U.S. Senate cuts budget for moving Marines from Okinawa to Guam by 70%

Saturday 07th November, 06:56 AM JST

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techall at 01:51 PM JST - 7th November

Back in '72 I thought the Okinawa Revision was a big mistake......seems I was right.
iraira at 02:39 PM JST - 7th November

China doesn't want the US to leave the region, as they (and really no one in Asia) don't trust the Japanese to be left to their own defenses/offenses. The region has not had a completely destablilizing conflict since the end of the war (the Korean & Vietnam wars did not destablize the entire region). If you trust the Japanese to maintain their own military, well, there's no use arguing that with you.
smithinjapan at 02:48 PM JST - 7th November

victimcrat: I think you've been speaking to a very select, very limited group of people on both sides. I am sure you are right that a NUMBER of people are content knowing some of their tax money is being spent in the interest of their defense, and I think that those people should more than any other group in Japan (along with the military and J-government themselves) be listened to. If you think people in Tokyo, for example, generally feel the same way you're mistaken. Some are enlightened and adult enough to realize the trade-off you speak of, but a large number are not, and focus only on the negative side of having a foreign military presence here. As for the English teacher remark, again I'd say that if you indeed have spoken to such people and all they do is complain about the issue, you need to choose a wider pool than just two or three friends. On such threads here, for example, you have a lot of J-nationals coming on and saying that Japan can 'take on Russia, China, and NKorea' and defend itself, and the US should be shown the door, while I've yet to see anyone aside from foreigners (be they English teachers or otherwise) defend the US presence. Like Timorborder, I'm no big fan of the US or its military, but there are a lot of plusses to having them in the region.
oberst at 08:01 PM JST - 7th November

let them draft all the Japanese youths into their self defense force and see what happens................
lostrune2 at 08:08 PM JST - 7th November

If both sides don't like the moving deal, then the base could just stay where it is, instead of moving. So where's the problem?
punanydoc at 10:49 PM JST - 7th November

For those of you "Yankee Go Home " bashers, do so with intelligent arguments, please. Earmarks are funds the Government planned to save for contingencies - Rainy day money. The costs for the Marines transfer to Guam is already budgeted in the Pentagon Budget. It is NOT an Earmark. So there will be funds to honour the agreed transfer. As for the Phillipines kicking out the USA ?! Didnt happen that way. The US President ( Clinton ), refused to pay an increase in th Base Rental fees. The Phillipine Islands are a more strategic Military Base for the USA than is Japan. The difference is that the Japanese Government PAYS for the US Military presence. Hope this was educational for you all.
Kwaabish at 02:54 AM JST - 8th November

OK, so the 70% budget cuts will result in the transfer of the USMC troops by cargo and fishing vessels instead of chartered jets, right?
the_sicilian at 10:48 AM JST - 8th November

Punany: Exactly. The US did not want to pay extortion for Clark and Subic to stay open. And the PI would be a better place, but they have too many extremist Muslims there. Plus being a somewhat 3rd world country outside of Manilla, I don't think we could have stayed anyway.

And concerning Japan, well, the rest of Asia knows what would happen if Japan became the preeminent military power in the region. Talk about destabilizing the region, that (a rearmed Japan) would be the last thing anyone wants (Except the DPJ).
Adamwesti at 12:42 AM JST - 9th November

I'm certain the Guamanians will be happy with the influx of more troops.I'm sure there are going to be more radical movements within the near future.
sharky1 at 06:52 AM JST - 9th November

If bilateral agreements change with each passing administration, then why negotiate at all. Seems like a big waste of time. Just stay with the status quo and life goes on...
PepinGalarga at 12:55 PM JST - 9th November

until Japan holds a constitutional referendum to get rid of the JSDF and establish a full blown military, they will be unable to defend themselves.

Most Japanese still don't want to make changes to the constitution, therefore Japan still needs the US for defense and security, PERIOD...

The prospective cut in budget is a clear signal that Japan needs to decide mighty quick what they will be doing, before the US commits any more resources to them.

Situation with NK has been pretty stable for the last year, but if NK suddenly starts raining rockets over Japan, public outcry will result in military buildup and overwhelming support for continued US presence in Japan.
societymike at 03:16 PM JST - 9th November

lostrune2 at 08:08 PM JST - 7th November If both sides don't like the moving deal, then the base could just stay where it is, instead of moving. So where's the problem?

The US is happy with the deal, they get to close Futenma (which they have been trying to do for many years) and they don't have to pay for it all. Japan is now the one reneging on the deal they agreed to.
IchyaWarFare at 03:36 PM JST - 9th November

The Philippines are fine now. No problem.

lol? Are you serious? I got family there trying to get out of the PI to the US. Are you kidding or do you just not think?
hworta269 at 09:35 PM JST - 11th November

Bilateral agreements are NOT supposed to change with administrations however Obama has set a president coming to power and changing a lot of agreements.

The futema move to the north would help sink some money in to that region of the island though I would think. Towns sprout up around military bases everywhere. This American administration plays hardball, its either agree with me 100 percent or we will make you pay for crossing us so like it or not the administration that most the world people seem to love for no real reason would screw up all the agreements with one nation just to get one small thing done so they can go see we are great because they did exactly what we demanded when we demanded it.
5SpeedRacer5 at 07:39 PM JST - 13th November

I think Japan should look to its future and foot the bill for the US to move the bases....

to Taiwan.