Kyodo : December 21, 2008

Japan assures Iraq of continued reconstruction support
Kyodo : Dec 21 09:25 AM US/Eastern
BAGHDAD, Dec. 21 (AP) - (Kyodo)—Japan's State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Seiko Hashimoto assured Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Sunday that Tokyo will continue to provide development and reconstruction assistance for the war-torn country, Japanese officials said. continued ...

Japan vice foreign minister Hashimoto meets Iraqi premier
Kyodo : Dec 21 07:21 AM US/Eastern
BAGHDAD, Dec. 21 (AP) - (Kyodo)—Japan's State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Seiko Hashimoto met Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad on Sunday, Japanese officials said. continued ...

Gov't to hold panel meeting to discuss civilian control of SDF
Kyodo : Dec 21 07:15 AM US/Eastern
TOKYO, Dec. 21 (AP) - (Kyodo)—The government plans to hold a panel meeting, possibly on Thursday, to discuss civilian control of the Self-Defense Forces following the public uproar over former Air Self-Defense Force chief Gen. Toshio Tamogami's controversial essay, government sources said Sunday. continued ...

2 remaining ASDF cargo planes return from Iraq airlift mission
Kyodo : Dec 21 03:07 AM US/Eastern
NAGOYA, Dec. 21 (AP) - (Kyodo)—The two remaining Air Self-Defense Force C-130H cargo planes involved in an airlift mission in Iraq returned to Japan on Sunday with 27 troops aboard. continued ...