Japanese protest US base – have a government that might agree!
Thousands of people have protested on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa demanding the removal of a US military base there.
The local mayor called on new Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama “to put an end to Okinawa’s burden and ordeal”.
Japan and the US agreed in 2006 to relocate the Futenma base from an urban area to reclaimed land but the PM’s election has rekindled opposition…
Japan’s new government has expressed a determination to have a less subservient relationship with the US.
Organisers of the protest claimed 21,000 people took part.
That’s, uh, about 14 times the number of Michelle Bachman’s anti-healthcare teabaggers – covered by all the US talking heads, last week.
Daylife/Getty Images used by permission
Mayor of Ginowan, Yoichi Iha, told the rally: “I urge Prime Minister Hatoyama to tell President Obama that Okinawa needs no more US bases…”
The base is in a busy city centre and amid local concern about noise, pollution and crime the two countries agreed in 2006 to move it to reclaimed land on Okinawa’s coast.
Mr Hatoyama, whose election in August ended more than half a century of conservative dominance, has suggested the base could be moved off the island, or perhaps out of Japan altogether.
So, the Japanese are supposed to honor a treaty written with the connivance of a U.S. president who ignored treaty law as if it only concerned steroids in baseball.
If Bush was still in power, he would have nuked them to a second thought.
Jägermeister
November 9, 2009 at 4:07 am
Out of curiosity, how much does that base contribute to the local economy?
Mr. Fusion
November 9, 2009 at 5:19 am
As far as local folks are concerned – not enough to change their minds.
moss
November 9, 2009 at 5:34 am
Not enough to make the Japanese forget about the rapes etc.
Jägermeister
November 9, 2009 at 3:22 pm
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November 9, 2009 at 6:46 am
The US should leave Okinawa. I mean the US taxpayers are footing the bills for aircraft carriers which are mobile and more effective bases.
New aircraft have longer combat ranges. There are bases already in Korea where the presence of US Armed forces are appreciated.
Losing Okinawa would impact their local economy. And I cannot see a single strategic advantage to maintain any military presence on Okinawa.
gordeecampbell
November 9, 2009 at 8:23 am
On the other hand, the bases in Korea will be destroyed within hours of a North Korean attack.
Jägermeister
November 9, 2009 at 3:24 pm