Japanese Rebuff Rumsfeld on eve of Visit

[leftchick]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20031114/ap_on_re_as/rumsfeld_asia&cid=516&ncid=716

<snip>

Rumsfeld was whisked directly from the airport to an evening meeting with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, whose government announced a day earlier while Rumsfeld was visiting Guam that it almost certainly will delay sending a contingent of non-combat troops until sometime next year.


Japan is one of America's most steadfast allies — arguably the most important in Asia — and it has pledged billions of dollars in financial aid for Iraq's reconstruction. The Bush administration had hoped the Japanese also would send troops before the end of the year. But after Wednesday's deadly attack on the Italian compound in south-central Iraq, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda backed off, saying the security situation in Iraq is not yet stable enough.

After Rumsfeld's 45-minute meeting with Koizumi, a Rumsfeld aide who briefed reporters on condition he not be identified said the subject of Japanese troops in Iraq was raised by neither man.

The aide said Koizumi told Rumsfeld he admired the Bush administration's determination to stay the course in Iraq and that Japan will remain a strong supporter. Rumsfeld thanked the Tokyo government for its pledge of $1.5 billion in grants for 2004 and an additional $3.5 billion in loans over the following three years. Koizumi did not mention plans for further steps to help.

[izzie]

1. Interesting I must say. Has the tide turned?

n/t

[DarkPhenyx]

2. No, not really.

The Japanese politicians are looking to cover their own asses with this. THey are still flushing money into the pockets of Bush, Cheney, Haliburton, et. al. They simply do not want pictures of dead Japanese soldiers on teh evening news when they will have to stand for re-election one day.

[Dr Fate]

3. But- but- Bush/media SWORE we had a "Coalition of the Willing"

...remember when Bush/media told us the UN was "irrelevant" and that the mighty "Coalition of the Willing" would be better...

I guess Bush/media lied to us...again....

[Nlighten1]

4. Where is the rebuff?

Is it the fact that they aren't sending troops to help in our "successful" mission?