Taku Yamasaki, secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said Sunday that weapons-use restrictions on the Self-Defense Forces must be eased because the medical and refugee support they will be providing for the United States military in Pakistan will endanger them.
"Medical activities and refugee support cannot be provided without going to Pakistan," Yamasaki said on morning TV programs. "It is irresponsible on the part of politicians if we do not take into account the safety of SDF personnel to be dispatched."
Yamasaki was referring to legislation being planned that would enable the SDF to give logistic support to the U.S.-led retaliation expected for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.