Gates: US Will Be Patient on Okinawa Base
Will Give Japanese Govt Time to Silence Popular Opposition to Base
Japanese government efforts to get the US to end its military domination of the island of Okinawa has been a major political problem that has only been exasperated by angry US rebukes for the notion that they should leave, or even pare down their massive presence.
But Secretary of Defense Robert Gates insisted that the US would be taking a more conciliatory tack, at least sort of. Gates expressed understanding of the “complex matter” and said the US would show patience while the Japanese government silenced popular opposition to its base amongst Okinawans.
When Japan’s Democratic Party (DPJ) came to power they were openly discussing kicking the US military off the island entirely, but US demands for massive cash payments for even a minor reduction of the amount of the island they occupy and angry rebukes quickly stifled the effort.
The US currently has about 47,000 troops in Japan, and appears determined to keep its presence more or less forever. The land usage and noise problems related to the deployment is a constant complaint for Okinawans, but the US stance has been consistently to ignore it.
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andy
January 13th, 2011 at 9:12 pm
Is it just me or do all those U.S. bases just look like a streak of blood splattered across Okinawa?
Karla
January 14th, 2011 at 5:15 am
Gates expressed understanding of the “complex matter” and said the US would show patience while the Japanese government silenced popular opposition to its base amongst Okinawans.
There you go, the inherent goodness of America rising through even the most difficult of situations.
MoT
January 14th, 2011 at 1:12 pm
When the Japanese government, through pressure by its angry citizens… since nothing else seems to get those dolts they call "leaders" to do anything, tells Uncle Scam to get the hell out once and for all. Hell! WW2 is over, isn't it? Once they've been given the ultimatum then and only then will the American empire retreat. And that's a big if.
Mr. Gates' attitude, as has been demonstrated in his attitude towards anyone questioning the Empire, has been a big middle finger. What can you expect from Papa Bush's own hand picked hatchet men.