自衛隊派遣 行政と連携し効果的支援を

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 23, 2011)
SDF should enhance disaster relief role
自衛隊派遣　行政と連携し効果的支援を（3月22日付・読売社説）

The Self-Defense Forces have mobilized an unprecedented 100,000 personnel to conduct rescue and relief activities in areas hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, as well as to keep the mishaps at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant from developing into a major disaster.
　自衛隊が過去最大の１０万人体制で、東日本巨大地震の被災者支援や原子力発電所の事故対策に取り組んでいる。

The SDF can perform painstaking missions, including the dangerous work of spraying water over malfunctioning nuclear reactors, because they are a well-trained, well-equipped organization capable of providing their own food, clothing and shelter. We want the SDF to be involved continually in relief activities that are certain to take a long time.
　衣食住を自力で賄う能力と装備を持つ「自己完結型」の訓練された実力組織だからこそ、原発への放水も含め、厳しい任務を遂行できる。自衛隊は、長期に及ぶのが確実な支援活動に引き続き全力を挙げてほしい。

At the time of the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake, some local governments had a lingering allergy to the SDF. But even so, the SDF made great achievements in saving lives and assisting with reconstruction. Since then, cooperation between the SDF and local governments has become stronger as they worked out disaster-response measures and conducted exercises together.
　阪神大震災の当時は、一部の自治体に「自衛隊アレルギー」が残っていた。だが、その大震災での人命救助や復旧支援の実績が転機となり、自衛隊と自治体の協力体制は、防災計画策定や共同訓練を通じて、格段に強まっている。

The immense damage caused by the March 11 earthquake extends over a vast area along the Pacific coast of the Tohoku and Kanto regions. The administrative functions of some local governments have ceased to exist, while the SDF itself has faced difficulty in carrying out relief operations.
　今回の地震被害は、甚大なうえ、極めて広範囲に及ぶ。行政機能が壊滅状態の自治体もあり、自衛隊の活動には困難が伴う。

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SDF ties with local govts

The SDF has mobilized an unprecedented number of personnel, accounting for about 40 percent of its total number. But in our view, this is insufficient. The SDF needs to strengthen cooperation with the relevant local governments to carry out more effective aid activities.
　自衛隊の総定員の約４割を被災地に投入する異例の体制でも、十分とは言い切れない。関係自治体との連携を一層深め、より効果的な支援を目指す必要がある。

Regarding the transportation of food and other goods, the SDF should consider leaving what can be done by the private sector in the hands of private organizations while undertaking transportation to evacuation centers that are hard to access due to bad road conditions.
　食料などの物資輸送でも、民間に任せられる部分は民間に任せ、自衛隊は、より道路状況の悪い末端の避難所への輸送を担うなど、役割分担に知恵を絞るべきだ。

The SDF has established a joint regional command of its ground, maritime and air forces for the first time. Smoother and more rapid operation can be expected by unifying the chain of command under the commandant of the Ground Self-Defense Force's North Eastern Army based in Sendai.
　自衛隊は今回、陸海空３自衛隊の統合部隊を初めて設置した。陸自の東北方面総監に指揮系統を一元化することで、より迅速・円滑な活動が期待できよう。

In the current crisis, SDF reserves have been called up for the first time. Reservists hold regular civilian jobs but train with the SDF for five or 30 days a year. Reservists cannot be expected to function at the same level as full-time SDF members, but it is natural to resort to every possible measure in case of an emergency.
　自衛隊ＯＢの予備自衛官も初めて招集された。別に本業を持ち、年間の訓練日数は５～３０日しかない。正規の自衛官と同等の活動は望めないが、非常時にあらゆる手段を尽くすのは当然だ。

Joint relief activities by the SDF and U.S. military forces have been put into high gear.
　自衛隊と米軍による共同支援活動も本格化している。

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U.S. help appreciated

In conducting activities named "Operation Tomodachi," the U.S. military has deployed the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan off the Sanriku coast in Tohoku to serve as an offshore base for search and rescue operations and the transportation of supplies by SDF and U.S. military helicopters. Also, U.S. marines based in Okinawa Prefecture have engaged in work to remove rubble from Sendai Airport.
　「トモダチ作戦」と命名された米軍の活動では、原子力空母ロナルド・レーガンが三陸沖に展開し、自衛隊や米軍のヘリによる捜索・救難や物資輸送の拠点となった。在沖縄海兵隊も、仙台空港のがれき除去活動などに従事した。

Among the assistance offered by many countries, U.S. aid stands out in terms of both quality and quantity. We want to express our gratitude for the swift and substantial assistance from our ally.
　多くの国が日本を支援する中、米国の支援は質、量ともに突出している。同盟国の迅速かつ大規模な支援に、率直に感謝したい。

Since Japan's change of government in September 2009, some people have been skeptical about the importance of continuing to have U.S. forces stationed in this country. Nevertheless, the U.S. military has been earnestly involved in relief activities in the devastated areas. This is quite clearly the result of a relationship of trust built by the two countries over many years.
　一昨年の政権交代以降、在日米軍の駐留意義に疑問を示す向きもあった。それでも、米軍が真剣に被災地支援に取り組んでいるのは、長年築いてきた日米の信頼関係の賜物(たまもの)にほかならない。

The SDF and the U.S. military have developed ties through joint exercises and have closed ranks on various occasions such as antiterrorism and antidisaster activities overseas. We hope that the bilateral cooperation we see now will serve as an important step forward toward deepening the Japan-U.S. alliance.
　自衛隊と米軍は従来も、海外でのテロ対策や災害派遣、共同訓練などで連携を重ねてきた。今回の協力を、日米同盟を深化させるための重要な一歩としたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 22, 2011)
（2011年3月22日00時51分 読売新聞）