Alan Simpson: “I rise today to recoginize the continuing role that the Government of Japan is playing to promote peace and democracy in…”

“I rise today to recoginize the continuing role that the Government of Japan is playing to promote peace and democracy in Iraq and around the world. The determination and commitment of Japan, one of our Nation's most important allies, is particularly significant, especially at this time. We all read news stories about the difficulties and tensions that the United States has with our allies and even with coalition partners in Iraq, but we rarely read about the good news. As the House debates funding for our troops at home and abroad, I believe it is timely and important to highlight several recent developments in Japan's contributions to these efforts. iraq and afghanistan In April, the Government of Japan decided to extend for an additional 6 months, until November 1, 2005, the operation of Japan's Self Defense Forces (SDF) in support of ``Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).'' As part of these operations, Japan has dispatched destroyers and supply ships to the Indian Ocean to provide at-sea refueling to U.S. and other allied naval vessels in the campaign. As of March 29, the Maritime SDF has completed more than 500 refueling operations for those naval vessels. As a result, Japan supplies about 30 percent of all fuel consumed by U.S. and allied naval vessels. Since last November, the Maritime SDF has begun to supply water and fuel for helicopters to the allied countries. Japan has also sent their SDF forces to Iraq.…”