Koizumi authorizes a Defense Agency outline, setting the stage for deployment.

The government today will order the Air Self-Defense Force to dispatch an advance team to the Middle East-the first deployment in what is expected to be the most dangerous and controversial mission in the history of the SDF.

The order follows the authorization by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Thursday of a detailed outline of duties and procedures for the Self-Defense Forces in Iraq. The authorization moves Japan a step forward in its reconstruction efforts of the war-torn country.

The air, ground and maritime branches of the SDF are expected to receive orders today to prepare for deployment, Defense Agency chief Shigeru Ishiba said at a news conference Thursday.

But the outline was released in a rather irregular fashion because it came out before a specific time frame for the proposed SDF dispatch was worked out.

The outline merely said the dispatch of troops will begin ``the day the Defense Agency director-general gives the order and last until Dec. 14, 2004.''

The omission of the timing of the dispatches was made out of consideration for ruling coalition partner New Komeito and public opinion concerned about ground troops who would be at a greater risk of attack than the other SDF branches, sources said.

The outline, prepared and announced by Ishiba, states that SDF duties will center around humanitarian activities and members will also be involved in supporting security activities that do not interfere with the main mission.

``It is important we make preparations to engage in humanitarian assistance as soon as possible, while continuing to take all countermeasures possible to assure safety,'' Ishiba told the news conference.

Ishiba said he hoped to conduct assistance ``cautiously but flexibly'' to meet Japan's international responsibilities.

Sources said the first dispatch will likely occur on Dec. 25 involving an advance contingent of 20 to 30 ASDF members. They will head to Kuwait and Qatar to gather information and serve as a liaison for Tokyo.

The main ASDF contingent, including C-130 transport aircraft, is expected to leave in mid-January.

Ishiba's outline was vague on the duties and destinations of the SDF ``out of consideration of the safety of the members to be sent.''

He also did not provide a specific number of vehicles, vessels and armament the SDF will be taking.

The SDF troops will provide medical aid, restore and reconstruct water supply and other public facilities and transport humanitarian relief goods.

The outline also made a point of saying the SDF will not transport weapons and ammunition of other nations, a point of contention in the duties of the SDF in Iraq.

In addition, the document stated that an assessment of security and prior authorization by the prime minister would be sought before a dispatch order to the main contingents of the three SDF arms.

The sources said the dispatch of the Ground SDF will likely start in mid-January, with a 30-member advance mission to Samawah. That will be followed by the deployment of about 80 engineers at the end of January to set up camp in Iraq, they said.

The main contingent of about 440 ground troops will be sent from late February through the end of March, they added.

This main contingent will operate in the southeastern province of Muthanna that includes the city of Samawah. Ground troops will be primarily involved in medical care, water supplies and the reconstruction of public facilities.

Some GSDF members will also be sent to the coalition forces headquarters in Baghdad for liaison and information gathering purposes. Others will be dispatched to Kuwait, where personnel and goods are to be airlifted, the sources said.

The ASDF, which will be involved in airlifting relief supplies and personnel, will be dispatched to airports in Baghdad, Balad, Basra, Mosul and other spots.

The Maritime SDF will use the port at Umm Qasr and its vessels will help transport GSDF personnel and their equipment, according to the outline. MSDF minesweepers will be used to provide protection for SDF vessels.

The MSDF will be dispatched sometime in February, the sources said.(IHT/Asahi: December 19,2003) (12/19)