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  Bob_Avery at 03:56 PM JST - 4th October

  When the US starts exporting more than tainted beef and less than quality Automobiles and starts mfg some quality products as we used to then maybe Japan would import more. The US Economic Situation has collapsed because of the greed of people like Madoff, Banking Execs taking their golden parachutes & a govt that turned a blind eye, leaving the middle class struggling to keep their heads above water. When will the US do something about the high cost of prescription drugs, the high cost of health insurance, nothing but corruption same for Japan's prior Govt two corrupt political Groups holding hands. When will we Kick some butt in Afganistan and quit the crap in Iraq, We have been babysitting Iraq long enough. Not another Viet Nam Bush said, how long as this gone on?? Well what about the poor quality of Health care for returning Vets, who is going to look out for their futures, how long before we see them sitting on the streets begging yet I see more baloney tossed around here than in a meat market. Start talking about real issues that matter, not crap about whether Japan sould import more and export less, why is the USD only worth 89 Yen, thats what bothers me; where is the talk about the condition of our economy that has gone to the garbage pile in the past 8 years. Talk real common sense issues not your mindless chatter about crap like making the Okinawans move away from the Futenma Base or if they don't like it blah blah crap. Well I don't Like the Ugly American Attitude and anybody that thinks like that. Just take a moment and think about the little charming city you come from in the USA and if a Govt Entity came in and moved you out to build a Walmart, Oh yea they do that and call it Eminant Domain and people scream but for Okinawans, they don't scream loud enough as far as I am concerned, they need to go back to the days of the Koza Riots, then maybe someone will listen. I have been through the Watts Riots and the Rodney King Riots and let me tell you, You don't wanna see those things happening on the Rock. But it sure as hell would get some needed attention.

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  Bob_Avery at 04:02 PM JST - 4th October

  For YuriOtani, Sugoi

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  YuriOtani at 05:21 PM JST - 4th October

  Bob Avery, thank you for the kind word :) My problem with the bases is why. As you say they are Marine training/support bases and not useful as defense. The Marines would be best supported from a base within the United States. They can train elsewhere. As for Kadena Air force base, I can understand it to a point. However other than a few aging F-15 aircraft it is not a defensive base. The navy uses it for flights along the coast of China and peeping. It as a transit base is understandable to a point, however today's aircraft do not require it as a stop to anywhere. Japan could transform Kadena for use with the self defense force placing a wing of new f-15 or similar aircraft and maintain the pac III missiles. Another battalion of troops and it equals the American defensive presence. Please tell me again the real reason for the American bases on Okinawa.

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  Sarge at 08:56 PM JST - 4th October

  "Please tell me again the real reason for the American bases on Okinawa"

  North Korea, Russia, China... you think there's no threat there at all?

  But, hey, if the Japanese hadn't bombed Pearl Harbor, we probably would never have built Futenma, which, by the way, was there long before all these whiners who complain about the noise of freedom moved next to it, lol.

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  def at 09:44 PM JST - 4th October

  If America is Japan's ally, then there is no need for bases in Japan. Any attack on Japan is an attack on America. That is deterrent enough.

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  palisadez54 at 01:01 AM JST - 5th October

  "Please tell me again the real reason for the American bases on Okinawa"

  ...maybe 'cuz Japan LOST and America WON the war. Very simple: no attackee on Pearl Harbor, no basee on Okinawa.

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  ashika1009 at 04:55 AM JST - 5th October

  **As an American citizen living in Japan, I must say I wish the base returned as soon as possible. In fact, a growing number of Americans would like all of the bases to go. But that is when you would hear the Japanese government beginning to reconsider things and actually request the US NOT to remove its bases so quickly. See Korea for example. A good deal of backpedaling would result, I can assure you. I believe Japan should be responsible for its OWN defense and that goes for a lax Europe as well. Morever it is time for Japan to put WWI behind it and start calling its army an army and its navy a navy. AND if Japan is smart, it will develop nuclear weapons. This ain`t some utopia we live in. And Japan has China and North Korea as neighbors. Bad neighborhood! So I say remove all of the bases. At least remove all bases from Okinawa. Of course a lot of businesses would suffer and the Okinawan economy would be negatively affected, but Japan does not want the bases (actually the government DOES) so the US is no position to stay when told its military bases are unwanted. The US needs to pull out of Europe as well and let Europe foot the bill for its own defense for a change. Good enough for me.

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  def at 10:11 AM JST - 5th October

  Of course a lot of businesses would suffer and the Okinawan economy would be negatively affected

  Not true at all. There would be a short negative effect, and a decade later the area would be far healthier. Such was the case with Shintoshin, which is now thriving since the bases are gone. America has prime real estate in the populated areas of Okinawa that could be developed far more usefully than low wage Burger King jobs for locals. I've only ever heard Americans swear that the bases are good for the local economy. Maybe in 1970, this was true. Not in the fully developed Japan of today. The bases are low wage black holes that need to go.

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  YuriOtani at 10:38 AM JST - 5th October

  Sarge, Pearl Harbor is 68 year old news. Nobody who ordered that attack is still alive. About losing war that is old news as well. Remember the people of Okinawa did not start the war. The bases on Okinawa are not to defend Okinawa. The Americans use them as bases to deploy them elsewhere. This could easily be done from America. Tell me again how the few fighters from Kadena and few combat Marines in Okinawa make Japan more secure. About the jobs tell me how the jobs as waitresses, maids, fast food workers helps the economy.

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  Bob_Avery at 11:17 AM JST - 5th October

  Hey Sarge, I will tell you again as you apparently still believe that Anytown USA, still has the same population, no growth, no recovery from WWII today as it was in 1946. You actually believe that putting all of your military eggs in one basket, i.e. Okinawa is the answer to strategically fighting a modern war against North Korea, China or Russia? If you believe this then you need to go back to school. but your "Hey if the Japanese hadn't bombed Pearl Harbor" etc is your response to legitimate questions then I feel sorry for you. You are correct in only one area, Japan did start the war and did need to have their butts kicked,(my words, not yours) but now 60 plus years later, a lot of changes have been made; Germany has been given all their freedom back, so has Italy, but tell me why Okinawa has to pay the price, tell me again how Okinawa caused any part of WWII? For education sake, I will tell you the history of the Futenma MCAS; when the battle for Okinawa was won, preparation to invade the mainland was undertaken, Okinawans living around the area of Futenma, Ginowan, and other little villages were moved to Taira or other locations and put behind barbed wire as possible enemy combatants, their land was confiscated and the area now known as Futenma MCAS was quickly bulldozed, fenced in and a landing strip built in preparation to invade the Home Islands of Japan, but gess what, the Atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki eliminating the need to continue building Futenma MCAS, but was the building discontinued? No, why? because when the US Military seized Okinawa, they had no plans to return it, any part of it, the Secret agreement with Japan was for the US Military to Keep Okinawa for Military use, ie turn it into a military Island, in exchange for leaving the main 4 islands of Japan free from US Military Long Term occupation, a cozy agreement which the Japanese quickly agreed to and money was even given to the US Military to continue building bases. The money was disignated to repay Okinawans for their land but the money was diverted to the US Military (A matter of public Record) The Futenma Air Station was not completed until 1961. Even though there were many other Air Bases on Okinawa, the Marines wanted their own and were given Futenma which was originally Futenma NAS, I know because I was there in the middle 60's for 2 years at Torii Station. During the Viet Nam War, Futenma Air Station became a secondary stricking base in addition to Kadena for strikes in Viet Nam, but as time goes on, same as cities around the world, after WWII, people actually start returning to their home cities and rebuilding, Los Angeles used to have cow pastures and Pig farms around LAX, but as time goes by, the pig farms disappeared. Now it is a highly populated area; but then the city of Los Angeles is very big and can handle the population growth, Okinawa on the other hand is very tiny, and whether you like it or not, the people had a God Given Right to move back to their villages and re-build just like every other war torn area of the world after WWII, which they did and remarks such as the whiners who complain about the noise of Freedom, just shows your ignorance. I do not know where you come from and don't care, but I know growing up in Los Angeles, the area just west of LAX was higly populated and all of the homes west of the runway to the ocean were removed and laws were made to Decrease Noise levels around Military Bases, Commercial Air Bases and all precautions were made to make sure citizens living around these locations would not be inconvenienced by the noise; so Sarge please explain to me why again are Okinawans whiners, when good old Americans get to be the bullies and the whiners have to cowtow and run from bullies like you. I spent my life time as a soldier, Policeman protecting the little guy from the bullies of the world and Okinawans are no different, they just take the crap in stride and when they do speak out, people like you reminds us of WWII and the reasons for Freedom Ringing loudly and if you don't like it then move. Tell me where the Okinwans can move too, what part of Okinawa that is not military bases or already owned property can they move too. Can they get into their mini vans and drive to the mainland of Japan, or take the bus to Hawaii? I will fight for freedom any day of the week, but I will not cover up for the hypocrisy of doing the wrong and blaming it on a war that was won by the USA in 1945, So Again I will ask Why Okinawa? what did those people do to incure the American Hatred and ill will? And how as Palisadez54 stupidly points out...maybe cuz Japan LOST and America Won the war, Very simple, no attackee on Pearl Harbor, no basee on Okinawa, what a frickin moron, what does bases on Okinawa have to do with Japan starting the war, what part of this stupid racial language have to do with Okinawans bearing the UNFAIR BURDEN OF JAPAN STARTING THE WAR? Again, we never know how inteligent a person is until they open their mouths and listen to what they say, I can always spot the low IQ who puts on the uniform and believes they are the toughest fighting force in the world, but when I go to the long black granite wall and read the names of my friends that will never get to engage in expressing their opinions, I am reminded that these are the true heros, and the young men in uniform that left their lives in Iraq, Afganistan as well as other RECENT hot spots, Then I read about Paper Warriors on this page who can only spout who lost the WAR 64 years ago, makes me think I should remember the Alamo and go kick some local people in Texas, that makes just about as much sense. Plus I have a home on Okinawa, have Okinawan Relatives and prefer their company to mindless ignorance who still believe the crap that comes out of their mouths.

  Moderator: Please use paragraphs.

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  Bob_Avery at 11:40 AM JST - 5th October

  For YuriOtani the real reason for the bases on Okinawa is Political and Greed. Japan Lost the war, but Japan had the ability to provide a lot Economically to the USA while Okinawa did not. Okinawa does not mass produce automobiles, electronics etc., so Japan was in a position to provide to the USA that which Okinawa could not. Should Japan have more Military Bases, Yes indeed, the size of the home islands is reason enough, but again, politicians make strange bedfellows, Money power, and Economics are the simple reasons and if you are going to put military bases somewhere, you need a place where "If" the people complain, no one will listen, so what was the ideal location. A) Okinawa, B) Okinawa, C) Okinawa, or D) Okianwa? if you answered Okinawa, you are correct. When the people were gathered up and sent to Taira, Ishikawa, to the mainland of Japan for up to a few years, what do you think was happening to their land and homes, again, if you correctly respond that their land was taken and used for Military Bases, then your answer is correct. You can point out correctly all of the proper responses to what could be done to the bases such as Kadena, the largest Air Base in Asia but that will have absolutly no bearing on what would actually occur. No as long as the US Politicans and Japan's Politicians as well as greedy business interests look at Okinawa as the golden egg, while Special Interests get to have their way. Personally, I am not against every Military Base on Okinawa closing but for the ignorant who make statements such as "If the military closed all of the bases and went back to the USA, Okinawa would Suffer" again shows a lack of intelligence. A recent report shows that of all of the Military Bases on Okinawa, the Money coming in accounts for 5% of Okinawa Prefecture's Total Income;of that 5%, (75%) of it goes to Mainland Japanese business Interests as they are the ones who get the contracts for building bases and the workers who work are not Okinawans but Filipinos and Indonesian workers who will work for less than Okinawans. Same thing in the USA; the Illegal Mexicans will work for less than legal citizens but who gets the work? People say that the Illegal will do the work that Americans will not, but who has ever tested this theory? Would America find an economic stimulus if some of these bases such as the Futenma Air Station returned to the USA, the answer is quite simple, of course, The military personnel would return to the USA, spend their money in Hometown USA, Dependents would not have to be moved to Japan or Okinawa. The cities around the bases would benefit, so why keep them on Okinawa? Again, confuscius say, very simple, japan start war, now must pay, but who really pays, not Japan itself, lets push the Okinawan around for a few more hundred years, they have a history of taking crap from foreigners and not fighting back. Just read Cmdr Perry's remarks about the Okinawans or Napaleon's comments about Okinawans etc etc etc.

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  NeoJamal at 01:23 PM JST - 5th October

  ...maybe 'cuz Japan LOST and America WON the war. Very simple: no attackee on Pearl Harbor, no basee on Okinawa.

  That makes as much historical rationale as Muslims going on how 9/11 could've been prevented had the US divorced itself from Israel.

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  mindovermatter at 02:35 PM JST - 5th October

  Hey my buddy.. Bob_Avery!

  Next time there youngster you need to READ what people post, so you can respond to the right people...

  BTW: I am retired military, and I still live in Japan... I'm betting I've spent more time riding trains in Japan, than you've even spent on any part of Japan... So next time, their youngster, think and READ before you post someone's name boy...!

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  YuriOtani at 09:59 AM JST - 6th October

  Bob_Avery, I agree with you for the most part. Am not sure what it would take to move these bases from Okinawa. As I stated they serve no purpose other than a power move over the people of Okinawa and Japan. Still not sure why the 2006 agreement should be considered unbreakable, Americans break them all of the time for their connivance. An example is the anti missile agreement with Poland. The new government needs to grow a spine and insist that the Americans remove these bases within one year and would be the responsibility of the USG to find a new home for these troops not the GOJ.

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  palisadez54 at 11:19 PM JST - 6th October

  Maybe with all these problems, maybe the U.S. shouldn't have returned Okinawa in the first in place...

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