シリア攻撃決断 米は十分な情報開示と説明を

The Yomiuri Shimbun September 4, 2013
U.S. must disclose adequate info to obtain approval on Syria attack
シリア攻撃決断　米は十分な情報開示と説明を（9月3日付・読売社説）

U.S. President Barack Obama has decided to take military action against Syria, as he is firmly determined not to let the use of chemical weapons go unchallenged.
　オバマ米大統領がシリアへの軍事攻撃を決断した。化学兵器は黙認しないという決意表明だ。

In a statement, Obama harshly criticized the Syrian government of President Bashar Assad for allegedly launching a chemical weapons attack that killed hundreds of civilians. In expressing his outrage, Obama said the attack “also presents a serious danger to our national security” and “could lead to proliferation of chemical weapons to terrorist groups.”
　オバマ氏は声明で、シリアのアサド政権が化学兵器で市民多数を殺害したとして、強く非難した。「米国の安全保障にも深刻な脅威」であり「テロ組織への拡散につながりかねない」と危機感を示した。

Although Syria is not a signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention, Damascus is strongly suspected of violating international rules on the use, possession and proliferation of chemical weapons.
　シリアは化学兵器禁止条約に未加盟だが、化学兵器の使用や保有、拡散を禁じている国際規範に違反している疑いが濃厚だ。

The White House has released a report in which it concluded that, based on wiretapped communications between leaders of the Assad administration, there could be “no doubt” the Syrian government used chemical weapons.
　米政府は報告書の中で、政権幹部の通信傍受記録などをもとに、アサド政権が化学兵器を使ったと「確信する」と結論づけた。

But the U.S. government has not revealed any details of its claims under the pretext of protecting classified information. It should disclose sufficient information and give detailed explanations.
　ただ、米政府は、詳細は機密情報として明らかにしていない。十分な情報を開示し、丁寧に説明することが求められる。

A U.S. president is authorized to take military action without a declaration of war. However, Obama opted to seek congressional approval on military action against Syria, as he probably wants to show domestically and internationally that the United States is unified on this matter. He is taking a gamble that could deal him a political blow if congressional approval is not obtained.
　米大統領は宣戦布告なしに軍事行動を行う権限を持つのに、あえて、オバマ氏は議会に攻撃の承認を求めた。米国が一枚岩だと、国内外に強調したいのだろう。承認を得られない場合は、政治的痛手となる“賭け”だ。

U.S. public opinion is divided over military action on Syria. The U.S. administration of former President George W. Bush cited weapons of mass destruction as a reason for attacking Iraq but no such weapons were discovered. This was a bitter lesson for the United States.
　シリア攻撃の賛否を巡り、米世論は割れている。ブッシュ前政権がイラク攻撃の根拠とした大量破壊兵器は結局、見つからなかった。米国にはこの苦い教訓がある。

Focus on Congress

World attention is focused on deliberations in the U.S. Congress, which will resume its full session Monday.
　９日に本格的に再開する米議会で行われる審議の行方を、世界中が注視している。

Britain has decided not to join in a military attack on Syria. France is the only major nation willing to take part. If the U.S. Congress gives the green light on the attack, it may result in winning greater international approval.
　英国は軍事攻撃への不参加を決め、参加に前向きな主要国はフランスだけだ。米議会が攻撃を承認すれば、国際的な支持取り付けにも弾みがつく可能性がある。

Obama said an attack on Syria would involve “no boots on the ground” and would be “limited and narrow” in terms of duration and scale. But there is concern in the U.S. Congress that a limited attack would not lead to the toppling of the Assad administration.
　オバマ氏は、攻撃が地上軍派遣を伴わない、「期間と規模を限定したものになる」と強調した。だが、米議会には、限定的な攻撃ではアサド政権の打倒にはつながらないと懸念する声もある。

Attention is also focused on whether Obama’s decision will help end Syria’s civil war.
　大統領の決断が内戦収拾に道を開くかどうかも焦点である。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe showed understanding of Obama’s announcement of possible military action against Syria, saying it represents a “weighty political decision.” Regarding the worsening situation in Syria, Abe criticized the Assad government by saying it is “responsible for depriving innocent people of their lives and ignoring the deteriorating human rights situation.”
　安倍首相は、オバマ氏の発表について「大統領の重い決意の表明」と理解を示した。シリア情勢の悪化については「無辜(むこ)の人命を奪い、人道状況の悪化を顧みないアサド政権に責任がある」とアサド政権を非難している。

Abe’s assessment of the situation is appropriate. If the Assad administration is proved beyond doubt to have used chemical weapons as alleged by Washington, Japan would not be able to remain aloof as it faces the threat of weapons of mass destruction from North Korea.
　妥当な認識だ。アサド政権が実際に化学兵器を使用したなら、北朝鮮の大量破壊兵器の脅威を受ける日本としても看過できない。

In an effort to determine the reasoning and conditions behind the statement he will make on Japan’s position in the event of military action against Syria, Abe should call on Washington to describe the evidence it has collected on the use of chemical weapons, while collecting information on U.S. congressional moves.
　首相は、軍事攻撃時の態度表明をどんな論理や条件で行うかを見極めるうえでも、化学兵器の使用を認定した根拠の説明を米国に求めるとともに、米議会の動向の情報収集に努める必要がある。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 3, 2013)
（2013年9月3日01時16分  読売新聞）