Washington has been proposing since last fall that GSDF troops participate in U.S. provincial reconstruction teams, but this is the first time a specific city has been cited.

Japan is reluctant, at least in part because working in such teams is not included in the special law that allowed the GSDF to go to Iraq, the Defense Agency said.

The latest proposal apparently reflects Washington's desire to maintain the multilateral cooperation framework for Iraqi reconstruction even as numerous countries withdraw their troops this year.

The sources said the United States has unofficially made a "strong request" to Japan through a diplomatic channel to consider dispatching senior GSDF officers to Basra, saying security in the city, where British troops are stationed, is stable.

Japan is planning to withdraw the GSDF's 600 troops from Iraq as early as May along with pullouts by British and Australian forces, which are in charge of security in the Samawah area.

The Japan Times Weekly: March 4, 2006
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