Futenma farce (Japan backtracks on promise to relocate base)

The Economist ^

[Thurston_Howell_III]

Japan's base dispute with America

Futenma farce There is little to cheer in a shoddily executed about-face on Okinawa May 6th 2010 | TOKYO | From The Economist print edition

Hatoyama loses another future voter YUKIO HATOYAMA, Japan’s leader, does not exude political gravitas. So it was dispiritingly in-character that when he made an announcement on May 4th that could make or break his premiership, he did so on a national holiday, speaking unpersuasively to the very people most likely to disapprove of what he said.

The bombshell he dropped on his first visit as prime minister to the island of Okinawa was that he was backtracking on what has become the most sensitive promise of last year’s election campaign—to move an American marine base off the island and possibly out of Japan altogether. It sounded like the change of heart that America has been waiting for for months. Yet the silence from Washington after his visit to Okinawa was ominous, speaking eloquently of an apparent lack of faith in Mr Hatoyama himself.

His explanation, as far as it went, made sense, though it took a painfully long time to reach. After long deliberation, the prime minister said, he had concluded that the security of a region with a nuclear-armed, reckless North Korea depends, in part, on having some American marines in Okinawa. But instead of seizing the opportunity to explain to Okinawans how American troops help keep the peace, he referred to the soldiers dismissively as a “burden” that had to be shared by Okinawans.

[Thurston_Howell_III]

No doubt this sudden "about face" has everything to do with American consumer spending on Okinawa in such tough economic times.

[nathanbedford]

I don't doubt the North Koreans have them concerned but I suspect their real fear comes from the Chinese.

They need us. Send them the bill.

Why are we leaving our troops in South Korea as a target for a North Korea armed with atomic bombs and governed by a maniac?

[Phosgood]

Having spent 14 long months on the “Rock”, and considering the 25,000 casualties the US paid in blood for this island, we should never had returned Okinawa it to it's brutal masters.
The Okinawans were slaves of the Japs and used as slave labor to build their island fortresses in the Pacific. They were once an independent country and genetically differ from the Japs.
There ARE too many Marine on the island. When I was there, sometimes it felt like the island was going to tip over when everyone rushed in town on liberty on the weekend. I know what the Congressman from S.C. was talking about.

[LachlanMinnesota]

I wonder how many years it takes to allow South Korea to build itself up so that it can defend itself.

Do we keep out troops there to permit us to place intelligence gathering facilities closer to N.K. and CHina?

The South Koreans should be able to handle themselves by now.