Gulf
Crisis, confidential （２）
2)
Prologue, continued
In the early morning of August 2, 1990, 120,000 Iraqi forces
deployed near the Kuwaiti border invaded Kuwait and dominated
the opponent immediately.
This was the so-called “ Gulf Crisis.”
The United States responded first. Since the USSR was about to
become "extinct" that is to collapse, so the U.S. was
the only super power in the world, however greatly dependent on
oil from the Gulf region.
Therefore, it was inevitable that the U.S. was concerned about
the crisis and acted first. The other nation concerned about it
was Saudi Arabia, which shares borders with Iraq and could be
invaded by it any time. Interests of the U.S. and Saudis were
met, and eventually the large volume of U.S. forces came over
and stationed in Saudi Arabia. The biggest issue was how to manage
the enormous amount of military expense. The Saudis, being anxious
about the big check demanded by U.S., asked Japan, the second
biggest economy in the world, to help with the expense. The U.S.
also demanded Japan share the economic burden, but it was not
enough. In November 1990, Ryuzo Sejima, former Imperial Army staff
member, visited Washington, D.C. secretly and met with Brent Scowcraft,
the National Security Advisor. In the meeting Scowcraft told Sejima,
“ You have three choices: come up with the money, shed your sweat
or drop your blood.”
Japanese government, meanwhile, thought
it was necessary to contribute monetarily as well as with human
resources, but not including the militarily. The government tried
hard but it didn’t come up with any solutions, because it had
no such experience since the World War II and was given very little
time to debate the issues. First transportation aid by Japanese
vessels was planned, but it was abandoned because of opposition
by the Shipping Union. Then, the idea that the JSDF might change
its name to "International Peace Forces" and be sent
was also denied by the Diet. At last, Prime Minister Kaifu desperately
proposed a “Japanese Medical Team with the size of 100 personnel”
without any contemplated plan, or anticipating concrete results.
All organizations , mainly non-govenmental ones with the experience
opposed this plan. Time was running out.
Therefore, 17 medical personnel from National Universities and
National Hospitals were sent to Saudi Arabia in a vanguard.
Reference: Gaiko haisen, 130 doru wa suna ni kieta ( Failure
of Japanese diplomacy: Thirteen billion dollars were lost in the
desert) by Ryuichi Tejima, Shincho Bunko ( in Japanese)
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