NAHA —

Over 2,000 people staged a rally Saturday in Kadena, Okinawa Prefecture, in protest over Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada’s remarks that merging the heliport functions of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma Air Station with the nearby Kadena Air Base is an option.

“The loud noises coming from the U.S. aircraft are unbearable. We will not accept a plan to consolidate the bases no matter what the reasons are,” said Kadena Mayor Tokujitsu Miyagi, who led the protest at the town, where 83% of the land is occupied by U.S. base-linked facilities.

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2 Comments

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  alphawolf at 02:57 PM JST - 8th November

  The best idea is to consolodate all the Marines from Okinawa to the Philipines or Guam, I don't think they are on Okinawa to defend Okinawa or Japan anyway, so why should they host them (unwillingly). They are more for helping defend South Korea I believe.. and there are only about 2000 combat marines anyway.. but they have spent most their time training for the middle east, or actually being stationed there. By having the Marines in Okianwa, the Japanese are in effect supporting the war in Iraq and Afghanistan because of the host base agreement, hence supporting American foreign policy.. I think this is what bothers the DPJ... they host them Marines, but the Marines are being used half way across the world in another hemisphere...where they aren't welcome making it a total joke and insult, hence Osama's excuse for 9/11 (because of the US base that was in Saudi Arabia)....aw

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  MrUSA at 05:29 PM JST - 8th November

  Bring them all home. They should be protecting America!

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