Minoru Morita
Minoru Morita
attitude change distance exactly face hurt leadership major political themselves tune
Koizumi will not change his tune because he doesn't want to face a major political setback, but this is exactly the kind of attitude that will hurt his leadership because more LDP politicians will distance themselves from him.
facing increasing opposition standing weak
He was facing increasing opposition and was standing on very weak ground. So in that sense it was a godsend.
afraid blew chance china mend relations south ties troubled
But Mr. Koizumi blew a chance to mend Japan's troubled relations with China and South Korea. I'm afraid Japan's ties with (them) would be dangerously low.
foreign including japan keeping means orders policy states troops united victory
Koizumi's victory means Japan will now, more than ever, take orders from the United States in its foreign policy -- including keeping troops on in Iraq.