[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 4 (Friday, January 23, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E44]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E44]]
 RECOGNIZING THE OUTSTANDING EFFORTS OF JAPAN IN THE RECONSTRUCTION OF 
         IRAQ AND THE INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST TERRORISM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HENRY J. HYDE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 23, 2004

  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express deep appreciation for 
the support and cooperation received by the United States from our 
close ally Japan. The United States and Japan have maintained a strong 
relationship over the past half century, successfully overcoming 
challenges created by the Cold War, globalization, and now the 
international campaign against terrorism. Our alliance has been the key 
to insuring stability and security in the Asia-Pacific region for 
decades. Today, I stand to recognize Japan's recent outstanding 
contributions in support of ongoing reconstruction efforts in Iraq and 
the international campaign against terrorism.
  Last week, Japan dispatched an advance unit of the Japanese Self-
Defense Forces to the Iraqi city of Samawah to assist the coalition in 
its efforts to stabilize and rebuild the nation of Iraq. This unit will 
eventually be joined by up to a thousand additional troops and support 
personnel. The Japanese will provide much-needed medical services, 
increase Iraq's water supply, rebuild schools, and repair 
infrastructure. Their mission will result in greater security and 
prosperity for the Iraqi people and welcome support for American forces 
in the region.
  The arrival of Japanese forces in the Middle East signifies a 
milestone in Japan's history. For many decades, Japan has provided 
generous financial support for efforts to promote international 
security, but the country's post-war constitution has precluded the 
overseas deployment of Japanese Self-Defense Forces, SDF. This past 
summer, the Japanese Diet made an historic decision to support 
coalition efforts in Iraq. Under the leadership of Prime Minister 
Junichiro Koizumi, the Diet created a legal framework to allow the 
deployment of Japanese SDF troops to assist in reconstruction efforts. 
I would like to echo the words of my good friend, Howard Baker, the 
U.S. Ambassador to Japan, by saying that this unprecedented decision 
has ``enormous symbolic significance.''
  With this action, Japan has demonstrated recognition of the reality 
that oceans and geography alone cannot protect free nations from 
murderous fanaticism. Japan has recently experienced the pains of 
terrorism. I wrote to Ambassador Ryozo Kato, Japan's ambassador to the 
United States, to express my condolences to the families of Mr. 
Katsuhiko Oku and Mr. Masamori Inoue, who fell victim to a terrorist 
attack in Iraq on November 29. As President Abraham Lincoln noted in 
the Gettysburg Address, Mr. Oku and Mr. Inoue ``gave their lives that 
that nation might live.'' Shortly before his death, Mr. Oku wrote a 
particularly meaningful entry in his diary after visiting the site of a 
suicide bombing in Nassiriya. He wrote: ``. . . what we should learn 
from this tragedy is to have stronger determination not to yield to 
terrorists. Terrorists attacks could happen anywhere in the world. The 
elimination of terrorism is therefore a goal to be sought by all of 
us.'' These brave and determined words should strengthen our resolve to 
carry on with efforts to stabilize and secure post-war Iraq.
  Japan's contribution to the rebuilding of Iraq includes significant 
financial support. After the United States, Japan is the largest donor 
to Iraqi reconstruction. In October, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko 
Kawaguchi announced a $5 billion aid package for the rebuilding of 
Iraq, including an outright grant of $1.5 billion for next year and 
loans in the amount of $3.5 billion to be given under generous terms 
through 2007. Five billion dollars is a significant contribution by any 
measure, however, in the context of Japan's current economic challenges 
it is a particularly generous pledge. Japanese assistance will go 
toward power generation, education, water and sanitation, and 
infrastructure--improvements in these areas will lay the critical 
foundation for future Iraqi development. Last month, Prime Minister 
Koizumi also announced to U.S. envoy James Baker III that Japan would 
provide extensive debt forgiveness to Iraq.
  Mr. Speaker, not only has Japan stood by the United States during 
Operation Iraqi Freedom, but it has also actively cooperated with our 
country in combating terror around the globe. As the United States 
began to take steps against al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan, 
the Japanese government provided logistical support to Operation 
Enduring Freedom. Despite the tight controls placed on Japan's armed 
services by its Constitution, Japan found ways to aid the U.S.-led 
coalition in freeing the Afghani people from a ruthless regime and 
rooting out destructive Al-Qaeda cells. The Japanese Diet passed 
legislation allowing for the deployment of supply ships and destroyers 
to the Indian Ocean to act as rear military support and provide the 
U.S. fleet with fuel, food, and water. The Japanese also provided 
medical assistance to coalition troops, assisted Afghan refugees, and 
contributed to American intelligence-gathering. This rear support has 
continued through Operation Iraqi Freedom.
  Japan has taken an active role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan. 
Tokyo hosted the international donors conference for the reconstruction 
of Afghanistan in January 2002. The two-day conference, co-chaired by 
Mrs. Sadako Ogata, the Prime Minister's special representative for 
Afghanistan, succeeded in gaining pledges of $1.8 billion in assistance 
for 2002 as part of a total of $4.5 billion for a 5-year period. Japan 
pledged a generous $500 million to be given over a 30-month period. 
While many of the pledges have not been fulfilled, Japan has remained 
true to its word and has already disbursed most of the promised 
funding.
  Mr. Speaker, over the past 2 years, the alliance between the United 
States and Japan has grown stronger as we have worked to improve our 
mutual security as part of the international campaign against terrorism 
and to address the critical issues posed by North Korean nuclear 
proliferation. However, our relationship is based on more than common 
security interests. It is a reflection of our mutual commitment to 
democracy and freedom. Today, I rise to thank the people of Japan for 
their outstanding support of the United States in the international 
campaign against terrorism. Japan has proven itself a good friend to 
the people of Iraq and Afghanistan, and a true, loyal ally of the 
United States.