"The unbelievable strong public support from Prime Minister Koizumi and his government for the United States is something President Bush and this administration will never forget," Armitage told reporters after a congressional hearing.

"And by the way neither will the people of Iraq who are just about to be liberated from Saddam Hussein," Armitage told reporters.

Koizumi's stance has flown in the face of public opinion in Japan where voters are overwhelming against the war.

But the Japanese premier said in an interview with the Washington Post on Wednesday that he believed the Japanese people would eventually understand his decision.

While Japan is "overwhelmingly against" his stance on Iraq, Koizumi said that "considering Japan's own defense and security, the public knows the importance of the Japan-US alliance."

"The Japanese defense capability is not adequate, and with the security pact with the US, Japan is defending itself."

While Japan is not contributing troops to the war effort in Iraq, Koizumi has publicly said Japan would participate in the postwar reconstruction of Iraq.

WAR.WIRE