Posted on 04/27/2012 6:17:36 PM PDT by naturalman1975
THE US said it would pull 9000 Marines out of Japan and redeploy them to Australia, Guam and Hawaii.
The move seeks to ease a long-running standoff over the future of the US' huge military presence in one of its top Asian allies.
Withdrawing troops was originally part of plans to move a busy US airbase on Okinawa to another area of Japan but US officials decided to separate the two issues due to ongoing opposition to the base relocation.
In a joint statement issued in Washington and Tokyo, the two sides said they remained committed to move the Futenma base from its present urban site to a coastal spot.
The relocation is being heavily resisted among many locals, who want to see the base moved out of Okinawa altogether.
The two governments "reconfirmed their view that (this) remains the only viable solution that has been identified to date", the statement said.
No definite timeframe was put on the redeployment, with the statement saying only that the "relocations are to be completed as soon as possible while ensuring operational capability throughout the process".
(Excerpt) Read more at heraldsun.com.au ...
These moves will allow the Muslim hordes easy access to the middle east.
Damn! I missed this dream post by 45 years!
Don’t the Aussies have their own Marines?
I sure hope Guam doesn’t tip over when the Marines get there!
Yep, dream assignment. Visited once on R&R and again while on my first ship. Great place. Even thought about moving there after my service time.
No. Moves are underway to designate and train part of the Australian Army to fulfil a 'Marine' role (with US assistance on the training side as it happens) but this will be the first time since World War I that Australia has really had any type of designated Marine force permanently stationed aboard ships) and it will still be part of the Army for logistical reasons.
“On the Beach” by Nevil Shute.
These moves will allow the Muslim hordes easy access to the middle east.
These moves will allow the Muslim hordes easy access to the middle east.
China approves this message.
Nice knowing you, Taiwan.
And.....goodbye, apparently.
North Korea and China are pleased.
I would tell the locals to go jump off a cliff. But they just might.
The Marines won’t fit in well on Guam.
(I was stationed for two years on Anderson AFB)
Arizona and New Mexico would surely happily welcome that number of redeployed active duty USMC forces to their southern borders.
If not, Florida will welcome them on ours.
Do we in the USA get a chance to bid for them?
Yes, it might tip over (cf. Hank Johnson).
Exactly what I was thinking. Some future Marines will have a very enjoyable overseas tour.
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