Last month Japan passed legislation that opened the door to sending the Self-Defense Forces on missions to Iraq. In principle, this was a very positive step forward for those who had hoped to see Japan play a greater role in international security affairs.

Since the passage of the legislation, though, the Koizumi Cabinet seems to be backtracking. It had been suggesting that Japan's specific contributions to operations in Iraq might not be determined until November. Now, with the recent terrorist bomb attack against the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad, the decision may be pushed back further. If Japan remains indecisive in its contribution in Iraq despite the now-established legal framework, it will not only hurt Japan's national interest but also could damage its foreign credibility.

There are several possible reasons why Japan has not yet determined where and when it will dispatch SDF personnel in Iraq. Some argue that the security situation in Iraq is not stable enough for Japan to send SDF to a clearly defined "noncombatant area." These critics argue that if the SDF suffers casualties, public opinion in Japan, which has been growing more supportive of the SDF's participation in U.N. peacekeeping operations and humanitarian disaster relief, could turn against such missions.