Japan To End Support Of Coalition in Afghanistan

Japanese warships were ordered home from the Indian Ocean Thursday after opposition lawmakers refused to support U.S. led forces in Afghanistan. The move is not expected to have a major impact on American operations but the White House said it would like Japan to reconsider. The pullback was an embarrassment for Japan's new Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, a strong advocate of the six year mission who vowed to pass legislation that would give Japan at least a limited role in fighting terrorism in the region. Americas top ally in Asia. Japan has refueled coalition warships since 2001. But opposition parties effectively scuttled the mission by raising concerns in parliament that it was too broad and possibly violated Japan's constitution.