From the Yomuiri Shimbun: Envoys make case for MSDF mission.

     Ambassadors to Japan and military attaches at embassies in Japan from countries tied to antiterrorism missions in and around Afghanistan stressed the importance of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean to about 70 lawmakers of ruling and opposition parties in a presentation Wednesday.

     The meeting, arranged by the embassies of countries participating in maritime interdiction operations as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, was held in the morning at the Canadian Embassy in Minato Ward, Tokyo.

     The military attaches delivered presentations using photographs and maps to illustrate the security situation in Afghanistan. They also discussed the content of the maritime interdiction operations and how much fuel oil the MSDF has supplied to vessels.

     The LDP is mounting the fullcourt press to overcome the opposition of the DPJ on extending Japan's involvement with Operation Enduring freedom, and they are getting help from plenbty of sources.  While this a good start I think that to ensure the sucess of the new Anti-Terrorism special measures law the US and other Japanese allies should work to make their case directly to the Japanese public at large.  If the can be convinced that the mission should continue then they can bring pressure on their legislators to authorize continuing it.  While at the same time the Japanese government of Fukuda should also point out the downside of leaving her allies in a lurch.  As this piece from the Yomuiri Shimbun points out: MSDF pullout will have complex effects / Move seen likely to damage ties with Washington, tarnish Japan's image overseas.

     The withdrawal of the Maritime Self-Defense Force from its refueling mission in the Indian Ocean on Thursday has pulled Japan back from the front line of the war on terrorism.

     Though the government and ruling parties fret over the negative diplomatic impact of the move--especially its effect on ties with the United States--it is not yet known when the MSDF can resume its operations.

     Some lawmakers have initiated moves toward the creation of a permanent law governing the overseas dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces, saying a limited-term law is not fully capable of dealing with such affairs.

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