PACIFISM--AN IDEAL WORTH FIGHTING FOR?

Japan agrees to send troops to Iraq--but not before a fight (AP, July 26, 2003)

Lawmakers voted Friday to send Japanese forces to Iraq to help with reconstruction, despite delaying tactics by the opposition that deteriorated into a wild shoving match. [...]

Opposition parties criticized the legislation, saying such peacekeeping missions could violate Japan's pacifist constitution and put troops in the line of enemy fire.

During an upper-house committee meeting--during which the bill passed--outraged opposition legislators shouted and tried to push their way through a ring of ruling party lawmakers to get at the committee chairman, who had cut short the debate. The chairman called a vote amid the grappling and tackling.

Where's Bill Thomas when you need him? Posted by Orrin Judd at July 26, 2003 10:29 AM