Japan and Iraq
After dropping of atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki that killed thousands of people and the occupation of Japan by the USA in 1945 that followed, we saw and found the label of 'made in occupied Japan' on all goods and commodities made in Japan. The USA granted sovereignty to Japan after seven years in 1952. But over seventy thousand US troops continue to be stationed in Japan for the last 58 years.
Following the invasion and occupation of Iraq by the USA in early 2003, we are confused when and after how many years from now the USA will return sovereignty to Iraq and withdraw US troops from the country.
We wonder how, why and under what circumstances Prime Minister Koizumi is contemplating to dispatch one thousand Japanese troops to help the Americans in occupied Iraq.