JAPAN ADVISED OF NEED TO CONCLUDE IRAQ DEPLOYMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 002489

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR PM, NEA, NEA/I, S/I, EAP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2018
TAGS: MOPS PREL IZ JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN ADVISED OF NEED TO CONCLUDE IRAQ DEPLOYMENT

REF: STATE 96122

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Jim Zumwalt for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: MOFA Deputy Foreign Minister for Foreign
Policy Bessho was advised by Charge September 9 that Iraq has
decided to decrease the number of non-U.S. coalition partners
effective January 2009, and that accordingly, Japan will no
longer be required to deploy Air Self Defense Force (ASDF)
assets in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Bessho
asked whether this was an Iraqi or a U.S. decision and
subsequent calls to the Charge from the offices of the
Foreign Minister and Chief Cabinet Secretary inquired why
Japan was being informed by the United States of a decision
made by the Iraqi government. Japanese officials were
disappointed that President Bush did not mention Japan when
he listed a number of other coalition partners at his
September 9 speech at the National Defense University.
Embassy also advised the Iraqi Ambassador to Tokyo of our
demarche. He had not received any instructions on the issue
from Baghdad and said he will check with his ministry before
discussing this issue with the Japanese. Means to
acknowledge and recognize Japanese participation in OIF could
include letters of thanks from the highest levels of the U.S.
and Iraqi governments, as well as participation in ceremonies
and events to mark the successful conclusion of missions
performed by coalition members. END SUMMARY.

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MOFA ADVISED OF DECISION TO DRAW DOWN
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1. (C) The Charge met September 9 with MOFA Deputy Vice
Minister for Foreign Policy Koro Bessho to convey reftel
points regarding the withdrawal from Iraq of some coalition
forces this December, including Japan's. Charge emphasized
how grateful we and the Iraqis are for Japan's support for
Iraq over the past few years, particularly noting the
deployment of both Ground and Air Self Defense Force (ASDF)
assets, and explained that the Iraqis have determined that a
smaller coalition presence will be required starting in
January. Accordingly, the continued deployment of Japan's
ASDF personnel and aircraft in Kuwait will no longer be
necessary. He told Bessho that we will continue to count on
Japan for ongoing contributions to the cause of freedom and
prosperity in Iraq, and also hope that with the successful
completion of the ASDF mission, Japan will be able to commit
SDF resources to other regions where they are needed,
Afghanistan in particular. The Charge also told Bessho that
while details regarding the timing and withdrawal of Japan's
assets will be discussed at the working level, we are hopeful
the ASDF will remain until the end of December.


2. (C) Bessho thanked Charge Zumwalt for alerting him to this
decision prior to the September 9 NSC briefing and said that
Japan is very proud of the role its Self Defense Forces have
played in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He had a number of
questions regarding the decision to draw down coalition
forces, the first of which was whether this is an Iraqi
decision or one made by the U.S. He also wondered about when
and how it would be announced to the public, how many troops
would be departing and how many would remain, and which
members of the coalition would be asked to remain and why.
The Charge replied that this was an Iraqi decision and that
other details regarding the way forward would be disclosed at
the NSC briefing. He subsequently received late-night
telephone calls from the offices of Foreign Minister Koumura
and Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura seeking more details
and expressing concern that Japan was being advised by the
United States of what was ostensibly an Iraqi decision.


3. (C) MOFA officials subsequently contacted us to say they
were disappointed there had been no reference to Japan when
President Bush mentioned other coalition partners during his
September 9 address at the National Defense University. They
explained that a failure to acknowledge Japan's contributions
would make more difficult their public diplomacy efforts to
convince the Japanese public that its forces are playing a
key role and are appreciated. We replied that the list the
President cited was not meant to be exhaustive and that those
he mentioned included countries whose military personnel had
suffered casualties. (NOTE: Although Japan suffered no

TOKYO 00002489 002 OF 002


casualties among its military personnel, two MOFA diplomats
were killed in Iraq. END NOTE.)

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IRAQI AMBASSADOR ADVISED
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4. (C) Iraqi Ambassador to Tokyo Ghanim Al-Jumaily was
advised by political officer September 10 of our discussions
with Bessho. Jumaily reported he had not received any word
of this or any instructions from Baghdad but that he was not
surprised, given the fact that Prime Minister Al-Maliki had
told him when they last met during the summer that non-U.S.
coalition forces would be drawn down when the current UNSCR
authorizing their presence expires on December 31. He said
that he would seek guidance from Baghdad before discussing
this issue with Japanese officials, but was grateful to learn
of our demarche from us, rather than from the Japanese or
from the press.

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SUGGESTED ACTIONS TO ACKNOWLEDGE PARTICIPATION
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5. (C) With regard to appropriate actions to acknowledge
Japanese participation in the coalition, we recommend letters
of thanks to counterparts should be sent by the President,
the Secretary, the Secretary of Defense, and the National
Security Advisor. Similar letters from the Iraqis should
also be encouraged. In addition, Japan should be included in
any ceremonial events organized in Baghdad or elsewhere to
commemorate the participation of our coalition partners and
the successful completion of their missions. It would also
be fitting if high-level U.S. and Iraqi military and civilian
officials be present to bid farewell to Japanese ASDF
personnel when they depart Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait
for the last time. Finally, if invited by the Japanese,
high-level U.S. and Iraqi officials should participate in any
welcoming or recognition ceremonies held in Japan to mark the
end of this deployment.
ZUMWALT