan are looking forward to hearing all of those very important and interesting resting debate at two entirely different stages of diet soon.

2007/9/22
Tadashi HAYASE