USA out of Okinawa/Japan???

[Bill Cosby]

How long are we planning on staying there??

Reading the article reminded me a bit of a book I read a while back- Clash of civilizations were they believe/suggest that as the USA decreases & China increases that they will no longer be looking westward......???


Okinawa voices: 'No more bases!' (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8662582.stm)
Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has said it will not be feasible to entirely remove a controversial US base from the island of Okinawa.

The US Marines' Futenma base is deeply unpopular with many residents and removing it had been a key election pledge of the prime minister.

Here, residents of Okinawa and mainland Japan, discuss the future of US military bases in Japan.

I was extremely disappointed by the announcement our prime minister made. He was the first Japanese politician in 65 years who heard our voice and put the issue of Okinawa on the national agenda.

Mainland Japanese people want the US to protect us, but they don't want to take the burden.

Seventy four percent of US military [based in Japan] are here in Okinawa, yet we account for only 1% of the country's population. It's not fair, it's a prison for us.

Violence still exists here and although there are fewer news-making incidents, we don't have any rights because of the Japanese-US agreement, under which Japanese jurisdiction is not valid for US citizens.

Our children can't sleep because helicopters go over. The agreement not to fly at night is being breached daily.

Politicians don't care. They don't live here and they don't see it. The bases are not in their backyard.

It's true that there is money coming in, but the effect of the money is bad. The development they bring is hurting the environment. As a result of dams, roads and various construction projects there are no more natural beaches on the shores of Okinawa island.

Thirty years ago it was different. Now I have to take my son to a neighbouring island to enjoy a day on the beach. This is damage accumulated throughout the years and it is hurting the tourism environment.

I don't think we need US military bases. Japan should focus on making friends and building a good relationship with neighbouring countries. We should develop our own defence force.

Although I am disappointed with our prime minister for not sticking to his promise, I give him credit for bringing this issue to the attention of the Japanese people.

People in Japan are ignorant, they don't know many things. Now at least they have heard about the hardship we are living with. And I am grateful for that.

[Pat]

How long are we planning on staying there??

Reading the article reminded me a bit of a book I read a while back- Clash of civilizations were they believe/suggest that as the USA decreases & China increases that they will no longer be looking westward......???

Was that the one by Samuel P Huntington?
Interesting book. It was about cultural war as opposed to the past wars this world has had that focused more on conquest and control of land.

[Bill Cosby]

Was that the one by Samuel P Huntington?
Interesting book. It was about cultural war as opposed to the past wars this world has had that focused more on conquest and control of land.

Yep, I recall you had read that as well............

Yes towards the end of the book he discusses the possible war scenario's & has Japan going w/ it's traditional eastern cultural neighbors..........

Was an interesting read............:thumbsup:

I would still like to discuss it w/ you when you have some time to waste..lol

[Pat]

Yep, I recall you had read that as well............

Yes towards the end of the book he discusses the possible war scenario's & has Japan going w/ it's traditional eastern cultural neighbors..........

Was an interesting read............:thumbsup:

I would still like to discuss it w/ you when you have some time to waste..lol
The book was written before 911. It's kind of eerie how he predicted the cultural clash that has already started between the west and the middle east.

[Pat]

Yep, I recall you had read that as well............

Yes towards the end of the book he discusses the possible war scenario's & has Japan going w/ it's traditional eastern cultural neighbors..........

Was an interesting read............:thumbsup:

I would still like to discuss it w/ you when you have some time to waste..lol
I've got all the time in the world Bill.
Maybe I should re-read the book. It was years ago that I read it.
Do you want to discuss in a public forum, or via email?

[hdmarketing]

How long are we planning on staying there??

Reading the article reminded me a bit of a book I read a while back- Clash of civilizations were they believe/suggest that as the USA decreases & China increases that they will no longer be looking westward......???


Okinawa voices: 'No more bases!' (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8662582.stm)
Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has said it will not be feasible to entirely remove a controversial US base from the island of Okinawa.

The US Marines' Futenma base is deeply unpopular with many residents and removing it had been a key election pledge of the prime minister.

Here, residents of Okinawa and mainland Japan, discuss the future of US military bases in Japan.

I was extremely disappointed by the announcement our prime minister made. He was the first Japanese politician in 65 years who heard our voice and put the issue of Okinawa on the national agenda.

Mainland Japanese people want the US to protect us, but they don't want to take the burden.

Seventy four percent of US military [based in Japan] are here in Okinawa, yet we account for only 1% of the country's population. It's not fair, it's a prison for us.

Violence still exists here and although there are fewer news-making incidents, we don't have any rights because of the Japanese-US agreement, under which Japanese jurisdiction is not valid for US citizens.

Our children can't sleep because helicopters go over. The agreement not to fly at night is being breached daily.

Politicians don't care. They don't live here and they don't see it. The bases are not in their backyard.

It's true that there is money coming in, but the effect of the money is bad. The development they bring is hurting the environment. As a result of dams, roads and various construction projects there are no more natural beaches on the shores of Okinawa island.

Thirty years ago it was different. Now I have to take my son to a neighbouring island to enjoy a day on the beach. This is damage accumulated throughout the years and it is hurting the tourism environment.

I don't think we need US military bases. Japan should focus on making friends and building a good relationship with neighbouring countries. We should develop our own defence force.

Although I am disappointed with our prime minister for not sticking to his promise, I give him credit for bringing this issue to the attention of the Japanese people.

People in Japan are ignorant, they don't know many things. Now at least they have heard about the hardship we are living with. And I am grateful for that.

That's cool with me, we leave, we don't protect you anymore...
We could use that money we spend protecting their asses to Deport the Illigals...

[Bill Cosby]

I've got all the time in the world Bill.
Maybe I should re-read the book. It was years ago that I read it.
Do you want to discuss in a public forum, or via email?

I think it would make an excellent topic to discuss...... Hopefully others will find it interesting as well........ I think I finished it like a year & a half ago...

I think last time it never got off as you wanted to reread it??

Let me know & I or you can start a thread if it works for you.... :thumbsup:

[Bill Cosby]

That's cool with me, we leave, we don't protect you anymore...
We could use that money we spend protecting their asses to Deport the Illigals...

:lmao2: :lmao2:

I guess that makes sense in a way.........lol

What do you think about all the other bases all over the world???

They aint cheap...........

Foreign aid??

[hdmarketing]

:lmao2: :lmao2:

I guess that makes sense in a way.........lol

What do you think about all the other bases all over the world???

They aint cheap...........

Foreign aid??

Strategeically speaking we kind of do need some of those bases, but I am also for pulling out if the host country deos not want us there anymore.

It's all good, if they don't want us there, fine, we pull out, but don't expect us to defend you anymore either. It's fair game...

[Bill Cosby]

Strategeically speaking we kind of do need some of those bases, but I am also for pulling out if the host country deos not want us there anymore.

It's all good, if they don't want us there, fine, we pull out, but don't expect us to defend you anymore either. It's fair game...

Well I think for many of them it is really about the money....... Example central asia........ We are dealing w/ butchers & thugs but they want the billions & we want the bases......

What about foreign aid??

[Pat]

How long are we planning on staying there??

Reading the article reminded me a bit of a book I read a while back- Clash of civilizations were they believe/suggest that as the USA decreases & China increases that they will no longer be looking westward......???


Okinawa voices: 'No more bases!' (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8662582.stm)
Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has said it will not be feasible to entirely remove a controversial US base from the island of Okinawa.

The US Marines' Futenma base is deeply unpopular with many residents and removing it had been a key election pledge of the prime minister.

Here, residents of Okinawa and mainland Japan, discuss the future of US military bases in Japan.

I was extremely disappointed by the announcement our prime minister made. He was the first Japanese politician in 65 years who heard our voice and put the issue of Okinawa on the national agenda.

Mainland Japanese people want the US to protect us, but they don't want to take the burden.

Seventy four percent of US military [based in Japan] are here in Okinawa, yet we account for only 1% of the country's population. It's not fair, it's a prison for us.

Violence still exists here and although there are fewer news-making incidents, we don't have any rights because of the Japanese-US agreement, under which Japanese jurisdiction is not valid for US citizens.

Our children can't sleep because helicopters go over. The agreement not to fly at night is being breached daily.

Politicians don't care. They don't live here and they don't see it. The bases are not in their backyard.

It's true that there is money coming in, but the effect of the money is bad. The development they bring is hurting the environment. As a result of dams, roads and various construction projects there are no more natural beaches on the shores of Okinawa island.

Thirty years ago it was different. Now I have to take my son to a neighbouring island to enjoy a day on the beach. This is damage accumulated throughout the years and it is hurting the tourism environment.

I don't think we need US military bases. Japan should focus on making friends and building a good relationship with neighbouring countries. We should develop our own defence force.

Although I am disappointed with our prime minister for not sticking to his promise, I give him credit for bringing this issue to the attention of the Japanese people.

People in Japan are ignorant, they don't know many things. Now at least they have heard about the hardship we are living with. And I am grateful for that.
Between the above article and the one posted here, http://www.dcjunkies.com/showthread.php?t=14358
Seems there is a connection.

[Bill Cosby]

What is the connection?? We protecting whales from the Japanese?? Or the whaling tradition of the Japanese??

Making sure they continue to do what they are told so we can project rusting world power onto a continent half way around the world>>>???

[Pat]

What is the connection?? We protecting whales from the Japanese?? Or the whaling tradition of the Japanese??

Making sure they continue to do what they are told so we can project rusting world power onto a continent half way around the world>>>???
Mr Obama backpeddling on his promise to protect the whales in order to keep US military on Okinawa is the connection I see.

[Bill Cosby]

Whales???

That is like hating kittens & puppies, no way.........

Actually that had not crossed my mind.....

The Okinawa thing has been going for a long time now but I think you may have a point there.............