Cablegate: Japanese Morning Press Highlights 12/08/06
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SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 12/08/06
Index:
1) Top headlines
2) Editorials
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule
Iraq report fallout:
4) JDA chief Kyuma denies there was "official" support from Japan at
start of Iraq war; Prime Minister Koizumi was making a "private"
comment to press
5) Kyuma in Diet reply downplays Japan's support for Iraq war
6) Kyuma's statement seems to challenge legitimacy of Japan's
decision to support Iraq war
7) Government carefully watching US policy response to panel's
report on Iraq war for may have an impact on ASDF withdrawal
timetable from Iraq
8) Government mulling leaving ASDF in place in Iraq duties until
2009, timed to US withdrawal timetable
US base issues:
9) Okinawa governor-elect Nakaima takes flexible stance on
government's Futenma relocation plan, conditioned on removing danger
of present base
10) US F-16 jet drops dummy bomb on runway of shared Misawa
military-civilian base
11) US Navy places all-Japan curfew on drinking alcoholic beverages
late at night
12) Yokosuka sailor's wife arrested for child abuse
13) Japan-ROK separate meeting scheduled for sidelines of ASEAN
confab has been put off, a sign that bilateral ties remain cool
14) Foreign Minister Aso in Singapore meeting with Chinese
counterpart lauds improvement in bilateral ties
15) Japan likely to support US' pact with India backing civilian
nuclear development
16) LDP's Taku Yamasaki corrects earlier statement by saying former
Prime Minister Koizumi did not directly express desire to make 3rd
visit to Pyongyang
Diet agenda:
17) Diet extension now seen as inevitable
18) Cabinet to approve controversial decision made on road
construction funding
19) Lawless: "It would be crazy for Japan not to intercept" missile
headed for US (Corrected copy; missing text)
Articles:
1) TOP HEADLINES
Asahi:
DoCoMo to recall Sanyo-Mitsubishi made cell-phone battery packs
Mainichi:
Special-purpose road construction revenues: Government, ruling
parties agree to amend law in 2008; Gasoline tax not included in
agreement
TOKYO 00006897 002 OF 011
Yomiuri:
Mitsubishi-Tokyo-UFJ Bank to enter final coordination for resuming
political donations worth 30 million yen for first time in nine
years
Nihon Keizai:
AHA to sell off all hotels nationwide; Bidding formula to be adopted
to sell land, buildings; Total amount likely to reach 100 billion
yen
Sankei:
Welfare Ministry ok's lump sum childbirth payment of 700,000 yen at
expanded discretion of health insurance unions; Subsidies may be
paid for fertility treatment
Tokyo Shimbun
Final plan includes reallocating special-purpose road construction
revenues, including gasoline tax, for general use; Stipulates
amendment of related laws in 2008
Akahata:
Amendment to Basic Education Law for worse: Law should be scrapped
2) EDITORIALS
Asahi:
(1) Special-purpose road construction revenues: Road system will
expand, and the state will wither
(2) Iraq report: US president should respond immediately
Mainichi:
(1) Proposals on Iraq policy: US diplomatic power will be put to
test
(2) Measures to deal with crime victims: It could happen to anybody
Yomiuri:
(1) US Iraq report: Can it serve as prescription for US to emerge
from chaos?
(2) Phone rate to be raised by 7 yen; NTT's management efforts to be
put to test
Nihon Keizai:
(1) Multiple policy changes needed for US to pull out of Iraq
(2) Issuance of government bonds should be drastically curtailed
under Kantei leadership
Sankei:
(1) Iraq report: Open up horizons, eliminating sectarian conflict
(2) 65 years since Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor: Pacific War
changing from experience to be described to history to be learned
Tokyo Shimbun:
(1) US forces in Iraq: US should make diplomatic efforts to
compensate for withdrawal
(2) Road revenues: Make fresh start for reallocating funds for wider
usage
Akahata:
(1) Make best use of reflection on war
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei)
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Prime Minister's schedule, Dec. 7
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full)
December 8, 2006
07:59
Met with Nippon Keidanren Chairman Mitarai, Tokyo University
Professor Motoshige Ito and others at a restaurant in the Akasaka
Prince Hotel.
09:55
Video taped message for the Visit Japan Campaign at Kantei.
11:46
Met Special Advisor Nemoto.
12:29
Had lunch and enjoyed talks with sixth-grade students at an
elementary school in Ichigaya.
14:04
Met Hideyuki Shinohara, first-prize winner in the national truck
drivers contest, and others at Kantei. Met Finance Minister Omi,
Finance Vice Minister Fujii and others. Joined by Assistant Deputy
Chief Cabinet Secretary Saka.
15:33
Held dialogue with Mitarai for a New Year special feature in Nippon
Keidanren's organ magazine.
16:05
Met National Policy Agency Director General Uruma.
17:02
Attended a Security Council meeting. Later attended a meeting of the
Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy.
19:42
Dined at a Japanese restaurant in the Hotel Okura with "Yamazato
kai" members, including Yomiuri Shimbun Group President Tsuneo
Watanabe and Asahi Shimbun columnist Toru Hayano.
21:49
Returned to his official residence.
4) Defense chief denies gov't supported Iraq war
ASAHI (Page 3) (Abridged)
December 8, 2006
Defense Agency Director General Kyuma, sitting in on the House of
Councillors Foreign and Defense Affairs Committee in its meeting
yesterday, was asked about the United States' use of armed force
against Iraq and indicated that support for the Iraq war did not
represent the government's official view but was Prime Minister
Koizumi's personal view at that time. "The government did not
officially say Japan would support it, and I heard the prime
minister (Koizumi) told the media that he would," Kyuma stated
before the committee. He was replying to a question asked by Yasuo
Ogata representing the Japanese Communist Party.
Kyuma used to maintain that it was inappropriate to say "support"
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the Iraq war when it started and that it was enough to say
"understand" it. This can be taken as raising a question about the
justification for the Iraq war. However, the government has
supported the use of force against Iraq in its official view.
Kyuma's statement will likely create a stir.
5) JDA chief contradictory to the government's statement on the
opening of the Iraq war, saying the government did not state it
"supports" striking Iraq
TOKYO SHIMBUN
December 8, 2006
At a meeting yesterday of the Upper House Committee on Foreign
Affairs and Defense, Defense Agency (JDA) Director-General Fumio
Kyuma, referring to the response to the opening of the Iraq war by
the government of the time: "The government of Japan did not
officially state it endorsed (the war)." He thus indicated that it
was incorrect to say that the government had endorsed the war from
the very beginning.
At the time of the opening of the war in Iraq in March 2003, then
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi stated positively, "We understand
America's launching military action and endorse it." Kyuma's remarks
are likely to cause a controversy.
In the session, Kyuma, asked about the prime minister's statement,
stated, "I knew Prime Minister (Koizumi) made such a comment to the
media."
In addition, referring to the Special Measures Law on Iraq
Reconstruction, Kyuma emphasized that the objective of the law is
wholly to provide reconstruction assistance, noting: "It's incorrect
to say that the government created a law in a way to somewhat
support the war, nor is it correct to think that in accordance with
that line, the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) were dispatched to
(Iraq)."
In April 2004, when he served as acting secretary general of the
ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Kyuma stated in a speech:
"The government endorsed America's military action, but frankly
speaking, I find it difficult to go as far as to say it was an
endorsement."
When asked about (Kyuma's remarks) by reporters at the Prime
Minister's Official Residence yesterday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
stated: "I've not yet received a report about what remarks (JDA
Director-General Kyuma) made. I expect the report to come to me
shortly."
6) Doubt cast about Japan's support for US initiation of Iraq war;
Kyuma distancing himself from previous government?
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full)
December 8, 2006
Shohei Yoshida
Defense Agency Director-General Fumio Kyuma's remarks yesterday on
Japan's support for the Iraq war signify the emergence of a move in
Japan, inspired by America's ongoing move to review its Iraq policy,
to question whether it was justifiable for Japan to endorse the
TOKYO 00006897 005 OF 011
opening of the war.
On March 20, 2003, immediately after the United States and its
allies struck Iraq, then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi met the
press and stated he endorsed the opening of the war. As the reasons
for the endorsement, he cited the removal of Iraq's weapons of mass
destruction (WMD). Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who served as chief
cabinet secretary at the time, yesterday firmly stated to reporters:
"There were rational reasons for us to believe, when the war was
started, that Iraq possessed WMD." Abe thus reiterated there was no
mistake in the government's judgment.
US President Bush is now forced to review his Iraq policy, following
his defeat in the midterm elections. But the Japanese government
finds it difficult to say it will back America's move to review the
president's Iraq policy because Tokyo has supported it to date.
On the recommendations in a report just released by the US Iraq
Study Group, as well, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki
simply stated: "We will pay close attention to the moves in the days
ahead." Yesterday, Kyuma stated, "It's troublesome for us to be
described as being committed to the Iraq war and mobilizing
Self-Defense Forces (SDF) troops to Iraq." This remark leaves us
with the impression that Kyuma is desperate to avoid being called to
account for the endorsement of the opening of the war.
7) Government carefully watching how US will change Iraq policy in
determining future course of ASDF activities
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full)
December 8, 2006
The government intends to carefully watch how the United States
government will switch its policy course toward Iraq in response to
a report of recommendations on Iraq policy worked out by the Iraq
Study Group, a bipartisan advisory panel to the US Congress.
In a press conference yesterday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki
said: "Although the recommendations are very sincere and
constructive, we need to closely watch to see if the US government
reflects the recommendations in its policy." One Foreign Ministry
official also said, "It is doubtful whether US troops will be pulled
out of combat in Iraq, given the deteriorating security situation
there."
The Japanese government has dispatched about 200 Air Self-Defense
Force (ASDF) troops and 3 C-130 transport planes to Kuwait on a
mission of transporting United Nations' members and goods to Baghdad
and other areas in Iran from Kuwait. If all US combat troops
withdraw from Iraq by early 2008, as recommended in the report,
there naturally will be some effect on ASDF activities, but the
government intends to carefully watch for the time being how the
situation will change.
In a meeting of the House of Councillors Foreign and Defense Policy
Committee yesterday, Defense Agency Director General Kyuma referred
to an extension of the Iraq Humanitarian Reconstruction Support
Special Measures Law, which is to expire in late July of next year:
"Whether the US will be able to maintain security in Iraq
constitutes a very essential element. While paying close attention
to the policies of the US and the UN, we will have to make a
TOKYO 00006897 006 OF 011
judgment (on what to do about future SDF activities) by next July."
8) Gov't mulls extending Iraq law until 2009, with eye to US
military pullout
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Abridged)
December 8, 2006
The Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan group established in the United
States, has now presented the Bush administration with a report
calling for Iraq-based US military combat troops to be withdrawn by
March 2008. Meanwhile, the Japanese government began yesterday
studying withdrawing Air Self-Defense Force troops currently engaged
in airlift activities in Iraq. The government presumes that the
complete pullout of US troops would take more time beyond that time
limit. With an eye to the next US presidential election, the
government will study extending a time-limited law for special
measures to assist Iraq's reconstruction or the so-called Iraq
Special Measures Law, which is to expire at the end of July next
year, for two years. In addition, the government will also consider
terminating the ASDF's Iraq mission within that extended timeframe.
The government yesterday held a meeting of the Security Council of
Japan (SCJ), in which the government decided to extend the ASDF's
airlift mission in Iraq until the end of July next year. The
government will confirm the decision in a cabinet meeting today.
The report's specification of a withdrawal date is a sudden surprise
to Japan. "If they set a timetable, terrorists will step up their
activities," says a government official.
"Japan has made its own decision to help Iraq with its
reconstruction and has been extending cooperation," Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe told reporters at his office yesterday when asked about
the report's possible repercussions on extending the ASDF's Iraq
mission. "We will see various situations, and Japan will make its
own decision," Abe added. However, one government official voiced
concern, saying, "The report, which sets a timetable, has a big
impact."
If the US military phases out its presence in Iraq, there will be
more need for the ASDF's airlift support. There will be a US
presidential election in the fall of 2008. If the ASDF's Iraq
mission is extended for one year, the government will have to reach
a conclusion amid the presidential election campaign. "In our
country's relations with the United States, we should not be
involved in debates for the presidential election," a government
official said, adding, "We will seek to pull out with two years'
extension."
9) Okinawa governor-elect shows flexible stance on government's plan
for Futenma, premised on "removing the danger" of current airfield
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full)
December 8, 2006
Responding to an interview request from the Yomiuri Shimbun on Dec.
7 in Naha City, Hirokazu Nakaima, who will be sworn in as the new
governor of Okinawa on Dec. 10, in commenting on the issue of
relocating MCAS Futenma (Ginowan City), revealed a policy course he
will take once he is governor of considering flexibly the plan to
build an alternate facility on the shores of Camp Schwab (Nago City)
TOKYO 00006897 007 OF 011
that the government has proposed. He said: An important factor is
the general agreement by (Yoshikazu Shimabukuro) the mayor of Nago
City to accept the site. There has been a major change in the
prefectural population's feelings about this issue." However, he
stressed that in considering the proposed plan, he was laying down
the following premises: 1) On the "removal of the dangerousness" of
Futenma Air Station to the neighboring area until the relocation
occurs, the government must come up with specific measures and carry
them out within three years; and 2) the government must proceed
respectfully with talks with the prefecture and related cities and
towns, and also carefully carry out an environmental impact
assessment.
On the removal of the danger of Futenma, he noted: "Technical
studies should be able to be carried out within the government on
such solutions as relocating some of the training, shortening the
time (the base is used), or and reducing noise."
During the campaign, Nakaima, who was running for the first time for
governor in the election in November, took a stance of being opposed
in principle to the V-shaped double runway plan that the government
had drafted. However, Major of Nago Shimabukuro this April gave his
approval to the plan. It appears that Nakaima's thinking comes from
the need for environmental preparations for relocating Futenma, and
his flexible stance thus is premised on such factors as progress in
removing the dangerous aspects of the current base.
10) US fighter jet drops dummy bomb at Misawa Airport
ASAHI (Page 38) (Full)
December 8, 2006
A US Air Force F-16 fighter jet on a training mission from the US
Misawa Air Base in Misawa City, Aomori Prefecture, dropped a dummy
bomb on a runway of Misawa Airport, sources revealed yesterday. The
US military has recovered the dummy bomb. Misawa Airport is a
dual-use airport for the US Air Force, the Air Self-Defense Force,
and commercial airlines. However, the airport was not affected, the
sources said.
According to the Defense Facilities Administration Agency's Misawa
office and other sources, the drop took place on Dec. 6 at around
7:25 p.m. The dummy bomb is made of concrete. It weighs about 11
kilograms and is about 60 centimeters long. There was no explosion.
11) US Navy restricts off-base drinking hours in Japan
ASAHI (Page 38) (Full)
December 8, 2006
The headquarters of US Naval Forces Japan took action yesterday to
ban all US Navy personnel in Japan from drinking alcoholic beverages
at off-base restaurants and in other public places from 2 a.m.
through 6 a.m. In the wake of an aircraft carrier crewmen's
robbery-murder case that occurred in January this year in the city
of Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, the US Navy has restricted
off-base drinking hours for its Yokosuka- and Atsugi-based
personnel. The US Navy has expanded this restriction to all US naval
bases in Japan.
12) American mother arrested for child abuse in Yokosuka
TOKYO 00006897 008 OF 011
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 27) (Full)
December 8, 2006
The Kanagawa Prefectural Police's Uraga Police Station late
yesterday arrested Natasha Yvette Anderson, an unemployed
20-year-old American national without occupation who lives in
Yokosuka City, on the charge of physical abuse of her two-month-old
son.
According to the police investigation, she is suspected of causing
fracturing her son's ribs and causing cranial bleedings by throwing
him against the bed in her apartment over a period from Nov. 1-10
out of frustration when he did not stop crying.
The suspect reportedly stated: "I did it after losing control when
he wouldn't stop crying."
The suspect lives with her husband, 20, assigned to the US Navy, and
her son. Her husband was away from home for a long period of time
because of military training. Last night, she visited a hospital in
the US Navy's Yokosuka Base and said, "My son looks sick." A
hospital official deemed the injuries highly likely to be the result
of child abuse and reported it to the police station via US forces.
13) No bilateral summit set between Japan, South Korea on sidelines
of ASEAN conference
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full)
December 8, 2006
It is now likely that a bilateral summit will not be held between
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun on
the sidelines of a series of conferences related to the ASEAN
(Association of Southeast Asian Nations) in the Philippines starting
on Dec. 11. A Foreign Ministry source said, "Priority has been given
to first bilateral meetings," but a government source remarked, "The
two countries now need to take joint steps on the North Korea issue,
so it is regrettable that a bilateral summit has not been arranged.
This might be proving that bilateral ties are still strained."
Prime Minister Abe will be arriving in Manila on Dec. 8. After
meeting with President Arroyo, he will attend the ASEAN+3 (Japan,
China and South Korea) summit, the East Asia summit, and other
sessions to be held on Cebu Island. Coordination is now underway for
the prime minister to also meet during this period with Australian
and Indian prime ministers separately, besides the leaders of ASEAN
countries. He is also scheduled to meet Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.
Regarding a separate meeting with the South Korean prime minister, a
negotiator said, "Neither Japan nor South Korea has made a
proposal." A Foreign Ministry source said, "The Japanese and South
Korean leaders held a bilateral meeting on the occasion of the
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November."
Prime Minister Abe visited China and South Korea in October in an
effort to break the impasse in Japan's strained relations with these
countries. To improve ties with China, he met with President Hu
Jintao and Premier Wen, but when it comes to South Korea, bilateral
relations are still delicate. In the first Abe-Roh meeting, though
the meeting took place just after North Korea's nuclear test, the
president spoke of Japan's historical views on and one. As a result,
no joint statement was issued. According to an aide to the prime
TOKYO 00006897 009 OF 011
minister, "The prime minister looked considerably displeased."
The difference in ardor between Japan and South Korea also persists
on the North Korea issue. If both countries hold a summit under such
a situation and if a difference in both sides' stances is exposed,
North Korea might take advantage of it. A government source
speculates, "The Kantei might not be eager about a bilateral
summit."
14) Singaporean foreign minister in meeting with Abe lauds
improvement in Japan-China relations
Hayami Ichikawa, Singapore
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full)
December 8, 2006
Foreign Minister Taro Aso, now visiting Singapore on the first leg
of his tour of Southeast Asian countries, met yesterday with his
Singaporean counterpart George Yeo. He explained to Yeo about the
visit to China by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his meetings with
Chinese leaders in Beijing in October. Aso stated: "Japan worried
ASEAN member countries with its interruption of high-level exchanges
with China. Japan-China relations have now got better." Yeo then
told Aso: "It is a very good move. All the 'children' (ASEAN
members) are very happy with the fact that the 'mother and father'
(China and Japan) get along well now."
15) Government starts coordinating view in order to approve India's
civilian-use nuclear reactor in support of US-India accord
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Excerpts)
December 8, 2006
The government yesterday started coordinating views on civilian-use
nuclear development by India with the possibility of supporting the
agreement reached in March between the US and India. The accord
approves the US providing nuclear-related technology to India on the
condition of India accepting inspections by the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA). Though Japan has been suspending judgment
about the issue in view of the fact that it is the only country on
which atomic bombs were used, it has decided to approve the pact
considering the strategic importance of India. The government's
switch in its nonnuclear proliferation policy toward giving its
approval to India, a nuclear power that is not a member of the
Nonnuclear Proliferation Treaty, will likely draw criticism.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a meeting with Indian Prime
Minister Singh, who is to visit Japan on Dec. 13, is expected to
convey Japan's support for the US-India agreement, saying, "Japan
will look into the issue in a positive manner."
The US and India in March agreed that the US provides
nuclear-related technology to India with the condition attached that
India makes its civilian-use nuclear reactor subject to IAEA
inspections. The implementation of the pact requires approval of the
Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), for which Japan is serving as the
secretariat. Singh sought Japan's support and understanding when he
SIPDIS
met with former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in July, but
Koizumi refrained from making a clear-cut reply.
16) Taku Yamasaki corrects his remarks that Koizumi expressed
TOKYO 00006897 010 OF 011
willingness for a third visit to North Korea, saying "I said that"
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full)
December 8, 2006
In a meeting yesterday of his faction, Taku Yamasaki, former vice
president of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), corrected his
remarks that former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi had expressed a
willingness to make a third trip to North Korea. He stated in the
meeting: "(In our meeting on Dec. 6) I suggested that Mr. Koizumi
make a third visit to North Korea. He was just listening to me."
When reporters asked Koizumi yesterday, "Were you just listening to
(Mr. Yamasaki talking)?" He nodded his head. He admitted that
Yamasaki had made up the story.
While Yamasaki was serving as LDP secretary general, Koizumi often
corrected Yamasaki's remarks.
17) Extension of Diet session seen as unavoidable
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full)
December 8, 2006
The House of Councillors Education Special Committee decided in its
directors' meeting yesterday to give up taking a vote on bills
amending the Fundamental Law of Education today, as desired by the
ruling camp. The vote will be taken after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
returns from an overseas trip to attend the East Asia Summit on Dec.
14. The current Diet session is due to adjourn on the 15th, so it
will be unavoidable to extend the session for about one week.
The Upper and Lower House Diet Affairs Committee chairmen of the
Liberal Democratic Party and Minshuto met in the Diet building
yesterday, in which they agreed to hold a question-and-answer
session at the special committee on Dec. 11 and a central public
hearing on the 12th. Minshuto refused to attend talks regarding the
future schedule.
The ruling coalition aims to take a vote on the 14th and enact the
bills at an Upper House plenary session on the 15th. A senior Diet
Affairs Committee member in the ruling camp conveyed to the
government a plan to decide whether to extend the session or not on
the 14th. But the ruling camp is likely to decide on the extension
"on the assumption that an unexpected situation might occur," as
said by a senior Diet Affairs Committee member.
18) Cabinet to endorse today plan to revise road-related tax
revenues system; Reforms, including gasoline tax system, to be put
off
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 1) (Excerpts)
December 8, 2006
The government and ruling parties agreed yesterday to carry out
legal amendments during the regular session of the Diet in 2008 that
would be necessary to pave the way for tax revenues for road
projects to be used for general purposes. The agreement reflects the
ruling coalition's demand that a mid-term plan for road construction
be formulated, among other requests. The government has decided put
off incorporating gasoline tax revenues, which account for about 80%
of the tax revenues for road construction, into general revenues.
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The government and ruling camp will reach a final agreement in their
meeting today and the Cabinet will approve it also today. They aim
to revise the special law on road construction revenues. However
since the agreement does not include the plan to use gasoline tax
revenues for general purposes that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed
at the Economic and Fiscal Policy Council, the government will face
difficulties at the stage of amending the law.
19) Lawless: "It would be crazy for Japan not to intercept" missile
headed for US (Corrected copy; missing text)
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full)
December 7, 2006
It was confirmed yesterday that during his visit to Japan for senior
bilateral consultations, US Deputy Undersecretary of Defense
Lawless, in connection with missile defense (MD) and collective
self-defense, stated, "It would be crazy if it was clear that a
missile was headed for the United States, and Japan had the
capability of shooting it down but did not do so. That would not be
an alliance." The remark was made to former Defense Agency Shigeru
Ishiba by Lawrence during their meeting last week, and introduced to
the Liberal Democratic Party subcommittee on defense policy studies,
which Ishiba chairs.
SCHIEFFER