As shock waves over the execution of two Japanese hostages by the Islamic State group continue to reverberate, there is talk in politics and the media about using the Self-Defense Forces in the manner of U.S. special forces to rescue Japanese nationals. There are also larger questions about the effect the crisis may have on Japan's Middle East policy.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday that under current law Japanese nationals cannot be rescued by the SDF even if such missions are given the green light by the countries involved. He wants to change that.

Any mission, and especially its prior planning, would require the cooperation of not only the country concerned but probably also the intelligence agencies of the United States. Japan's alliance partner has considerable assets in the Middle East and connections with other intelligence agencies worldwide.