Even Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's closest allies are fed up with his silence on the government's dispatch plans for Iraq.

Koizumi and his top aide, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda, have only said they would explain the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces ``when the time comes.''

A basic plan for the SDF dispatch is being written up for approval by the Koizumi Cabinet sometime next week. But for now, Koizumi's allies are being left in the dark.

For example, Kohei Masuda, councillor at the Cabinet Secretariat, tried to explain the Iraq situation to members of the Liberal Democratic Party's National Defense Division on Thursday. The members left that meeting with no new information.

``We cannot make a decision without the report from the fact-finding mission that recently returned to Japan,'' said one member.

Koizumi's aides had yet to disclose the report of the mission that returned to Japan on Nov. 28 to the LDP division. What was distributed to those members was a report by a mission that visited Iraq in early October.

Coalition partner New Komeito also expressed dissatisfaction on Thursday.

``While there is a need to conduct thorough internal party discussions and confirm the situation in Iraq, we have received no explanation,'' said party chief Takenori Kanzaki at a central executive committee meeting.

New Komeito leaders have decided to go along with whatever decision is reached by Koizumi even though there are stubborn calls for caution within Soka Gakkai, the Buddhist lay organization that is the party's major backer.

New Komeito leaders were also frustrated that they had nothing to bring to a meeting Saturday with prefectural chapter representatives.

LDP factions also expressed concerns about the lack of explanation.

Masahiko Komura, a former foreign minister who heads a small party faction, has been approached by the Koizumi Cabinet to serve as a special envoy to the Middle East.

But even Komura is searching for information on the government's plans.

``As Diet members belonging to the ruling coalition, we have a responsibility to explain the situation to the people,'' he said at a faction meeting Thursday. ``It is imperative that we receive an adequate explanation.''

There also appears to have been very little coordination within the Koizumi Cabinet.

Fukuda only got around to conferring with Defense Agency Director-General Shigeru Ishiba on the issue Monday.

On Wednesday, Koizumi for the first time called together Ishiba and Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi to coordinate opinion for the dispatch basic plan. At that meeting, Koizumi expressed dissatisfaction at the leaks of information concerning the dispatch plan.

However, Defense Agency officials feel not enough information has been provided.

``Even though we will be the ones dispatching the SDF troops, we have not been told anything about what Koizumi or Fukuda are thinking,'' a senior agency official said.

Fukuda on Thursday gave a convoluted explanation for the lack of information so far on the dispatch plan.

``It will be difficult to explain before a decision to dispatch has been made,'' he said. ``Explanations that clarify the process leading to the decision will also be related to the type of decision ultimately made, so I cannot talk about that either.''

The lack of explanation reflects the swings in policy on the SDF dispatch ever since the passage of the special measures law in July. That law will serve as the basis for the dispatch.

Those swings have been influenced by reports about the worsening security situation in Iraq.

But while Japan shifts its policy direction, pressure from Washington for a dispatch remains unabated.

Moreover, the Cabinet cannot put off a decision forever. The Upper House election slated for next summer would serve as another hurdle to a decision if the delay extends into next year.(IHT/Asahi: December 6,2003) (12/06)