-Caveat Lector- Japan House OKs Military Bills By CHESTER DAWSON .c The Associated Press TOKYO (AP) -- Japan's lower house of Parliament voted today to approve a set of bills expanding the country's military alliance with the United States and its role in safeguarding regional security. The move was a key legislative victory for Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, who had urged lawmakers to pass the bills before his departure Thursday for a May 3 summit with President Clinton in Washington. The approval came via acclamation, with legislators in favor of the bills being asked to stand, said a parliamentary official. Lower house members voted following just three hours of deliberation in a special committee hearing today convened after a compromise was struck over the weekend. Japan's less powerful upper house of Parliament was expected to approve the legislation in a largely symbolic vote next month. The new guidelines, the first update of the U.S.-Japan military alliance since 1978, allow Japanese forces to provide greater assistance to American troops in Asia and give the U.S. greater access to air and seaports in Japan. More than 47,000 American service men and women serve in Japan under a 1960 security treaty and other bilateral defense accords. About two-thirds of U.S. troops are deployed on the southernmost island of Okinawa. In the event of a regional crisis, Japan's Self Defense Forces will help with technical support, search and rescue, minesweeping and evacuations. But the U.S. will supply the military hardware and forces used in battle. As part of the compromise worked out on Sunday, the guidelines will not include provisions permitting Japanese forces to enforce economic sanctions by inspecting foreign ships. Some groups in Japan oppose the changes, fearing a widened security role would violate a clause in the constitution barring Japanese forces from offensive military action. But even the largest opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan, backed passage of two of the three bills, reflecting growing concern among Japanese about potential security threats in Asia. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
