Japan’s naval refueling mission in support of the multi-national mission in Afghanistan has ended, after it became apparent that Ichiro Ozawa’s DPJ would not support the renewal of the mission. Ozawa rejected the mission, apparently because it does not have UN backing, and has instead suggested that Japan send some GSDF troops to join the ground mission in Afghanistan.

Ozawa, who is known as a shrewd politician and is pushing for an early general election, has said that officially pacifist Japan should not be part of “American wars.”

“I told him that I cannot approve of it,” Ozawa told reporters. “We need to have principles, which means that unless it’s part of UN operations, it would not be possible.”

If Ozawa got his wish and Japanese troops joined the ISAF ground forces in Afghanistan, what kind of situation would they be facing? Assuming that they were sent to Kabul, one of the safest areas of the country, they’d still be facing the constant threat of terrorist attacks. For a close up look at the situation, NTV sent a reporter on patrol with some British troops:

Could Japanese troops, who are usually placed under heavily restrictive rules of engagement, properly function in a situation where any civilian vehicle could be a suicide bomber? Would the Japanese people be able to handle having GSDF members killed in action?