Pros and cons of Iraq war

In sharp contrast to the Japanese Communist Party which calls for an immediate end to the war on Iraq in the ongoing simultaneous local elections, most of the other parties are keeping their mouths shut or even deceiving the public in relation to this focal issue.

Despite the official statement of Prime Minister Koizumi Jun'ichiro in support of the war, Liberal Democratic Party leaders and candidates are rarely referring to the war issue.

Former LDP secretary general Nonaka Hiromu said, "The domestic and international situations are very serious, such as the deepening economic slump and the spreading war in Iraq." Apparently, he is taking advantage of this issue to brace up the LDP's camp to win the election.

In Kyoto, an LDP candidate said, "We are facing a tough time since the Iraq War started. The JCP is focusing its attack on our camp on this issue."

One of the New Conservative Party leaders spoke in Aichi Prefecture, "Now that the U.S. and Britain are engaged in war, Japan, as an U.S. ally, must aid them in order to ensure their victory. If Japan turns its back on them, it will be isolated," stressing the need for Japan to act based on the Japan-U.S. military alliance.

Secretary General Fuyushiba Tetsuzo of the Komei Party, another government party, has labeled Japan's peace movement against the war on Iraq as a movement benefiting the enemy.

In the April 4 speech, Komei Party acting representative Hamayotsu Toshiko stated, "Is there anybody who really wants a war?" speaking as if the party is opposed to the war on Iraq.

However, the Komei Party's House of Councilors member in a speech in Tokorozawa City in Saitama Prefecture confessed, "Regarding it very serious for terrorists to obtain nuclear weapons, the Komei Party announced its support of the U.S. war on Iraq."

The opposition Democratic Party of Japan had been rather critical of the war on Iraq till the first strike was made. However, once the war started, only a small number of DPJ leaders and candidates are referring to this issue.

Kan Naoto, DPJ representative, has so far not made an explicit statement that is critical of the war on Iraq. (end)