Islamic Middle East Blog

•Hannah Turk 10/20/08

•Article: U.S. Wants Japan to Send SDF Copters to Afghanistan

• The Yomiuri Shimbun (The Daily Yomiyuri)

•Article Summary

This weekend, Washington asked Tokyo if it would aid reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan through dispatching Self-Defense Forces transport helicopters to the area. Specifically, the United States requested CH-47 transport helicopters for domestic transportation, a C-130 transport aircraft to fly goods from overseas to key airports in Afghanistan, as well as personnel to join and help with provincial reconstruction teams. Washington requested helicopters because Afghanistan suffers from a shortage and needs many more for domestic transportation, seeing as the roads within the country are not good. The shortage of helicopters has hindered not only the transportation of goods, but of injured soldiers as well. Japan is one of the few countries that possesses excess large transport-type helicopters. But in order to deploy these machines, new legislation would need to be created. As a result, the Japanese government will not be able to fully consider the United States’ request until their next general election.

•Your Response to Article

I have mixed feelings about this article. On the one hand, bringing aid to Afghanistan is a very necessary thing to do. On the other, I dislike the United States attempting to further convolute the situation by requesting further involvement from its allies. When the war on terror began, Japan was criticized by the U.S.A. for not deploying troupes quickly or with enough enthusiasm. But since WW II, Japan has made great efforts to remain peaceful and relatively neutral, disbanding their army and most other incentives of battle. While they have contributed to America’s recent war by providing refueling areas for U.S. and other countries’ forces, Japan has been doing their best to not get over involved in the situation. Therefore, America calling on them to further involve themselves seems unfair to me. Japan must keep good relations with the U.S.A., so there is a lot of pressure to do as America asks. But at the same time, there recently has been restlessness within the Japanese people as to America’s abuse of their alliance with Japan. People feel as though America over exerts its power, and are no longer happy with simple compliance. So Washington’s request will simply create tons of turmoil during the upcoming general elections, and if helicopters are deployed, it will also create risk of loss for Japan.