All three branches of Japan's Self-Defense Forces (SDF) are now involved in humanitarian efforts to aid the reconstruction of Iraq.　The Ground Self-Defense Forces (GSDF) are encamped in the city of Samawah in southeastern Iraq, where they will distribute drinking water, provide medical treatment, and undertake the repair and maintenance of public facilities such as schools. Supply and escort vessels of the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) provide logistic support by transporting materials needed by the GSDF, and a contingent of C-130 transports from the Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) has been stationed in Kuwait, from where they will deliver humanitarian assistance to Iraq.
　　Public opinion in Japan is divided over the dispatch of the SDF to Iraq for a number of reasons. Critics cite the lack of participation by French or German military forces as well as the absence of the discovery of weapons of mass destruction as evidence that US actions were largely unjustified. They further describe the dispatch of Japanese forces as being little more than an obsequious gesture of compliance to the US. I wonder if these critics truly understand the significance of Japan's SDF participating in the reconstruction of Iraq.
　　It should be apparent that failure to carry out the replacement of the Hussein administration and the reconstruction Iraq will result in that country becoming a haven for international terrorism. United Nations Security Resolution 1511 authorizes multi-national forces to take all measures necessary to contribute to the maintenance of security and stability in Iraq for the purpose of rebuilding key humanitarian and economic infrastructure. Under these provisions, more than 40 countries, including Japan, have dispatched military forces to Iraq in conjunction with more than 90 governments and international organizations that are now participating in the reconstruction.　Participation in programs that will reestablish the infrastructure necessary for the Iraq people to begin rebuilding their country on their own is a natural extension of Japan's role in the war against terrorism being waged under US leadership since 9/11.
　　The greatest threats today to Japan's own security include North Korea's Nodong missile and the ever-growing military strength of the Chinese army under the dictatorial leadership of the Communists, including growing tensions between the mainland and Taiwan; all of which serves to remind us that a continued and developing bi-lateral relations between Japan and the United States is indispensable to maintaining security in east Asia.
　　As preparations were underway for the SDF to participate in activities based on the Iraku Fukko Shien Tokubetsu Sochi Ho (Emergency Measures Law and Special Aid for the Rehabilitation of Iraq), it became clear that contingents from the Japanese and US military are capable of functioning with great efficiency under the terms of the present Japan-US alliance.
　　I recently had the pleasure of attending the annual awards banquet at Yokota Air Base, where I was honored to have the opportunity to present a letter of appreciation to the 374th Airlift Wing-a military air transport unit stationed at Yokota AB and equipped with the same C-130 transport aircraft that is the workhorse of the ASDF's efforts in Iraq. The letter of appreciation was addressed to the 374th for its extensive and concentrated assistance over a three-month period in the training and preparation of the ASDF for its duties in Iraq. The training concentrated on ensuring that ASDF personnel were well versed in the latest tactics and techniques for hostile environment operations, advanced transport crew skills, security procedures during strategic operations, and distribution of information regarding the deployment of military units, their logistic support, and air traffic control in the execution of that support, including detailed briefings relating the content of the latest guidelines as well as lessons learned from actual experience operating C-130s deployed in Kuwait.
　　The information and support provided by personnel of the 374th to ASDF members participating in this program will be invaluable in enabling them to perform their duties with confidence while participating in the rehabilitation of Iraq.
　　It will be no easy task for the SDF to successfully complete its mission under conditions where the fear of terrorism is ever present, but I am confident that the SDF will execute its responsibilities with distinction thanks to both the establishment of policies for ensuring the security of the multi-national forces based on detailed studies of conditions in Iraq at the government level and to the aforementioned thoroughness of the preparations for cooperation between contingents from the Japanese and US military under the terms of the present Japan-US alliance.
　　The teamwork exhibited by the 374th Airlift Wing and the ASDF is noteworthy for being both an indication and reaffirmation of the concept upon which joint Japan-US operations are based and for helping strengthen the ties of mutual respect and reliance between the United States Air Force and the Japanese Air Self-Defense Forces.
　　In conclusion, on behalf of JAAGA and the people of Japan, I would like to express my respect and gratitude to the members of the SDF forces dispatched to Iraq, and say that we are all looking forward to their safe return home. 　
(1 April 2004, Kohji Muraki, JAAGA president, Retired General JASDF)

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