By not opposing, Koizumi encourages Bush to attack Iraq -- Akahata editorial, September 14 (excerpts)

U.S. President George W. Bush in a United Nations General Assembly speech called for a new U.N. Security Council resolution on Iraq, and clearly indicated the U.S. policy of carrying out preemptive strikes against Iraq on its own.

In the following Japan-U.S. Summit talks, Japan's Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro did not oppose Bush's plan to attack Iraq, although he referred to the need for multilateral approach and patience. After the talks, Prime Minister Koizumi said he shared with the president the perception of the threat of Iraq.

The U.S. president referred to a new UNSC resolution as a preparation for attacking Iraq under the pretext of Iraq not abiding by the U.N. resolution, as the U.S. plan to attack Iraq is drawing a lot of international criticism.

Even if a new UNSC resolution is adopted, it is clear that a U.S. preemptive attack violates the U.N. Charter which bans use of force by individual members except in self-defense.

The point is that the Japanese prime minister did not say "No" to the U.S. plan to attack Iraq. This is extraordinary in the light of an overwhelming majority of the countries in the world being against a military attack. It also goes completely against public opinion in Japan, in which nearly 80 percent is opposed to attacking Iraq.

The international cooperation which the prime minister calls for is intended to win international support for the U.S. plan, not for averting military attacks by diplomatic efforts.

The U.S. plan to attack Iraq arises from U.S. "security" interests, and it counts on Japan to support the attack as an ally.

The prime minister has come to "share" with the U.S. president the view of Iraq as a threat because he thinks it is an obligation as a military ally. It has nothing to do with the cause of eliminating terrorism and nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.

This attitude of the Japanese prime minister will only encourage the U.S. to attack Iraq, far from stopping it.

A year after the September 11 terrorist attacks, people in the world have renewed their wish for an end to terrorism. To achieve their wish, it is essential for the international community, with the United Nations at the center, to strengthen cooperation and bring the perpetrators and organizers of the terrorist attacks to justice. (end)