Topic: Japan considers exit from Iraq by September

Team Infidel

TOKYO, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Japan is considering beginning to withdraw
its troops from Iraq in the first half of next year and completing the
process by September, a Japanese daily said on Friday, days ahead of a visit
by U.S. President George W. Bush.
Iraq is likely to be high on the agenda at Nov. 16 talks between
Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, whose show of solidarity
in sending troops in early 2004 cemented close ties between the leaders.
The Asahi Shimbun said the withdrawal plan reflected Koizumi's
desire to bring the mission to a close by the end of his term as leader of
the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) next September.
A Defence Agency spokeswoman said there was no change in Japan's
stance, which was to make a decision based on the situation in Iraq and the
activities of other nations.
Keeping the troops in Iraq beyond the end of their current mandate
in December would be an unpopular move with Japan's electorate, who are
largely opposed to the mission, opinion polls have shown.
Japan's 600-strong force, whose activities are strictly curtailed by
the country's pacifist constitution, is on a humanitarian and reconstruction
mission in southern Iraq.
"Japan's activities are not directly related to maintaining
security, so even if we withdraw, it will not affect other countries," the
Asahi quoted a senior Defence Agency official as saying.
The timing of the Japanese withdrawal depends partly on decisions
made by the British and Australian governments, whose troops maintain
security in southern Iraq.
The paper said countries involved in the multinational force in Iraq
would likely consider withdrawing following a three-month stabilisation
period after the elections on Dec. 15.
Japan will continue to support U.S. and other troops by transporting
goods from Kuwait by plane even after withdrawing its ground troops, the
Asahi said.

__________________