[166] 2005-01-19 18:10:05
A Victim of The Government of the Bureaucrats, by the Bureaucrats, and for the Bureaucrats（＊＊＊＊／U.S.A.）

Two incidents during the war against Iraq illustrate why Japan must annul the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty and withdraw our Self-Defense Forces (SDF) support of American troops in Iraq.

An innocent Japanese civilian, Mr. Shosei Koda, was recently kidnapped and murdered by Al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's militant group following Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's refusal of terrorist demands that Japanese SDF, our de facto military, withdraw from Iraq within 48 hours.

It is without a doubt that Mr. Koda is a victim of terrorism, which we should not tolerate. However, it is important to note that the terrorists killed Mr. Koda for Jihad in the name of God. Japan is no longer involved in a war based on either political or economic ideology, but in a war based on religion. Japan's deployment of SDF in support of President George W. Bush, and therefore its position as an American ally, has made it a high-profile target for terrorists operating under Jihad.

Prime Minister Koizumi's blind loyalty to President Bush is not only illegal by Japanese law, but also jeopardizes the safety of Japanese citizens around the world. Sending SDF to Iraq violates Article 9 of the Constitution of Japan, that declares "Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat of use of force as means of settling international disputes. Prime Minister Koizumi has desperately shown his loyalty to President Bush without analyzing and anticipating the consequences of his actions. These consequences on Japanese citizens in Iraq and around the world include vulnerability to hostage-taking, torture, mutilation, cruel treatment, humiliation and execution, all of which are prohibited under Article 3 of General Provision of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949.

A chronological review of major events on October 27, 2004, shows that the terrorist demands were refused without hesitation by the Japanese government, calling into question how much effort was truly expanded to save Mr. Koda's life. The video of the Japanese hostage was released at 2:07 a.m., and within just 5 hours Prime Minister Koizumi directed Chief Cabinet Secretary, Hiroyuki Hosoda, to refuse the terrorist demands, which he did, at 7:25 a.m.. At 8:45 a.m., Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Yukio Takeuchi, contacted Mr. Howard H. Baker, Jr., U.S. Ambassador to Japan, to inform him of the government's decision not to withdraw SDF. Prime Minister Koizumi publicly announced the refusal of the demands at 10:00 a.m., before the identity of the hostage was released at 11:25 a.m..

It is important to note that the highest-ranked bureaucrat at The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), not the Prime Minister or the Foreign Minister, contacted the U.S. Ambassador, attesting to the power of bureaucrats over ministers. Ambassador Baker expressed his support for the Japanese government's rejection of the terrorist demands. This sequence of events demonstrates Japan's psychological need to seek approval from the United States in the formulation of its policy.

Japanese governments have been pro-U.S. since the end of WWII, as if Japan were a subservient child fearful of punishment from a stringent parent. Since the traumatic unconditional surrender to the U.S. in 1945, Japan has, in essence, yielded its sovereignty to the United States, even after sovereignty was restored in 1952. The Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, which also took effect in 1952, has allowed Japanese governments to successfully create an illusion among the Japanese people that the U.S. will protect Japan from any military threats. The bilateral relationship between Japan and the U.S. can be considered analogous to a psychologically abnormal parent-child relationship in which an anxious child seeks conditional love and protection from its parent by being submissive and obedient in order to please the parent.

With the approval and support of the U.S. government, Prime Minister Koizumi, without hesitation, put the life of a Japanese citizen into the hands of terrorists, which by itself violates Article 13 of the Constitution of Japan that states, "All of the people shall be respected as individuals. Their right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness shall, to the extent that it does not interfere with the public welfare, be the supreme consideration in legislation and in other governmental affairs. One question remains unanswered: Why did Prime Minister Koizumi, the puppet for powerful bureaucrats who actually control all three of the executive, judicial and legislative branches of a so-called "Democratic government," refuse the terrorist demands so hastily?

The Japanese bureaucrats and policy makers have successfully manipulated both domestic and international media in order to avoid any possible criticism by questioning, and indirectly blaming, Mr. Koda's entry into Baghdad. From the earliest phase of this incident, the government intentionally created an image of Mr. Koda as a naive and careless explorer of the world without any particular purposes. Who would ever go to such a dangerous place without a purpose despite warnings by The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and people in Jordan? Mr. Koda's family has stated that this warm-hearted young man entered Baghdad with a strong determination to work for the people of Iraq based on his belief in Christianity, as he has done much volunteer work to help people. Protecting political and bureaucratic systems has been the top priority for Japanese bureaucrats and policy makers, a priority which supercedes the life of a Japanese citizen. Regardless of Mr. Koda's safety, Japanese bureaucrats and policy makers first made sure that they would be safe no matter what happened to Mr. Koda. It is evident that the powerful MOFA bureaucrats would escape accusation simply by replacing some ministers superficially in charge, including Koizumi, another puppet Prime Minister, and Nobutaka Machimura, a newly-appointed inexperienced Foreign Minister, if MOFA were ever criticized for the death of Mr. Koda.

Prime Minister Koizumi made a statement, written by MOFA bureaucrats, that "Mr. Shosei Koda has fallen victim of terrorism, despite all possible efforts taken by the Government of Japan to secure his release from his captors." MOFA strongly defends itself by arguing that it had issued strict travel warnings. However, MOFA, without evidence, stated that Mr. Koda had intentionally ignored these warnings, a politically convenient excuse to criticize Mr. Koda. Although the Japanese government and MOFA have denied it, the terrorists claim that millions of dollars in ransom were offered by the Japanese government through an unknown third nation. With no intelligence or proper crisis management ability in terrorism, the government could not even negotiate for the release of the hostage. Knowledge of the principles of Jihad on the part of Japanese bureaucrats and policy makers must be put into question, because under Jihad, an offer of ransom would have been considered an insult to the terrorists. Mr. Koda is, thus, a victim of bungling by Japanese bureaucrats and policy makers. Why did not Prime Minister Koizumi take an initiative to send SDF to rescue our fellow citizen, which would have represented true statesmanship? The Japanese government and MOFA merely cried for help to the U.S.. The U.S. government and military were unlikely to take any action to rescue Mr. Koda, because putting the lives of Americans into extreme danger might cripple President Bush in the middle of a presidential campaign.

In a second incident, two Japanese diplomats and an Iraqi driver, who were heading for Tikrit for a conference, were murdered about 30 km south of Tikrit on November 29, 2003. Saddam Hussein was born in Tikrit and had a tight network of family and clan ties there. In October 2003, the U.S. government had intelligence indicating that Saddam Hussein was hiding in Tikrit, and must have conducted an intensive search. Saddam Hussein was arrested at a farmhouse about 15 km south of Tikrit on December 13, 2003 by the U.S. military. Hussein's forces must have been fully prepared to attack any invaders.

To what extent was the Japanese government informed by the U.S. government of the U.S. military operations surrounding Tikrit? If the Japanese government and MOFA had had knowledge of this intelligence, travel by the two diplomats to Tikrit would have been considered a suicidal mission. It is highly unlikely that protective and cautious bureaucrats at MOFA would have sent the two diplomats to such a dangerous zone. This may indicate that the Japanese government was not in possession of this intelligence, and that the U.S. government had not provided the Japanese government with this critical intelligence. The withholding of critical intelligence on the part of the U.S. government is against the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. Instead of placing an official complaint to the U.S. government, which would represent an act of disobedience toward the parent on the part of the child, the Japanese government awarded a two-rank promotion to the deceased diplomats and promised that MOFA would forever protect and look after the families left behind. Because one-rank promotions are customary for individuals killed in the line of duty, the two-rank promotions appeared odd, as if MOFA were desperately trying to hide its guilt and shame for its lack of diplomatic skills. Prime Minister Koizumi and the former Foreign Minister, Yoriko Kawaguchi, as well as the highly ranked bureaucrats at MOFA, must disclose whether or not they were in possession of intelligence regarding the American military operations. If they knew about the planned operations, they should be interrogated under the criminal law for dispatching the diplomats into dangerous territory. If they did not know of the intelligence, the Japanese government should immediately annul the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty and withdraw SDF support of American troops.

It is time for the Japanese people to admit that they have lived in an illusion of sovereignty and been instead manipulated by their "parent" nation, the U.S.. The first step the people can take is to demand that the Japanese government annul the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. We must admit the reality that the U.S. government will never protect the people and the land of Japan by putting Americans into danger. The people must also put bureaucrats and policy makers under oath in order to disclose the truth regarding their actions for these two tragic incidents on behalf of the Japanese citizens. That Japan blindly followed President Bush's request to be an ally of the United States in the war against Iraq has made Japan a legitimate enemy and target of the terrorists. Furthermore, Japan's involvement as an American ally was based on questionable pre-war intelligence in the assessment of the Iraq - Al Qaeda relationship. Japan's bureaucrats and policy makers should realize that they have put Japan and the Japanese people into extreme danger. Tokyo may easily be the next target of a terrorist attack.

[165] 2004-12-20 03:07:57.....転載・転送可
（＊＊＊＊／横浜市）

12月６日久保新一名で送った送金2万円の一部2000円をカンパしていただきました。

[164] 2004-12-14 07:52:53
情報操作が強い今、希望があるとしたら、このような草分け的な活動だ。（＊＊＊＊／滋賀・学生）

現在、テレビや新聞のニュースでは意図的な戦争の考え方を流している。残念ながら、それに気づいている人は少ない。でもだからこそ、このような活動をとめてはいけない。気づいている人が戦争をとめにかからなければ、ますます状況は悪化する。
僕も今、できる限り多くの人たちに情報操作の事実を伝えて、自分から情報を手に入れる努力を促している。そして、自分で考えて選挙に行くように言っている。
戦争は止めなきゃいけない。特定の人間だけの都合で、人間や人間以外の命も考えない行動をやめさせなくては。

[163] 2004-12-13 16:04:45.....転載・転送可
自衛隊の即時撤退を！（＊＊＊＊／千葉県）

私たちは、会の結成以来、自体隊の撤退を要求してきました。 そもそも、「大量破壊兵器」の存在を理由に、ブッシュ大統領はイラクへの侵略をおこないましたが、今では、「大量破壊兵器」は存在しなかったことがはっきりしています。また、この戦争によって、少なくとも10万人以上のイラク人が虐殺され、その多くは女性とこどもであることも明らかになっています。 このような侵略戦争に加担し、米軍とともに行動している自衛隊の存在は、イラクの人々の怒りの的となっています。 また、今夏、多くの人の反対を押し切って成立させた有事法は、「海外にいる邦人の保護」を名目に、海外派兵を正当化していますが、自衛隊の派兵はイラク人を苦しめ、国内外においても多数の日本人の命を危険にさらしています。 私たちは、改めて自衛隊の即時撤退を強く求めます。

[162] 2004-12-04 10:33:48
イラクの現実を掲示せよ（＊＊＊＊／北海道・札幌市）

現在難病にて入院中で僅かな金額で申し訳なく想いますが後日 送金致します。 出来得るならイラクの現状と自衛隊の活動実体を知りたい 既存の新聞とＴＶのメデア特に日本では事実を隠蔽しているから 現実を知る事が出来ないどうか現実のイラクをそして自衛隊の活動実体を掲示願いたい。

[161] 2004-12-04 08:58:48
（＊＊＊＊／千葉県・出版）

地球上からこれ以上戦争の被害者を出さないために。この意見広告の企画を進めてくださりありがとうございます。今、あまりにも仕事が忙しく期日内にこのメールのご連絡をする時間がありませんでした。2日の『毎日』を見て本当に嬉しく、感謝しております。遅ればせながら、少しですが(すみません)振り込みます。

[160] 2004-12-03 00:23:12.....転載・転送可
おとなたち、目を覚まそう！（＊＊＊＊／北海道）

これから先の時代を生きていく子どもたちには、今のおとなたちが決めて行っている様々なことに対して関わるすべがありません。ハイティーン（10代後半）の子どもたちは、今のおとなたちの行っている“無法”ともいえる様々な行動を、どんな気持ちで見ていることでしょう... 　子どもたちの、子どもたちの、そのまた子どもたちが生きる時代を考えて、今、私たちが何をすべきかを決めましょう。 おとなたちよ、昔子どもだったおとなたちよ 目を覚ましましょう！

[159] 2004-12-02 00:54:27.....転載・転送可
１分だけ目を閉じて想像してみませんか。（＊＊＊＊／愛知県・主婦）

暗い民家で覆面の大柄な男たちに取り押さえられ手足を縛られた状態で
「日本の自衛隊が４８時間以内に撤退しなければおまえの首をはねる」
と言われ恐怖に怯えているのはあなたです。あなたの愛する子どもです。兄弟です。恋人です。友人です。
助けはきません。
少しの想像力と思いやりで世の中はもっと平和になると思います。
武力では決して平和にはなりません。人間はそれを過去の戦争で学んできたのではないのですか。
今日本がするべきことは自衛隊派遣ではありません。
戦争反対と訴えることです。
国民の代表者は誤った選択をしないで下さい。国民の声にもっと耳を傾けて下さい。
それがあなたたちの任務ではないのですか。
宿営地をイラクの民間人に提供し、自衛隊撤退を望みます。

[158] 2004-12-01 16:04:11
「テロに屈しない」てなんですか？「復興支援」ってなんですか？（＊＊＊＊／神奈川・派遣社員）

自衛隊の派遣以後、何か事件がある度「テロリストには屈しない」為にも「自衛隊を撤退させない」とよくいわれますよね。自衛隊はイラクで「テロリスト」と戦っているのですか？ もしそうならそれは「復興支援」でなく「参戦」ではありませんか？「テロリスト」と戦ってもいないのに「勝ち」も「負け」もないのではありませんか？また自衛隊による「復興支援」ってなんですか？テレビカメラの前でイラクの子供達に文房具を配ることですか？特定の部族に利益を与えることですか？アメリカ軍やオランダ軍の後方支援の事ですか？「イラクの復興支援」を名目とした「参戦」でしかない今回の自衛隊の派遣には到底同意出来ません。ましてや非戦闘地区だと強弁するなら｢給水活動」の人員を削って、「警備」を増やす必要がどこにあるのですか。もう日本政府の誤魔化しにはうんざりです。

[157] 2004-12-01 11:14:24
戦争に正義はない（大阪府）

すべての戦争に大義とか名分などあるはずがありません。特に唯一の被爆国として、この国はすべての戦争に「ノー」という権利と義務を有しているのです。力こそ正義という今の世の中にあって、先ず必要なことは、相手との違いを認めることでしょう、今こそ、金子みすずの「鈴と小鳥とそれから私」の歌の意味を知るべきでしょう。