Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies
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# 07-078
Aug 2, 2007

New APCSS Faculty Publication...

Dr. David Fouse recently published a new brief analytical paper entitled: Japan’s Dispatch Of The Ground Self Defense Force To Iraq: Lessons Learned. 

The paper discusses the challenges and learning opportunities gained by Japan’s Ground Self Defense Force (GSDF) during their deployment to Iraq. All previous missions for humanitarian aid and reconstruction had been carried out under a UN peacekeeping operations framework.

New challenges included interagency coordination, the use of legal and political advisors, and working with the media.

According to Dr. Fouse, “The GSDF had to overcome a number of issues in their interactions with Iraqi citizens, including high expectations regarding Japan’s reconstruction efforts, poor communication, a lack of local intelligence and sometimes working around Japanese government-imposed restrictions to accomplish their mission.”

“With the Japanese Defense Agency recently upgraded to the Ministry of Defense, the head of that ministry will now be an equal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” stated Fouse. “It will therefore be especially crucial to the success of future overseas operations that coordination between these two ministries be streamlined.”

Click here to view the entire paper  

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The APCSS addresses regional and global security issues, inviting military and civilian representatives of the United States and 45 Asia-Pacific nations to its comprehensive program of courses and conferences, both in Hawaii and throughout the Asia-Pacific region.  The Center supports the U.S. Pacific Command’s objective of developing professional and personal ties among national security establishments throughout the region.  APCSS focuses on a multilateral and multi-dimensional approach to defining and addressing regional security issues and concerns.  The most beneficial result is building relationships of trust and confidence among future leaders and decision-makers within the region.

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