Abe pledges $200 mil aid to countries fighting Islamic State

IS was created for USA and other western allies, because their persistence on intervene in other countries, and now Japan is playing along with them, it is wicked.

Bad news for the 2 Japanese hostages. They have already been paraded in front of the camera by ISIS, decked out in orange jump suits and are awaiting an unsavory outcome, unless Abe pays ISIS an equal 200 million in ransom.

The title says it's military, (mil. = military) which runs the danger of setting Japan up as a target, but then the first paragraph says the opposite, ie it's non-military.

Unless the title meant to say 200 mill...

It is so encouraging to see so many readers are aware of the plight of many poor people in Japan and are against Abe giving away billions around the world. So easy to give money away that you have not earned yourself. Let USA fix up their messes around the world. The way to contain terrorism is to not start it in the first place.

Thats nice of him to be pledging money when Japan's debt to GDP ratio is the highest in the industrialized world.

Abe and LDP Diet members are just politicians. Investing to other countries, just let Japan Inc do by their monet making analysis, They can do better without Government interference.

Abe has bigger issues to worry about than strutting around the Middle East like a peacock

well, as someone who lives in the middle east, I find that Abe's move is totally wrong, we don't need this money because non of it will benefit the people, all of money will go to corrupted politician's pockets, he should've just used it to help his people who are doing the real work, and carry all the burden...while we Arabs are just sitting here and reviving money we didn't earn

Govt has been advertizing Japan is poor while it has been the second biggest USA Bond holder. (No 1 China but China is not going to increase - Japan has not said yet) AS for Tohoku, Govt keep mum but each Tsunami victim prefectures received total payments from Central /govt, Like oyabun kobun keep telling they can't get workers and keep money in bank to earn interest. That was because greedy govt wanted to raise tax. Now it slipped. Pople know Japan do not need to raise tax. Very rich country comparing USA and China, 200million to other country? watch out how it will try to brive middle east countries. Money should be spent in Japan, invested in Japan. Why loan to Egypt? We know Japan Inc do not need money from Govt but just save money in case another disaxter comes.

better give the 200mill to single mothers struggling making ends meet. Or maybe build a few houses in tohuko

that money is landing in the pockets of some higher ups anyways. looks a bit buffoonish and silly to me

Your ally USA and Russia are selling weapons to Middle East countries so there always be terrorism Shinzo-kun. I live in Turkey and I will give you guys a tip: the cost of killing just one terrorist is $10,000. Dakara Shinzo-kun just help Japanese people. You are wasting your time and money.

Prime Minister Abe is making real contribution in containing terrorism in the world by providing as assistance of $200 m to countries fighting the menace of terrorism on their soil. This is sharply in contrast with efforts of those nations who are providing funding , in the name of containing terrorism ,for such activities.

This light weight burden is not a problem since taxpayers in Japan are already carrying a huge burden.

@warispeace,

It is a nice "little" form of corporate welfare to Japanese companies--sone of which pay little or no taxes to the Japan govt.

How generous of Abé-chan to pledge billions of yen to other countries when his own is still in deep debt and there are still victims in the Fukushima region waiting for a place to call "home"...

Funny that, I don't remember the reason they gave when they were pushing the need to increase the amount of tax we all have to pay as being to better enable us to throw money away at foreign wars which don't concern Japan.

I thought it was something to do with paying down the debt which is going to cripple the country, but apparently we've got money to burn now.

So can I have some of it back?

The kurds in Iraq are actively fighting IS but requires help BAD.

They are fighting in their countries. not in Japan or not in USA. None of Japan's business. Iran has been selling oil to Japan peacefully. Japan should not obey USA wish to be enemy to Iran,

Will this money be delivered through JICA? Which would mean it will basically go to Japanese businesses and organizations delivering the assistance and infrastructure, with little benefit to the people who really need assistance.

Japan will provide Egypt with $360 million in loans for projects including an airport and a power grid in a country suffering from an energy crisis, Abe said.

-> I thought Japan was the one with the energy crisis.

For me and most of the general public IS is the faceless embodiment of "EVIL". This is how IS has been portrayed by the western media, but on reflection the IS fighters are all human beings like us, so who are these people in reality? According to a documentary recently broadcast by NHK, IS is the bastard chlid of the US/UK destruction of Baathist Iraq. The post-Saddam Hussain regime of Shiite muslims under Maliki set about the brutal oppression and physical liquidation of the minority Sunni muslims. The survivors of the massacres form the core of IS, now hell-bent on revenge and wresting power back from the Shia. Can we not conclude that this is a civil war between muslim sects and tribes which throws up the question: is this the business of outside parties? Meddling in this conflict appears to be spreading to Europe and the USA like an Ebola infection. So far Japan has been immune and the tranquillity of life here far from the madness of internecine conflict has been for me the most important aspect of the quality of life in this country. I'm afraid that Abe's financial contribution to fight against Sunni jihadists might bring severe consequences for us all.

If there was no oil there, would you be visiting and passing our cash around Mr Abe?

Stupid man. You don't help others until you have helped yourself. (Being us the people of Japan). Fix up people lives like mentioned by the commenters above me!

What the heck has Japan got to do with terrorism anyway? Nothing?

Rather than meddle in affairs that are non state matters outside of a pacifist Japan, Abe should concentrate my hard earned tax money on the homeless, urban development, infrastructure upgrades, the ECONOMY and less on his nationalistic personal agendas that are only endangering or putting Japan at risk.

Deal with the homeless in Japan, refugees from Fukushima and all others needing support THEN, and only then, if there is anything left in the kitty consider helping others, preferably in less corrupt places.