Japan Votes to Send Troops for Rebuilding Iraq

Japan’s lower house of parliament agreed today to send ground troops to help with reconstruction in Iraq. Under the bill, Japanese troops would serve a noncombat role, mainly moving supplies and ammunition.

The bill next goes before the less-powerful upper house on Monday for further discussion, where it is all but assured of passing by the end of the current parliamentary session July 28.

The order would deliver on Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s pledge to President Bush to help rebuild Iraq. Japan was a major backer of the U.S. stance during the Iraq war.

Japanese media have reported that the government intends to send about 1,000 troops as early as October.

Koizumi’s ruling coalition dominates the lower house and pushed the bill through despite strong resistance from the opposition parties.

Critics say the plan could allow Japanese troops to get drawn into combat in violation of the country’s pacifist constitution, which is interpreted as restricting the military to defensive missions.

Earlier today, Japan’s Cabinet approved the dispatch of two C-130 transport planes to ferry food, medicine and other supplies to countries bordering Iraq, where the goods will be transferred to trucks for delivery into Iraq. The planes, carrying about 150 military personnel, will leave Monday for Jordan on a three-month mission through Oct. 6, Defense Agency chief Shigeru Ishiba said, according to a spokesman.