Okinawa Town Elects Mayor Who Opposes U.S. Base

[cal04]

Source: Associated Press

The future of an American military base and the balance of U.S.-Japan relations were thrown into further question Sunday as voters in a small city far from Tokyo elected a mayor opposed to the base.

Residents of the Okinawan city of Nago chose challenger Susumu Inamine -- who campaigned against any expansion of U.S. military presence in the area -- over incumbent Yoshikazu Shimabukuro.

Nago is where Washington and Tokyo agreed in 2006 to move the Futenma U.S. Marine airfield from a more crowded part of the southern Japanese island. The deal was part of a broader realignment of American troops forged after a helicopter from the base crashed into a nearby university.

Japan's new government -- led by a party that was in the opposition when the deal was inked -- is reconsidering the agreement, an about-face that has strained ties between the two allies.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/01/24/world/AP-AS-Japan-Okinawa-Election.html?_r=1&hp

[clixtox]

1. Japan should require a quid pro quo...

I suggest a Japanese military base in Puerto Rico, for a start. For every other US military base on Mainland Japan, Honshu, etc., the Japanese military should be able to have another base within the mainland of the USA.

Every other foreign country hosting a US military base should, likewise, have the opportunity to have a reciprocal military base situated in a similar location within the USA. Our less fortunate communities, many having had a nearby US military base, or two, closed, would benefit from having free spending foreign military personnel partying in their bars and clubs, just like our service boys and girls do around the world.

How's that for thinking out of the box!

[JackInGreen]

4. I like that

I like it a LOT.
Many of the currently closed base communities could use this. Not to mention the tolerance it could breed, although, I'm loath to think how some communities would react, even with the economic stimulation.

[C_Lawyer09]

7. You are a visionary

Talk about jump start the economy! Not only that, but the diversity!

[bossy22]

8. it's against their constitution to have overseas military bases

[ConcernedCanuk]

11. Imagine if ALL the countries with USA bases in them had equal #'s in the USA?

.
.
.

That'd be fair,

wouldn't it?

:freak:

[Vidar]

16. Great idea

[The Northerner]

2. Good for them

Why the US has a military base there and why the Japanese govt still allows it is beyond me.

How about saving some money by bringing those troops, as well as those troops stationed in 130+, home and paying down the deficit?

[Lucky Luciano]

3. Japanese oppose this for many obvious reasons and they

also oppose American military presence due to the rapes of local girls by the worst elements of our military. The locals are afraid of the American servicemen due to these rapes and they generally avoid all the white and black people on the island. (girlfriend's grandma born on Okinawa).

[Robb]

5. This is the impression I have, too. nt

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

14. On a day to day basis it is the soldiers wives they really hate,

Who have nothing better to do than get completely annihilated and hang around town being loud and obnoxious to the locals,

[Johnny Harpo]

6. The Okinawa Base Is A Throwback To WW II.....

our 21st century military capabilities have far surpassed our mid 20th century military needs.

[timeforpeace]

9. Elected in spite of opposition to the base?

[eppur_se_muova]

12. My impression was that opposing US bases was an automatic win ...

particularly in Okinawa, whose inhabitants mostly consider themselves ethnically distinct from "home island" Japanese. Japan was their first occupying power, the US their second. No love lost for either.

But what do I know? My info is third-hand and dated.

[winyanstaz]

10. Well good.....

If we have to close a few bases...we will save billions.

[rpannier]

13. Not necessarily

The Korean and Japanese Governments bear much of the financial brunt for having the US military bases there.

Here in Korea, the Korean government covers between 60-65% of the cost.
Japan is probably comparable.

[winyanstaz]

17. I am sure that we would still have a substancial savings...

and if we close enough bases we will save even more.

[L0oniX]

15. I wish all the countries would kick the US military out.