Okinawa base future uncertain - Democratic Underground

Wetzelbill

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Tue Oct-20-09 02:24 AM
Original message

Okinawa base future uncertain

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Posted on DU: October 20, 2009
By DU Member: Wetzelbill
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TheeHazelnut

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Tue Oct-20-09 03:28 AM
Response to Original message

1. Very interesting, thanks for posting...

I lived on a base over there back in the mid-to-late '80s. Pretty crazy, these slabs of entirely American culture in the middle of Japan. Pretty nuts that no one questions the fact we have all of these military bases around the world, as if this is normal.

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Wetzelbill

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Tue Oct-20-09 04:20 AM
Response to Reply #1

2. yes it's pretty fascinating

We have something like 900 bases all over the world I think. It's alot anyway, there is a military historian named Chalmers Johnson who has written some excellent essays etc on the subject. If you get a chance look him up, Truthout.com has several of them posted there.

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psychopomp

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Tue Oct-20-09 04:55 AM
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3. We used to have bases all over Japan

The government in Tokyo fobbed that burden off on Okinawans, now they are finally going to have to pay attention to the complaints of the locals. I think the US needs to have a presence in Japan still and that it works out beneficially for both parties. You'd better believe that the Japanese public is relieved to have the US parking it's Navy and Air Force around Japan--it's a dangerous neighborhood.

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AlexDeLarge

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Tue Oct-20-09 09:54 AM
Response to Reply #3

4. I don't necessarily think that they're relieved.

According to their agreement after WWII, Japan could not have an established Army or Navy. I think they'd prefer to have their own but since they're restricted by the agreement/treaty they're stuck with the US presence.

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psychopomp

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Tue Oct-20-09 11:15 AM
Response to Reply #4

7. Even today there isn't any demand to build up the JSDF

After some time living in Japan I realized that having the backing of the US military is a good thing when you can throw a rock and hit N Korea from the beach. A newly resurgent China is also cause for concern amongst Japanese. Very few Japanese know how powerful their military already is and have the perception that Japan is reliant on the protection of the United States. They are not likely to give up the protection of the most powerful military in the world anytime soon.

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AlexDeLarge

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Tue Oct-20-09 09:59 AM
Response to Original message

5. I lived in Okinawa in the late 60's on an Army installation

called Fort Buckner. At that time there were all the US Armed Forces with bases there. Kadena AFB, Futema - Marines, Naha - Navy. It was the Ryukyu islands then and not part of Japan, yet. Since then I've seen the bases close and the island chain returned to Japan.

I find it incredible that the US is the only country in the world with bases in foreign countries. What must it be like to have foreign TROOPS on your soil? Visitors and companies I can understand, but to have a foreign military in your country. That must be a little disturbing.

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Crowman1979

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Tue Oct-20-09 10:12 AM
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6. It would be best for us to our move permanent units back to US bases.

Japan is gonna have to increase its own defense forces if they are so worried about being attack. But we should maintain a minimal presence of logistical bases, maintenance for ports, barracks and airfields, for temporary deployments and units in case of another attack from North Korea.

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