IRAQ: Coalition of the vroooming
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Japan may no longer be willing to contribute troops to the U.S. effort to stabilize Iraq, but it recently donated a whole bunch of motorbikes to Iraq.
Kenjiro Monji, Japan’s ambassador to Iraq, presided over a ceremony Thursday, handing over 600 motorcycles to the Ministry of Interior. Here are some of his comments, according to a U.S. news release:
I am much encouraged to observe a drastic improvement in security in Iraq thanks to the effort of the Iraqi Security Forces, coalition forces and many other people concerned. I expect further effort will be made by all Iraqis towards the national reconciliation under the improved security. And Japan will continue to support Iraq and its people in rebuilding the great nation.
Tokyo pulled its tiny contingent of troops out of Iraq in July 2006, near the height of the Sunni-Shiite sectarian civil war.
— Borzou Daragahi in Baghdad