Japan mulls Iraq troop pullout

TOKYO – Japan is considering pulling its troops out of Iraq in the first half of next year and expanding Iraq-related air missions from Kuwait, a news report said yesterday.

A 200-member Air Self-Defense Force transport unit has been flying C-130 planes between Kuwait and southern Iraq to support US missions there, the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper said. The government is considering whether to expand its mission to include flights between Kuwait and Qatar, where the US Central Command is stationed, the Yomiuri said citing informed sources.The US has asked Japan to fly transport aircraft from Kuwait to other destinations in Iraq, including Baghdad, after the Japanese ground troops pull out, the Yomiuri said.In response to the US request, the Japanese government has chosen missions that would pose less danger to the air unit, the Yomiuri said.Japan has not officially decided when to pull out its ground troops.Japan, a close ally of the United States, has some 600 ground troops on a humanitarian mission in Samawa in southern Iraq, considered a relatively safe area.The current mission expires in December but Iraq wants an extension.- Nampa-AFPThe government is considering whether to expand its mission to include flights between Kuwait and Qatar, where the US Central Command is stationed, the Yomiuri said citing informed sources.The US has asked Japan to fly transport aircraft from Kuwait to other destinations in Iraq, including Baghdad, after the Japanese ground troops pull out, the Yomiuri said.In response to the US request, the Japanese government has chosen missions that would pose less danger to the air unit, the Yomiuri said.Japan has not officially decided when to pull out its ground troops.Japan, a close ally of the United States, has some 600 ground troops on a humanitarian mission in Samawa in southern Iraq, considered a relatively safe area.The current mission expires in December but Iraq wants an extension.- Nampa-AFP