The Japanese are coming! A new addition to the coaltion of the shilling willing, the Japanese are sending a force of about 1,000 troops to Iraq. This marks the first time since WWII that Japanese troops are actually going to be in a "combat zone" which is still considered to be 'hot'.

The deployment would be the first for Japanese troops in a combat zone since World War II. In the past decade, Japan has sent small forces to peacekeeping operations in Cambodia and East Timor. After the attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, Japan sent warships to patrol the Indian Ocean.

Today's vote, 136 to 102, was a major victory for Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who defeated opposition tactics, a no-confidence vote and an 11th-hour filibuster by the bill's opponents to ram the measure through.
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Japanese troops have not taken part in combat operations since the end of World War II, and under the law passed today, the troops would be limited to noncombat areas where they could help resettle refugees, rebuild schools or factories and provide fresh water and supplies.

But opponents of the measure say there are no noncombat areas in Iraq, given the guerrilla attacks throughout many parts of the country. These opponents assert that the law violates Japan's post-World War II Constitution, which bans the use of force to settle international disputes.

Pentagon spokespersons just shook their heads and passed out resumes.