After a couple of months of uncertainty as to the direction the new Japanese government will take in terms of American military bases on the island of Okinawa, the Japanese Prime Minister has stated that the U.S. base should stay on Okinawa. The Futenma airfield is a large Marine Corp base that is at the center of the controversy, although the future of other bases on the island is also being discussed.
There have been concerns about growing tensions between the United States and Japan. Japan has been one of our biggest allies in support of the Global War on Terrorism and has been a consistent and dependable partner with the United States in global affairs. As with some of our other traditional allies, things seem to be changing. Many of our allies are looking at us with distrust and concern as to the direction the Obama Administration is taking our country. It is only reasonable that they are beginning to look at ways to take care of their own interest should the United States no long uphold her promises of support and defense as she has in the past.
Japan voted in a new government in August 2009, unseating the long-standing conservative government that has lead that country for years. The new government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has broached the subject of moving American Marines off the island of Okinawa. This would mean changing an 2006 agreement between the two countries. The suggestion has been to move 47,000 U.S. troops to less populace areas of Okinawa, 8,000 Marines would be moved to the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam.
If Futenma remains on Okinawa it is likely to relocated to less populated areas of the island. Two possible locations are Camp Schwab and Kadena Air Base.
Many believe this move on the part of the new Japanese government is indicative of a growing riff between the Obama Administration and our long-standing ally.
However, in recent weeks, high-level military personnel have visited Japan to discuss the issues concerning the military bases in Japanese territory. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates visited Tokyo earlier last week. During his visit he said that moving the base off Okinawa as ‘untenable’. Admiral Mike Mullen met with Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada on Friday and urged him to resolve the issue quickly. After the meeting Okada said that the U.S. base should stay on Okinawa.
I can’t help but think about the American blood that was spilt during World War II to gain control of Okinawa. If the United States was the empire building country that our enemies and the left in this country say that we are, Okinawa would be a U.S. territory. Instead, after the war, the land won so dearly with the blood of our Marines was given back to the Japanese.
I spent some time on Okinawa years ago. At the time the Okinawans were not happy that the U.S. had given the island back to the Japanese. They viewed that as something of a betrayal to them at the time. They also liked the American military bases there. They brought in a lot of income for the island and gave them a sense of protection from what they perceived at the time to be a brutal Japan. That’s been a good many years ago and I’m sure relations have calmed down a lot since then. As memories fade as to the brutality of the Japanese during the war years, then the people see less of a need for the safety of American Soldiers. And that is the way it should be. Japan isn’t the same country it was back then and neither is Okinawa.
Still, it seems odd that we have to ask them for permission to stay and for permission to use their tankers in the Indian Ocean for refueling on the way to Afghanistan.
I’m glad we aren’t an empire building country. I’m glad that those who were once our sworn enemies are now our best allies. I’m glad that they feel they don’t need our military there anymore or that they have to help us refuel in the Indian Ocean. It is further proof that the criticisms of the left are just plain out wrong. We are a great country, populated by a good and decent people.
For now, the Japanese government has stated that U.S. troops should stay on Okinawa. I guess will see what tomorrow brings.
Obama will be visiting Japan on November 12 – 13, 2009.
