Japanese troops to be trained, liberal rules of engagement

Japan is starting to train the troops that will be sent to Iraq. They will be given liberal rules of engagement, as opposed to the strict rules issued to Japanese troops elsewhere.

In preparation for their planned dispatch to Iraq, Ground Self-Defense Force units will begin training this week to deal with terrorist attacks, it was learned Sunday.
The decision was made independently by the Defense Agency, in view of the fact that the government has been unable to make a final decision on the troop deployment given the deteriorating security situation in Iraq, according to sources.

The training will involve the GSDF's Northern Army, headquartered in Sapporo, which is widely expected to provide the main component of the units to be sent to Iraq to assist in reconstruction work, the sources said.

The units will study battle tactics that meet the needs of the current situation in Iraq, where suicide bombings and rocket fire have led to scores of casualties for foreign troops. They will also be taught how to deal with "prisoners," the sources said.

According to the sources, the Defense Agency has drawn up rules of engagement that stipulate the conditions under which SDF personnel can use their weapons within the parameters of the special law that paved the way for their dispatch to Iraq as well as other domestic laws.

Under the rules, the SDF will be allowed to fire in such situations as when:

Suspicious vehicles try to force their way toward SDF camps despite warnings.

The other party points a gun toward an SDF member and prepares to fire.

Japanese nationals or foreigners who visit the SDF camps are shot at.

These rules are less stringent than those on previous SDF overseas missions, under which Japanese troops were only allowed to use weapons for self-defense.