Off to Iraq
The week's news at a glance.
Tokyo
Japan’s Cabinet this week agreed to send 1,000 troops to Iraq in the country’s largest overseas military deployment since World War II. The deployment will include transport planes, armored vehicles, and two destroyers—all intended only to support reconstruction and humanitarian aid, not to engage in any fighting. Japan’s pacifist constitution forbids it from participating in foreign conflicts, and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s insistence on sending the aid is deeply unpopular. “We are not going to war,” Koizumi said. “But we have been put to the test to show with action, not just with words, our commitment both to the Japan-U.S. alliance and to international cooperation.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
US, China agree to lower tariffs for 90 days
speed read US tariffs will fall to 30% from 145%, while China will cut its tax on US imports to 10% from 125%
-
Qatar luxury jet gift clouds Trump trip to Mideast
speed read Qatar is said to be presenting Trump with a $400 million plane, which would be among the biggest foreign gifts ever received by the US government
-
Does ketchup belong on a hot dog and more May 12 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Monday's cartoons feature Pope Leo XIV, Newark airport, and Donald Trump's meme coin