Japan Press Weekly

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2007 April 25 - May 8 [SDF]

ASDF mission in Iraq almost entirely devoted to supporting US forces

The Air Self-Defense Force deployed to Iraq is almost entirely engaged in transportation of troops and supplies of U.S.-led multinational forces despite the government explanation that the SDF’s central mission in Iraq is humanitarian reconstruction assistance.

At a House of Representative special committee meeting on April 26, Defense Ministry Operational Policy Bureau Director Yamazaki Shinshiro, in reply to Japanese Communist Party representative Akamine Seiken, said that between January and March the ASDF transported a total of 21 tons of supplies in support of the U.N. and multinational forces, and that 19.6 tons of the amount -- 93 percent -- was for the multinational forces.

Akamine pointed out that the ASDF began to accelerate its support activities for the multinational forces at a time when the U.S. Bush administration decided to increase the number of U.S. troops and strengthen their operations in Iraq.

“The government has explained that the SDF in Iraq is mainly engaged in humanitarian reconstruction assistance, but it is mainly engaged in support activities for the multinational forces,” Akamine said.

Defense Minister Kyuma Fumio replied, “The multinational forces are also taking part in humanitarian reconstruction assistance.” However, when Akamine asked if the ASDF checks the missions of the U.S. personnel whom the ASDF is transporting, Yamazaki answered, “We don’t do that.”

Akamine said, “The government explanation that U.S. forces are also conducting humanitarian reconstruction assistance is groundless. Such an explanation is just an attempt to cover up the actual activities of the ASDF in Iraq.” - Akahata, April 27, 2007