JAPAN STEPS UP

Let's see...this is the only country in the world ever to suffer the devestation of nuclear warfare, delivered of course by the USA. They have stepped up.

And how much has been offered by the Europeans whom we also liberated from a brutal dictator?

Presque rien.

Lavishing gifts on visitors is a Japanese tradition and U.S. President George W. Bush's planned trip to Tokyo this week has already netted him one of his most coveted souvenirs -- a $1.5 billion cash pledge for Iraq.

But a more controversial item on Washington's wish list -- a concrete plan to send Japanese troops -- is still under wraps for fear of worrying voters ahead of Japan's November 9 election.

''Stability in the region is directly linked to the interests of our country, which relies on the Middle East for almost 90 percent of its oil imports,'' Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda told reporters after announcing the Iraq aid.