Japan will give 1.5 billion dollars (165 billion yen) to Iraq in 2004 to help rebuild the war-torn country, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda announced Wednesday.

The chief government spokesman told a news conference that the money would be used to rebuild Iraq's infrastructure such as electricity and water supplies, as well as to restore basic services, including health care and education.

The commitment came just two days before the planned arrival of U.S. President George W Bush in Japan. The Bush administration has repeatedly called Tokyo to provide assistance for Iraq's rehabilitation.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi hinted that the government was determined to show its commitment to Iraq before Bush's visit and an international donor's conference on Iraq to be held in Madrid later this month.

"We cannot fail in the reconstruction of Iraq. The decision (to commit 1.5 billion dollars) has nothing to do with the forthcoming general elections. We are prepared to do what's necessary. We thought it would be better to make the decision sooner rather than later," Koizumi told reporters Wednesday night...

WASHINGTON - Handing a preliminary victory to the White House, the Senate on Tuesday rejected a Democratic proposal to require Iraq to finance its own reconstruction rather than the U.S. providing the $20 billion President Bush has requested.

The 57-39 vote, defeating an amendment to an $87 billion bill to fund military operations and reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan, was the first test of the full Senate's sentiment on a financing idea that the White House has fought.

Just before the vote, the administration called about two dozen senators to the White House, urging them to reject that amendment and other proposals to have Iraq pay for some of the reconstruction.

Advocates said $87 billion was a high price for the United States to pay at a time when it is running deep in deficits.

But opponents of the amendment argued that it did not make sense to put additional financial burdens on Iraq

"There is no possibility that the Iraqi people could pay back any debt in the short term," said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. "It will send the wrong signal at the wrong time."

...It would be intellectually consistent, though wrong, to argue against both military and reconstruction funding. But to present oneself as a supporter of money "for our troops" and an opponent of reconstruction is contradictory and counterproductive. Paying to improve life for Iraqis will help create a safer environment for U.S. troops and will hasten the day when they can leave. Rebuilding the electricity grid, fixing the water supply, getting the oil flowing, maintaining public safety -- all this is central to hopes for stability and representative government...

...One of the Democratic presidential candidates who will be called on to vote on the request, Sen. John Edwards (N.C.), said yesterday that he will vote against the aid for this reason, and Sen. John F. Kerry (Mass.) seems inclined to follow this irresponsible course. Former Vermont governor Howard Dean's position -- yes, but only if the president comes up with a way to pay for it -- is similarly faulty. As much as we would like to see some tax cuts rolled back, that's not going to happen, at least as part of the current debate. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (Conn.) had it right the other day, saying that, despite misgivings and his desire to undo some of the tax cuts to pay for it: "We have no choice but to finance this program."