Regarding the Jan. 25/26 article "Kyuma: U.S. invasion of Iraq a mistake": Isn't it strange that whereas U.S. President George W. Bush already admits that mistakes were made in deciding to start the Iraq war in March 2003, the leaders in Japan won't say anything about having dispatched some of our Self-Defense Forces to the "wrong war" in support of Bush? During this period of Japan's "contribution" to the war, some Japanese people either lost their lives or were nearly killed.

It's high time the Japanese government make public its thinking concerning the wrong war. It should not continue to remain silent. I look forward to many more people, like Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma, expressing their opinions without being afraid. We expect politicians to serve us, not themselves.

shigeo wagatsuma