Your opinion on US military presence in Okinawa, Japan

[v0031]

I consider it a hot topic. How do you look into it?

[Franzl]

Maybe in Japan...but it's not all that controversial in the US.

[The Ex-Factor]

Very negative....the history of the Okinawa military bases is a sad story full of exploitation and the continual betrayal of a local population.

I blame the Japanese government far more than the Americans though. Can't expect Americans to know anything about the history of Japanese imperialism in Okinawa.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

I consider it a hot topic. How do you look into it?

v, what's hot about it now, compared to the past?

[The Mikado]

I consider it a hot topic. How do you look into it?

v, what's hot about it now, compared to the past?

We want to expand the base there.  The current Japanese Prime Minister was elected saying that he'd kick us out of Okinawa, but has flipflopped on that promise, hurting his rep and his poll numbers.

http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/asia/Japans-PM-Reversal-on-US-Base-May-Have-Political-Cost-92853194.html

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

I consider it a hot topic. How do you look into it?

v, what's hot about it now, compared to the past?

We want to expand the base there.  The current Japanese Prime Minister was elected saying that he'd kick us out of Okinawa, but has flipflopped on that promise, hurting his rep and his poll numbers.

http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/asia/Japans-PM-Reversal-on-US-Base-May-Have-Political-Cost-92853194.html

They say they've wanted us gone for a long time, but we're still there......and likely will be for some time to come.  I can see why it's hot in v's neck of the woods though.

[??????????]

I consider it a hot topic. How do you look into it?

v, what's hot about it now, compared to the past?

We want to expand the base there.  The current Japanese Prime Minister was elected saying that he'd kick us out of Okinawa, but has flipflopped on that promise, hurting his rep and his poll numbers.

http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/asia/Japans-PM-Reversal-on-US-Base-May-Have-Political-Cost-92853194.html

They say they've wanted us gone for a long time, but we're still there......and likely will be for some time to come.  I can see why it's hot in v's neck of the woods though.

The Japanese shouldn't have sh*t until the apologize for all the murder they committed in WW2.

[Free Palestine]

I disagree with any foreign military presence.

[The Mikado]

I disagree with any foreign military presence.

The fact is, our global presence brings us tangible benefits.  Being the only nation in the world with the force-projection abilities to be anywhere anytime gives us a real advantage, and the presence of the US Navy discourages piracy and helps international trade.  American soldiers get to see the world on Uncle Sam's dime, and are a real economic benefit to local economies (just ask anyone ever stationed at Ramstein what the local economy is).  Our "empire" of bases is crucial to America as it is in the 21st century, and I'd strongly oppose any serious efforts to roll back our global presence.

[Lief 🗽]

We shouldn't have any bases in Japan.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

The Japanese shouldn't have sh*t until the apologize for all the murder they committed in WW2.

States, c'mon Germany, Italy, Russia, etc., etc..  they all committed atrocities yet we have normal relations with all of them......why single out Japanese (yes, I've read about their atrocities too)?   Plus the same bunch you rightfully hate aren't even in power any more.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

We shouldn't have any bases in Japan.

Unless Japan's position on the map changes we're not going anywhere, period.  Their location is too strategic.

[The Mikado]

We shouldn't have any bases in Japan.

We should have bases everywhere its cost effective and strategically valuable to continue having them.  A strong American presence on the ground beats a fictional missile defense shield any day if you're looking for what the Pentagon should be spending on.

The Japanese shouldn't have sh*t until the apologize for all the murder they committed in WW2.

States, c'mon Germany, Italy, Russia, etc., etc..  they all committed atrocities yet we have normal relations with all of them......why single out Japanese (yes, I've read about their atrocities too)?   Plus the same bunch you rightfully hate aren't even in power any more.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shintaro_Ishihara

(Governor of Tokyo is a BIG deal)

EDIT:
Understatement of the year (gotta love Wikipedia's NPOV policy): 

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[Obnoxiously Slutty Girly Girl]

Remove all U.S. bases from all locations.

People who support them can go "support the local economies" with their own money.

[useful idiot]

I'm sure most Okinawan girls look forward to the day when they don't have to look over their shoulder from fear...

[opebo]

Well, is there a lot of prostitution?  If so, I support.  If not, I oppose.

I suppose the fact that there is supposed to be a lot of rape suggests an inadequacy of prostitution.

[yougo1000]

Damn negative

[phk]

The Japanese shouldn't have sh*t until the apologize for all the murder they committed in WW2.

States, c'mon Germany, Italy, Russia, etc., etc..  they all committed atrocities yet we have normal relations with all of them......why single out Japanese (yes, I've read about their atrocities too)?   Plus the same bunch you rightfully hate aren't even in power any more.

In Germany holocaust denial is a crime, while Japan enshrines Class-A war criminals. There's a difference.

[Ban my account ffs!]

Strategically, it's a good place to be.  In reality, U.S. soldiers are exploitive and abusive towards the local population.  I've been to Okinawa and stayed with local families and while they were glad to have us and get to know us, they had nothing good to say about the U.S. military presence on the island.

Any soldier accused of abuse against the local people should be court marshaled, and if found guilty, dishonorably discharged.  Trash like that don't deserve to wear the uniform and I refuse to give servicemen like that any kind of respect.

[Bo]

We should remove all our troops and bases from Japan. Also, we should allow Japan to bujild up its own miltiary (and even build nukes if they want) if they're so afraid North Korea or someone else is going to attack them. We needed to have troops in Japan during the Cold War for strategic reasons, but the Cold War has been over now for almost 20 years and those troops in Japan are no longer needed or necessary.

[Free Trade is managed by the invisible hand.]

What services does the base provide for our military? I am wondering about things like refueling and so forth.

[??????????]

The Japanese shouldn't have sh*t until the apologize for all the murder they committed in WW2.

States, c'mon Germany, Italy, Russia, etc., etc..  they all committed atrocities yet we have normal relations with all of them......why single out Japanese (yes, I've read about their atrocities too)?   Plus the same bunch you rightfully hate aren't even in power any more.

Germany and Italy honestly paid for their crimes, IMHO. What penance did Japan serve for WW2, how many of their generals were taken before Nuremburg? Even Japanese schools play apologist for WW2. I agree with your last sentence but correcting the school system would be a big leap forward.

[dead0man]

If they don't want us there, we shouldn't be there.

On the other hand...three sexual assaults in 15 years?  I'm guessing your average state college has more on a busy weekend.