1000 Japanese soldiers may be going to iraq

[carljii]

1000 Japanese soldiers may be going to iraq - despite over 50% public opinion against the move. Not finalised yet.

In the article I read in The Times newspaper it claims the japanese army has more modern equipment than any other military force. I quote;

"They each carry a personal assualt weapon which operates like a shotgun at short range and as a highly accurate rifle for long range action. In addition they carry smart support weapons which can be programmed to fire bullets along laser beams to hit tragets with almost 100% accuracy."

Anyone care to expand on the facts?? An internet search hasnt illuminated many more facts on the subject. Sounds like some interesting kit.

[Claymore]

"...In addition they carry smart support weapons which can be programmed to fire bullets along laser beams to hit tragets with almost 100% accuracy." "

Sounds like BS.

[oldsoak]

I'd agree its a little unlikely. I'd say their electronics is pretty state of the art, especially radios and electronic warfare. I dont think any of their modern home grown weaponry has ever been tested in combat since WWII so it would be good to see how it stands up.I dont believe they are allowed to export arms and I dont know of any time they deployed combat troops abroad since WWII.

- a mate has just made the comment "they need laser guided bullets as they all wear glasses" - good to know stereotyping is alive and well.

[RealUltimatePower]

Well they aren't combat troops really, sorta, but the Japanesse have some troops deployed in the Golan Heights as security forces with the UN mission there.

[martinexsquaddie]

You no build WMD you build RAILWAY :lol:
PITY THEY CAN'T COME HERE AND HAVE WORDS WITH SON OF RAILTRACK :P

[Gordon]

rofl

[carljii]

personally i think whoever wrote the article has seen Aliens one too many times!

[Haiw]

naaaah not aliens....starship troopers :D

[He219]

Check out these images, hehehe.....

http://a1112.g.akamai.net/7/1112/492/03312000/news.lycos.com/news/ot_getImage.asp?op=img&id=380699

http://a1112.g.akamai.net/7/1112/492/03312000/news.lycos.com/news/ot_getImage.asp?op=img&id=380684

http://a1112.g.akamai.net/7/1112/492/03312000/news.lycos.com/news/ot_getImage.asp?op=img&id=380682


Opposition lawmakers swarm to a chairman to stop the passage of the Iraq bill forced by the ruling party lawmakers at the upper house in Tokyo Friday, July 25, 2003. The ruling party plans to approve the Iraq bill which enables for the Japanese government to dispatch Self-Defense Forces to Iraq to help reconstructing the war-torn country. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)

http://a1112.g.akamai.net/7/1112/492/03312000/news.lycos.com/news/ot_getImage.asp?op=img&id=380706

Ruling party lawmaker Hitoshi Onita, second right, protects Defense committee chaiman Ryuji Matsumura while passing Iraq bill in the commitee at the upper house in Tokyo Fridat, July 25, 2003. The ruling party plans to approve the Iraq bill which enables for the Japanese government to dispatch Self-Defense Forces to Iraq to help reconstructing the war-torn country. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)

http://a1112.g.akamai.net/7/1112/492/03312000/news.lycos.com/news/ot_getImage.asp?op=img&id=380664


Japanese Prime Minister Junichifo Koizumi smiles during Japan's Parliament session which defeated a no-confidence motion against him at the lower house of the National Diet in Tokyo Friday, July 25, 2003. The motion against Koizumi was defeated Friday, largely a symbolic attempt by opposition parties to stall passage of legislation to send troops to Iraq. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)

p-)

[Upfrontreporting]

Democracy at work :lol:

[ScoutRanger]

lol

[Herrmannek]

Democracy at work :lol:

Are you sure that the name of the woman in pink is Democracy?

[DPM95]

I really think the Japanese camo is cool. Looks sort of like the Danish Flecktarn. It can be seen in the great Japanese movie Battle Royale.

[USAF G]

Well I don't know about their weapons, but everyone I know that travels to Japan tells me that Japan lives in the future. Everything that we might have in ten years, they already have. No kidding, you can buy jewlery out of a vending machine there. :lol:

[Seiyuuki]

Yup...HDTV is has been the standard in Japan for the last few years...practically every home has one. While in the U.S., we are just beginning to experiment with HDTV.

[Herrmannek]

But what for HDTV, if you can sightsee Iraq from backseat of your Humve
;)

[Seiyuuki]

:lol: :lol: rofl rofl rofl rofl

[He219]

http://world.guns.ru/assault/howa_t89.jpg


"...In addition they carry smart support weapons which can be programmed to fire bullets along laser beams to hit tragets with almost 100% accuracy."

They probably mean laser target designators mounted to the Type 89.

Previous missions:
http://www.jda.go.jp/jgsdf/info/image/kokusai_e.jpg

p-)

[Haiw]

http://world.guns.ru/assault/howa_t89.jpg
is this just me or does that thing look a lot like a H&K G3? maybe some license-built thingy?

[Jooglae]

Type 89 5.56mm assault rifle from Howa Industries. Reportedly, it's a well-crafted combination of features from the SIG SG550/551, Armalite AR-18, and Daewoo K2. The official issue of the Japanese Self-Defense Force.


----Now wait a minute. These guys are Self-Defense Force.....What the **** are they doing in Iraq?

And yes.....I really have it in for the japs.....Any Korean would.....

[spier]

Type 89 5.56mm assault rifle from Howa Industries. Reportedly, it's a well-crafted combination of features from the SIG SG550/551, Armalite AR-18, and Daewoo K2. The official issue of the Japanese Self-Defense Force.


----Now wait a minute. These guys are Self-Defense Force.....What the f*** are they doing in Iraq?

And yes.....I really have it in for the japs.....Any Korean would.....The same thing the Ministry of Defence and US Department of Defense, are doing; kicking ass. Calling you military the Imperial Army of Doom just isn't "cool" enough these days.

[Jooglae]

Type 89 5.56mm assault rifle from Howa Industries. Reportedly, it's a well-crafted combination of features from the SIG SG550/551, Armalite AR-18, and Daewoo K2. The official issue of the Japanese Self-Defense Force.


----Now wait a minute. These guys are Self-Defense Force.....What the f*** are they doing in Iraq?

And yes.....I really have it in for the japs.....Any Korean would.....The same thing the Ministry of Defence and US Department of Defense, are doing; kicking ass. Calling you military the Imperial Army of Doom just isn't "cool" enough these days.

I mean that the Self-Defense Force is not officially an army.....It's obligation is to protect the land, seas and airs of Japan only. Military aggression outside Japan is strictly outlawed by the peace constitution. And I personally don't like it very much these days, when japs are seemingly beginning to regain their pre-WW2 military nationalism mentality.....

[Pakrat]

Well you better start to worry..it wont be long before they rule themselves..and look at the super carrier they have in dry dock..they will soon be flexing their muscles..just a thought

[Herrmannek]

Germans went 2 Afganistan so why Japs can't go 2 Iraq?

[Smoothie104]

With that kind of political reaction, one must wonder what the U.S. is paying, giving away, promising or turning a blind eye too.

[He219]

http://a1112.g.akamai.net/7/1112/492/03312000/news.lycos.com/news/ot_getImage.asp?op=img&id=383740


Wellwishers wave rising sun flags as they see off the crew aboard the Aegis-equipped destroyer Kirishima of Japan's Maritime Self Defense Force at Yokosuka base, south of Tokyo, Monday, Dec. 16, 2002, marking Pacifist Japan's most controversial contribution yet to the U.S.-led war on terrorism by leaving for the Indian Ocean, where it will replace one of three destroyers and two supply ships carrying 800 Japanese military personnel there and in the Arabian Sea. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi,File)

http://a1112.g.akamai.net/7/1112/492/03312000/news.lycos.com/news/ot_getImage.asp?op=img&id=383736


Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, accompanied by Defense Agency chief Shigeru Ishiba, right, aboard a Japanese escort ship reviews the fleet during the International Fleet review in the Tokyo Bay, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2002, marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Japan's Maritime Self Defense Force. Japan passed a bill Saturday, July 27, 2003 to send troops to Iraq to help U.S. reconstruction efforts. The passage is avictory for Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who has battled foes in his own ruling party to keep his grip on power with his relatively solid popularity with voters. (AP Photo/Tsugufumi Matsumoto, File)

http://a1112.g.akamai.net/7/1112/492/03312000/news.lycos.com/news/ot_getImage.asp?op=img&id=383741

A woman protester, holding a poster describing, from right, U.S. President George W. Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, all in samurai costume, with Bush's words "Hey men, Let's put down Iraq!", top, and her uneasy feeling "Are you safe if we accompany (Bush)?", bottom, during a peace march in Tokyo Sunday, Oct. 6, 2002 to express their opposition to an anticipated U.S.-led war on Iraq. (AP Photo/Naokazu Oinuma, File)

[Duke]

Jooglae and Hermannek,

...japs....
Poor form--Watch the racist language.

...I mean that the Self-Defense Force is not officially an army...
Any group training for war is an army to its opponents. Furthermore, the Japanese government had its Defense Forces missions altered to include international operations. Since North Korea's overt militant ops and intense pressure from the UN and Asian nations to be a military leader in the Pacific Rim.

[Fargin]

http://a1112.g.akamai.net/7/1112/492/03312000/news.lycos.com/news/ot_getImage.asp?op=img&id=380699

Yes, I too am a sucker for Japanese reality TV.

[springwheat]

"...In addition they carry smart support weapons which can be programmed to fire bullets along laser beams to hit tragets with almost 100% accuracy." "

Sounds like BS.They did invent the Nintendo..

[He219]

Just curious, but one of the pictures above shows the Imperial Japanese Flag with the Rising Sun....

I like that Flag, but is it politically correct in Japan?

[Chet Mystery]

The Rising sun flag has become a symbol of Japanese military might, I do believe. Sort of a pride in their military.

[Nawlins]

Is anyone else frightened by the PM's hair? Ack.

[Duke]

Are the Japanese the only military to use their chin strap?