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Japan Has Postponed Sending Non-Combat Troops into Iraq
Aired November 14, 2003 - 05:35 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And Iraq is on the agenda for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. He arrived in Tokyo just about, oh, two and a half hours ago now. Japan has postponed sending non- combat troops into Iraq.
Our bureau chief is there, Rebecca MacKinnon.
She joins us live via video phone -- good morning, Rebecca.
REBECCA MACKINNON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Well, Secretary Rumsfeld's visit with Prime Minister Koizumi has already finished and if he was disappointed about Japan's decision to postpone sending troops to Iraq, he certainly did not indicate that in the meeting. Instead, he emphasized U.S. gratitude for Japan's pledge of $5 billion over the next four years to help with reconstruction in Iraq. And Prime Minister Koizumi emphasizing how important he thinks it is that democracy be brought to Iraq and that the country be rebuilt.
So very much the two men focusing on the positive aspects of the cooperation and Japan's support, avoiding the tricky issue that Koizumi faces. He very much does want to send Japanese non-combat troops to Iraq when he can, but he's facing a situation constitutionally and legally here that's very difficult because Japanese troops are banned by the constitution from waging war overseas. And Koizumi's political critics are very concerned in the wake of the latest violence in Iraq that Japanese troops, if they get sent there on a humanitarian mission, could get sucked into combat, and that could potentially cause them to be in violation of their constitution, which would be a very explosive situation here -- Carol.
COSTELLO: So at this point, Rebecca, there's not much that Mr. Rumsfeld can say?
MACKINNON: No, there isn't. And Koizumi has made it clear that he is doing what he can and the Japanese are sending a fact finding mission to Iraq this weekend to look into the security situation so they can make decisions in the future, which is a sign that they are sincere in doing whatever they can -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Rebecca MacKinnon reporting live from Tokyo this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired November 14, 2003 - 05:35 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And Iraq is on the agenda for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. He arrived in Tokyo just about, oh, two and a half hours ago now. Japan has postponed sending non- combat troops into Iraq.
Our bureau chief is there, Rebecca MacKinnon.
She joins us live via video phone -- good morning, Rebecca.
REBECCA MACKINNON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Well, Secretary Rumsfeld's visit with Prime Minister Koizumi has already finished and if he was disappointed about Japan's decision to postpone sending troops to Iraq, he certainly did not indicate that in the meeting. Instead, he emphasized U.S. gratitude for Japan's pledge of $5 billion over the next four years to help with reconstruction in Iraq. And Prime Minister Koizumi emphasizing how important he thinks it is that democracy be brought to Iraq and that the country be rebuilt.
So very much the two men focusing on the positive aspects of the cooperation and Japan's support, avoiding the tricky issue that Koizumi faces. He very much does want to send Japanese non-combat troops to Iraq when he can, but he's facing a situation constitutionally and legally here that's very difficult because Japanese troops are banned by the constitution from waging war overseas. And Koizumi's political critics are very concerned in the wake of the latest violence in Iraq that Japanese troops, if they get sent there on a humanitarian mission, could get sucked into combat, and that could potentially cause them to be in violation of their constitution, which would be a very explosive situation here -- Carol.
COSTELLO: So at this point, Rebecca, there's not much that Mr. Rumsfeld can say?
MACKINNON: No, there isn't. And Koizumi has made it clear that he is doing what he can and the Japanese are sending a fact finding mission to Iraq this weekend to look into the security situation so they can make decisions in the future, which is a sign that they are sincere in doing whatever they can -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Rebecca MacKinnon reporting live from Tokyo this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
