Japanese politician: Too many U.S. troops in Japan

[unhappycamper]

Japanese politician: Too many U.S. troops in Japan
Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Sunday, March 1, 2009

The rising star of Japanese politics, the opposition Democratic Party of Japan leader Ichiro Ozawa, says he sees no need for most of the U.S. troops in the country.

Ozawa, talking with reporters last week, said Japan could get along with just the U.S. 7th Fleet. The rest of the 47,000 U.S. military personnel could go home, he said, according to Japanese press accounts.

"If Japan is prepared to take care on its own issues that are relevant to itself, then there is no need for the United States to forward deploy to such an extent in Japan," Ozawa is quoted on his party’s Web site. "The Americans’ role should become smaller if Japan has a decent strategy for dealing with global issues and shares greater burdens at least on matters associated with our country."

Ozawa is expected to be Japan’s next prime minister as the ruling Liberal Democratic Party continues its slide in voter confidence. Recent polls showed Prime Minister Taro Aso has less than a 14 percent favorable rating.

The LDP was quick to respond, calling Ozawa’s remarks inappropriate at a time he is pushing for new elections.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=61036

[GodlessBiker]

1. Amen.

[FreakinDJ]

2. Philippines sure regrets having the US military leave

Their economy has been in the toilet ever since

[eilen]

3. Okay, we'll get our guys home.

I see no problem with that.