Why Okinawa? The Dilemma of Futenma Part 2

Please view this with the correction in Sub-Title (arigatou gozaimashita)
In August 2004, a Marine helicopter crashed into the Okinawa International University, which not only touched off a firestorm of protests created by this base which is located in the heart of Ginowan City Okinawa, it also has created so much tension for the government of the former ruling bloc of Japan, the LDP, that they were given the boot from office & their control over Japanese Politics. The LDP had ruled Japan since 1955 with a level of greed and corruption, matched only by Wall Street Bankers and politicians in the USA with their greed and self serving interests.
Japan finally voted in new leadership with the Democratic Party of Japan, but can they bring change to Japan? Stability that the Okinawan People as well as all of Japan are looking for? Will they make good on their promise to finally end the problems of the Futenma Air Station?
Only time will tell if they are the proper ones to lead Japan into the next century or if they will just turn out to be a flash in the pan, bowing to the wishes of the United States & the demands of the US Military relating to the alignment of US Forces in Asia.
A solution to this dangerous Military Base needs to be found, with the most logical solution keeps being ignored; this base needs to be moved from the island of Okinawa completely, not relocated to the Henoko Peninsula, where the US Military wants to land fill the Ocean which would not only destroy the Coral Reef, but also possibly destroy the endangered Dugong, as well as other precious marine life in this area; as well as add one more base to an already base saturated island.

The US Military has a death grip on holding on to every inch of soil taken during WWII, but only on Okinawa, has the Occupation taken on a different meaning. Only when Okinawa feels the burden of this base being removed from Okinawa, not relocated, but moved completely, will Okinawa begin to feel what other countries have felt since the end of WWII; a feeling of Peace that has eluded them for so long that the current population of Young Okinawans have grown up believing that this is normal and the only way their country has ever been.
Okinawans have been fed the belief that the US Military occupies Okinawa for their protection from those sinister countries in Asia that are just waiting in the wings to seize their land.
First it was the threat of Russia, now it is the Threat of China or Korea, but the truth is that, NO ONE, waits in the wings to take Okinawa, but the Okinawan People themselves.

The US Military is still caught up in the notion that by keeping Okinawa a Military Island, that they can keep peace in Asia. Okinawa shouldering 75% of US Forward Base Deployment in Asia, on an island basically the same size of New York City is hardly capable of doing this while trying to grow and prosper following the almost total destruction from WWII.
How can Okinawan continue to grow and prosper when they have no room to grow, & no where to move to?
The US Military will argue that Okinawa is a strategic location for the Military in Asia for the protection of Japan, but if that were the case, there is an argument that the home islands of Japan itself, are more strategically located than the tiny island of Okinawa.
The Futenma Air Station Dilemma is that Futenma MCAS is a Training Facility only and needs to be moved back to the United States, where the US economy would benefit from the jobs generated in a US economy already begging for economic stability. The Okinawan People will benefit as well, as the relief from the closure of this base, will bring needed changes and improvement to Okinawa and to the Okinawan People who will start to feel a sense of Peace, not felt for a long long time.
President Obama needs to look at the agreement of 2006 with a suspicious mind, as it was forged by a US former President Bush, and his Defense secretary Rumsfelt in a quest for glory, and a former prime minister from Japan who would do anything to please the US Administration so he could visit Graceland and see where his Idol, Elvis had lived....
This agreement was cloaked in self servicing agendas that need to be brought to the public attention and then put to rest. the Okinawan People need to feel that America stands behind it's words that "All People are created equal, all people have a right to freedom" that the words spoken by President Lincoln were meant to include all people of the world; it is time for Okinawans to be able to join the ranks of the free.
Watch the entire story of Why Okinawa? Messages from the People, then decide for yourself if there is a problem. We trust you will also be asking... Why Okinawa? The Occupation of Okinawa has gone on for more than 60 years and needs to finally end.

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[RAvery41]

The US Military Contributes to the protection of Japan in Asia, however we ask only 1 major question and that is "Why does the tiny island of Okinawa, the size of New York City, have to carry the burden of this protection? do you know that Okinawa has 37 Military Bases and has over 75% of the Military for this protection, yet Okinawa is the size of a speck of sand compared to the 4 main Island of Japan.

[univercity2009]

But most American believe USA is protecting Japan from the hostile of China and N.Korea. What is your view on this?

[RAvery41]

@univercity2009 . America tells the Okinawan People that the 37 bases on Okinawa are for the protection of them & Japan from N Korea & China, but the truth is that China has no interest in Okinawa. Historically China has been good neighbors,but their interest is in Taiwan, China as records shows have almost as much money invested in the USA economy as Japan does and N. Korea just hates everyone and only is tolerated by China and other more Terrorist Countries.

[univercity2009]

"The Japanese government pays approximately $100,000 per year for each

member of the U.S. military stationed in Japan. It pays for electricity on the bases, and highway tolls for U.S. military personnel. Japanese tax money supports shopping centers, schools, libraries, and churches on the bases (even though the Japanese constitution separates church and state). More than 70% of the total cost of U.S. bases in Japan is borne by Japan."

[RAvery41]

@univercity2009 The cost you mention I cannot believe that number, as it would have to take into consideration cost of man, cost of base use, and all costs involved as the USA has over 700 military bases throughout the world in 121 counries and right now cannot even afford the bases it has. the cost is borne by Japan as you point out.

[RAvery41]

@univercity2009 Okinawa prefecture income from us bases amounts to 5% of the total income to Okinawa and of that, 75% goes to mainland Japan business interests. Okinawa has shown it is capable of self sustaining itself without US Bases. The entire issue is political agendas.

[kazumathe1]

While the whole world is up rising and fighting for their freedom, the Okinawans need to do the same and protest for the rights of their own island. Not only did the Japanese exploit the Okinawans before WWII, now the American military is raping the the land and doing so with no disregard of the people. Okinawans need to fight and lead the people to liberation of this military industrialization of its island. Fight like the Taiwanese, like the Egyptians, like the Libyans! Free OKINAWA !

[lulu230414]

The U.S. has little regard for the okinawan people?? ..fuck you bitch how bout this rewind about forty five to fifty years and see how much regard the EMPIRE OF JAPAN had for their own people on okinawa they spred propaganda that made the U.S. sound like mad men and had their own people kill not only themselves but also their childeren they trew their babies over a fucking cliff and the EMPIRE OF JAPAN did not give a fuck.

[koopatroopa187]

@RAvery41

Then why did an absurd amount of people lose their jobs during the 2.5 month base lock down in 2008? Do you realize the economical damage that would be done in the housing market alone? How many Uchinans on Okinawa can afford the outrageous prices SOFA status personnel pay for an apartment?

Remember what happened to the Philippines when the US bases left? Same would happen to Okinawa.

[koopatroopa187]

@RAvery41 37 bases? Care to name all of these? Off the top of my head all I can name are: Kadena Air Base Camp Kinser Camp Schwab Camp Gonzalves Camp Hansen Camp Foster Camp Courtney MCAS Futenma Camp Lester Fort Buckner Torii Station White Beach Camp Shields Kin Red Kin Blue CTA Yomitan Ammo Dump That thing that nobody knows about on the top of Mt. Yaedake. Probably a weather survey station or a radar site Plaza Housing Courtney Housing Kadena Marina Are you counting LZ's as bases?

[koopatroopa187]

Maybe you should tell the facts about that helicopter crash before you twist the story even further.

That crash was a demonstration of superb piloting. A CH-56 went down over a highly populated city and it managed to land in an empty parking lot and did very minor property damage. On top of that, because of the incident Okinawa got a brand new, state of the art University paid for by the US government. It was one incident in what? 60+ years? Anything to push your agenda though.

[ChatanMan]

@univercity2009 the people in Ginowan moved there because it was cheap to live there. I have seen images where there is nothing there... NOTHING.... it is a bad location now.. but it is not as if there was a large population there when they made the base. choice were made to live there. No one wants to live up North because there is not work there. No self sustaining economy. Okinawa doesn't have a product to export that Japanese see useful. that is why they leave the base there... FACT

[ChatanMan]

@RAvery41 again false statements that are miss leading. you claim that Okinawa can take care of itself but it was told to me that Okinawa uses the majority of the welfare of all of Japan. Okinawins leave her all the time because there is no work. No mainland company's truely invest here, example factories.. there is none. dont get me wrong the USA does need to save money and pull out of here. but really why did the Prime Minister change his mind?? I remember those speaches he gave.. WHY?!?