Wrong Targeting

Islamic State released a video footage that showed a man in black clothes capturing two Japanese men and threatened their lives. It requested Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Japanese people to pay two hundred million dollars as ransom. Although Abe might have misguided Japanese diplomacy to wrong direction, it is deadly wrong for ISIS to target Japanese nation. While Abe and his colleagues occupy overwhelming majority in the Diet, he only represented a quarter of voters in election. This mistake of targeting will lead the terrorist organization to elimination.

“Although you are more than 8,500 kilometers away from the Islamic State, you willingly volunteered to take part in this crusade,” told the masked man in the video. It was thought that they targeted Abe’s pledge of two hundred dollars to Middle East nations for dealing with problem stemming from Islamic State couple of days ago. ISIS took Japanese contribution as helping coalition forces led by United States.

Abe was in his trip to Middle East when the video was released. ISIS seemed to highlight their appeal against air-striking campaign by United States in a timing that Japanese political leader was obviously involved in Middle East issue. Abe expressed his intention not to give in terrorism, but did not rule out negotiation with ISIS.

“My pledge was for refugees to carry their lives on. International society recognizes its high value. We will continue helping them in non-military ways. To cooperate with international society and contribute to peace and security in the region are our unshaken conviction and never be changed,” said Abe in the press conference.

Most Japanese approved Abe’s explanation. Newspapers stressed misunderstanding of ISIS on purpose of the pledge. Japan did not actually take part in the airstrike of United States. It is not Japan that made Japan involved in war against ISIS, but ISIS that wanted to do so. It is true that Japan’s current upsurge in military readiness has one aspect of reinforcing alliance with U.S. However, overwhelmingly pacifist policy of Japan has nothing to do with hostility against Islamic lessons.

By pushing relatively neutral Japan into the side against ISIS, ISIS will be more isolated in international society. With request of cooperation from Japanese government, Islamic countries will take care of Japan more than ever. Even if ISIS kills those hostages, Japan will not stop funding struggle against ISIS. Airstrike will never end as long as ISIS ruthlessly kills innocent people. Confronting Japan will made the life of ISIS shorter.