Okinawa demands suspension of U.S. military flights over schools

As long as Japan is basically forced to comply with the US Military, if the US Military continues to have extra special rights over the Japanese territory, how can you say that Japan isn't a US colony?

I find some people talking about how the SDFJ may have the same problems, but then again, the SDFJ isn't the military of a foreign government.

Legally speaking, I don't see much of a problem of the US claiming their bases as their own territory, but I see a lot of problems when they claim authority over the Japanese goverment or even the owners of the land where their things fall when there is an accident, like there have been all the time.

The US should comply with the Japanese requirements, not the other way around.

if they didnt stall for so long Futenma would have been moved years ago. the base WILL be moved to Henoko where there is very little population and it WILL remain in Okinawa, until everybody concerned comes to realize this the better itll be for everybody. thumb me down all you like but this is the reality of the situation

https://www.google.co.jp/maps/@26.5220564,128.0600461,3400m/data=!3m1!1e3

I can understand the feelings of humiliations of Okinawans. It is not a pleasant thing any foreign military base located near to you. What would be the solution when no other prefecture in Japan wants to accept U.S. bases. The time has come we have to pay the price of riding free the defense of the country to U.S. Forces.

The school in the window incident is located right at the edge of the airfield. How did that happen?

altogether now. 1-2-3...yappari! everyone knew this resolution was coming. and it will surely be met in the usual manner by the US gov't: thrown straight into the garbage.

JeffLee, it was built there. Airfield was there since the end of World War 2.

This is a common sense, but... military vehicles must avoid flying through densely populated zones. By "densely" I mean 0. If anything fatal was to happen to a Japanese citizen involving a crash or something, the scum will drown in national rage. Let's avoid the former, m'kay?

Every time such accidents occur, Okinawa Prefecture protests and the U.S. side promises maximum precaution will be taken not to let such accidents recur. But accidents keep occurring again and again regardless of whether they are caused by human errors or mechanical failures.

Pro-base gang suggest the school be relocated somewhere to a safer place. Yes, the city authorities have tried it but always come to a standstill because of the shortage of the city's budget to buy reasonably-priced land plots within stuents' walking distance (school district).

This solution or argument, however, is like putting a cart before the horse. It is the Marine base that should be moved outside Okinawa, preferably to a Californian desert.  This is nor big deal in terms of the Marines' pacific strategy. The U.S. Marines have no legal right after all to maintain bases in Japan, of which Okinawa is a part. Read Article 6 of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty to confirm what I say is true.

 It is the Marine base that should be moved outside Okinawa, but it wont be moved outside Okinawa as no other prefecture want it, so next best option is to a lowly populated area in Okinawa that is Henoko. The whole point of a base Japan is to strengthen Japans military deterrent and for quick responses to problems thats happen in Asia, takes 12~14hrs for any aircraft to get from the US mainland to Asia, Okinawa 1~2 hrs. When wars/ skirmishes break out fast response time is critical before the enemy takes control of the area. Most of the US military fighter jets/ Helicopters / Osprey aircraft can fly to a mission in Asia and return to base without having to refuel, cant do that from Guam or the US mainland. Guess why there are these exact same aircraft stationed at Futenma!

Uh oh! They're demanding it now! They must have their angry pants on!

Since the U.S. Marines blame everything on human error, like that is going to make accidents more acceptable, what they are saying is that you don't have to worry about our aircraft, you only have to worry about our pilots and maintenance crews.

By the way, construction on the elementary school where the accident happened began in 1968 and the school opened in Apr. 1969 so construction started on the school and the school opened when the U.S. Military had complete control over Okinawa which means the U.S. Military allowed that school and most of the other buildings that are built close to the bases to be built there.　

What did happen to the promise Abe made to Gov. Nakaima to close MCAS Futenma regardless of whether Henoko was finished or not? Gov. Nakaima told the people of Okinawa that is the reason why he signed the Landfill Agreement.

Nakaima to close MCAS Futenma regardless of whether Henoko was finished or not? so instead of letting the government finish work at Henoko, they using delaying tactics to try get Futenma closed before Henoko is complete, and they wonder why the government has forced the issue through to completion.

Having lived in Japan a few decades, I'm aware of the pros and cons of the issue - they always flare up after such incidents then fade back to the status quo.

A point of warning is that, without military facilities in Japan, the point of the US/Japan military alliance is somewhat moot from the former's point of view, and the US has a president now reckless enough to pull the trigger on it.

Be careful what you wish for - you just might get it. Especially these days, when the adults are no longer in charge.

JeffLee

Telephones are ringing at Futenma 2nd Elementary School with slanderous messages. "Do not complain. You built the school where the base was already there." "You are making living thanks to the base" etc. NHK reported 25 similar telephone calls were received by the school by Dec. 19. The school official commented they had to build school there since the greater part of the small city were seized by the occupation forces and could not find other place in the city.

Schopenhauer, thanks for the background info. The school's extraordinary location does prompt the question, "Gee, what could possibly go wrong?"

Can the SDF defend Japan by itself or is this to keep a check in Japanese militarism?

Why is the school built so near the base?

It isn't. People were living there LONG before the US base. Five villages were bulldozed to the ground to build it. This space includes family graves. Anyone who has lived in Okinawa for any length of time knows the importance Okinawans place on their family grave. At least twice a year, the family gather there. Many wanted to be near where their ancestors were and so built around the base. In other times, Futenma base was a source of income and so people built close to the base. Their schools were built close to where they lived so that children could walk to school. Futenma base is a tragedy waiting to happen. One more accident and it won't be a minor injury. One big accident and the US military will be out on their ear. Already the aggro is starting. American friends tell me that cars are being vandalised, broken into and things stolen.

The bottom line is that the US military should be on US soil. The only reason they are here is because the Japanese government pays "protection money." Without this they couldn't afford to be here. I cannot understand why they are here.

Schopenhauer, thanks for the background info. The school's extraordinary location does prompt the question, "Gee, what could possibly go wrong?"

It's a fair point, although they probably didn't expect bits of aircraft to be falling from the sky.

Luis David

You can answer your own question by looking up the definition of the word “colony”.

Colony: a country or area under the full or partial political control of another country and occupied by settlers from that country.

Japan definitely used to be under full control of the US. It is highly likely that is still under partial control. I’d be very surprised to find otherwise.

For example it’s obvious that Japan’s rearmament And changing of the constitution is being initiated and promoted by America. Imagine If 20 years ago Japan declared to the world that they would change their constitution and rearm. The USA would have probably heavily threatened Japan if it went to do it without its permission.

It's always the innocent children who suffer. The suspension of flights should be made permanent.

The Americans will do what they want, when they want, and in the manner they want, and that is perfectly reasonable.

Don't see how this is news. Okinawa's neighbouring prefectures said no to US bases so they expect Okinawa to accept it. Maybe talk to them to reconsider. Nitpicking complaints isn't going to work

What if same kinda accidents happened again in the middle of the town and killed some locals. It would be ever the biggest political issue between Japan and US. Most US military bases might have to leave Okinawa after all.

I really think that okinawans only want US to leave, the airbase was there before the school and before most of the town was built.

This is nosense, the school is almost in the airstrip

I really think that okinawans only want US to leave, the airbase was there before the school and before most of the town was built.

Towns were already there in the middle of the island before US bases were built, but most towns were destroyed during the war. However ownerships of lands still belong to them. US military forcedly took their lands for bases for twenty years before return to Japan in 1972.

Mr. Onaga should be blaming himself and his developer/realtor landowners who allowed all the schools, homes and hospitals built right smack on top of a US or any Japan bases. He seems to have forgotten how he made his money on contracts again and again at the expense of the people he pledges he serves. Then don 't make the same mistake at the relocation site not a new base and populate it with all the homes, and other facilities so close to the base.

A central issue in the debate over the continued US military presence is the concentration of troops on the small Japanese prefecture of Okinawa. US military bases cover about one-fifth of Okinawa that serve around 75 percent of the US Forces in Japan. This has left many Okinawans feeling that while the security agreement may be beneficial to the United States and Japan as a whole, it is burdensome to the residents of the small subtropical island.

Another contentious issue to many Okinawans is the noise and environmental pollution created by the US Forces in Japan. Excessive noise lawsuits in 2009 filed by Okinawa’s residents against Kadena Air Base and MCAS Futenma resulted in awards of $59 million and $1.3 million to residents respectively). The tourist attraction of Okinawa's coral reef has suffered from continuous runoff of live fire exercises from the military bases .The most powerful opposition in Okinawa, however, stemmed from criminal acts committed by US service members and their dependents, with the latest example being the 1995 kidnapping and molestation of a 12-year-old Okinawan girl by two Marines and a Navy corpsmen. In early 2008, the US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, apologized after a series of crimes involving American troops in Japan, including the rape of a girl of 14 by a marine on Okinawa. The U.S. military also imposed a temporary 24-hour curfew on military personnel and their families to ease the anger of local residents. Some cited statistics that the crime rate of military personnel is consistently less than that of the general Okinawan population.

In a 2006 agreement between the Bush administration and the Japanese government, MCAS Futenma was to be relocated to the northern Okinawa city of Nago, and 8,000 Marines and their dependents were to be relocated to Guam. This agreement, however, received very little support from Okinawans. After spending several months deliberating over where the base would move to, Hatoyama conceded to allow the original agreement to go forward and immediately resigned after stating he failed to fulfill one of his promises

Despite strong Okinawan opposition to the US military presence on the island, there is also strong support for the agreement. Due to fear of a new imperialistic Japan, Japanese lawmakers forbade itself from maintaining more than a self-defense-sized armed forces when drafting the post-War Constitution. As a result, Japan has never spent more than one percent of its GDP on military expenditures . In return for allowing the US military presence in Japan, the United States agrees to help defend Japan against any foreign adversaries, such as North Korea. In addition to military support, the military presence in Okinawa contributes to the economy of Japan’s poorest prefecture. As of 2004, 8,813 locals worked on bases, in addition to numerous others who work in shops and bars where the main customer base is US service members. Altogether, the US presence accounts for about 5 percent of the Okinawan economy (Fukumura, 2007).

According to a 2007 Okinawa Times poll, 73.4% of Japanese citizens appreciated the mutual security treaty with the US and the presence of the USFJ.[8]

Coverage

wtfjapan,

It is the Marine base that should be moved outside Okinawa, but it wont be moved outside Okinawa as no other prefecture want it, so next best option is to a lowly populated area in Okinawa that is Henoko.

Of course, no prefecture will welcome such a nuisance and troublemaker in its backyard. But you say Okinawa is an exception? It isn't a Japanese prefecture? Dump all U.S. bases, which former P.M. Koizumi called necessary evils, into Okinawa? That's a mean-spirited mind-set, indeed.  

As I've been arguing, there's no need for the U.S. Marines to be stationed in Okinawa. The most active elements of them are to move to Guam. Is it a rational move to deploy them in a farther hinterland while their support units are deployed near to the front line? All this indicates the Marines don't have to be stationed in Okinawa. So move them to a Californian desert where they can train their combat skills to their content.

As I've been arguing, there's no need for the U.S. Marines to be stationed in Okinawa. The most active elements of them are to move to Guam. Is it a rational move to deploy them in a farther hinterland while their support units are deployed near to the front line? All this indicates the Marines don't have to be stationed in Okinawa. So move them to a Californian desert where they can train their combat skills to their content

You probably should hold your opinions on this subject... You know nothing of the defense and logistical requirements needed to defend Japan and assist regional allies. Everything you say in regards to this stuff is always based off of emotional appeal in lieu of fact. People far smarter than you or I have established the current posture for good reason. To go along with that, the governments of Japan, the US, and other JT posters owe you no explanation on any of this.

You reap what you sew..

Shouldn't have blocked the relocation of Futenma to Camp Schwab, Onaga.

Luis David Yanez: "how can you say that Japan isn't a US colony?"

Simple: because it isn't. How can you say it is? is the better question.

Cybernetic Tiger: "You reap what you sew. Shouldn't have blocked the relocation of Futenma to Camp Schwab, Onaga."

Bingo!!

voiceofokinawa: "It isn't a Japanese prefecture?"

You're the one who considers it as such when it's convenient, and call yourselves "Okinawans" (ie. as opposed to Japanese, when you don't side with the government, insinuating you are not the same) when it doesn't suit you.

kwatt: "What if same kinda accidents happened again in the middle of the town and killed some locals."

What if that happens with a Japanese plane, as has happened with a few Japanese airliners lately where parts have fallen off and crushed cars (well, no one died, but you get my point)? You guys don't care at all in those cases because it doesn't further your political agenda against the people defending you and your way of life.

Okinawa demands suspension of U.S. military flights over schools

Certainly seems like a very reasonable request. Just curious as to how a military base and a school ended up side by side. Which was built first?

As long as Japan is basically forced to comply with the US Military, if the US Military continues to have extra special rights over the Japanese territory, how can you say that Japan isn't a US colony?

Japan could ask the US to leave at any time they wish. Making factual incorrect statements that Japan is somehow a US colony is nothing but far Left ideological propaganda. If the Philippines could get rid of it’s US military bases, Japan could certainly do the same.

From Article x of the Japan-US Security Treaty:

*This Treaty shall remain in force until in the opinion of the Governments of Japan and the United States of America there shall have come into force such United Nations arrangements as will satisfactorily provide for the maintenance of international peace and security in the Japan area. However, after the Treaty has been in force for ten years, either Party may give notice to the other Party of its intention to terminate the Treaty, in which case the Treaty shall terminate one year after such notice has been given.*

Japan can tell the US to leave at any time. This isn't how an occupation or colonization works. Give it a rest.

I find very funny the reaction my comment got, since I always express this same opinion, and it doesn't seem to be that controversial.

If I had to guess, I guess most or all of the people who down voted my comment are from the US.

smithinjapan:

First, this arrangement is a direct continuation and a consequence of WW2, and the US occupation of Japan.

In supposedly legal terms, Japan is not a colony, but just as I said, if foreign law is overthrowing national law, then in practice it is still a colony.

In supposedly legal terms, Japan is not a colony, but just as I said, if foreign law is overthrowing national law, then in practice it is still a colony.

Except that 'national law' isn't being ignored. The article even states that the Japanese government gave the green light to allow flights to resume. The local Okinawan assembly does not dictate law and the US military does not have to bow to their demands.

America wants bases in Japan. Japan wants American bases in Japan (with the bulk of troops in Okinawa). Okinawans don't want to host that number of troops, if any. 

It's like two older boys holding down a younger boy and forcing him to overeat. The younger boy's older brother is making the other boy continue feeding, while that other boy is asking 'Hasn't he had enough?'. Who should you be most upset with: The kid's older brother or the other boy? 

In my view, Okinawa is not so much a colony of the U.S. as it is a colony of Japan. Until the Okinawan people wake up and realize that they can't count on the central government to respect them as equal citizens and give them a voice this issue is going to continue going in circles.

Maybe an overly simplistic view, but this is how I see it.

You reap what you sew..

No, actually you reap what you SOW.

CrucialS,

You know nothing of the defense and logistical requirements needed to defend Japan and assist regional allies.

And what's your explanation as to why combat units are deployed in safer hinterland while logistics units are deployed in the putative war front? Northern Training Area, aka Jungle Warfare Center, and the Henoko new base for the dilapidated Futenma Air Station aren't logistics bases but they are there just for training and for the convenience of the Marines.

Explain why these Marine bases must be planted in Okinawa so that anyone knowing "nothing of the defense and logistical requirements needed to defend Japan and assist regional allies" may be able to understand.

What if that happens with a Japanese plane, as has happened with a few Japanese airliners lately where parts have fallen off and crushed cars (well, no one died, but you get my point)? You guys don't care at all in those cases because it doesn't further your political agenda against the people defending you and your way of life.

Military helicopers and commercial airplanes may make accident happen somehow, however commercial airplanes try not fly over towns/schools as possible as they can, but military don't care about it. That is very different. Okinawans welcome commercials but not military planes at least.

The school in the window incident is located right at the edge of the airfield. How did that happen?

Maybe because Okinawa is small?

I would doubt that the school existed in 1945 when the USA had control over Okinawa.

So my guess is the school came later, maybe only after 1972.

The Americans will do what they want, when they want, and in the manner they want, and that is perfectly reasonable.

And all empires eventually crumble, which is perfectly reasonable, too.

The schools and people of Okinawa should take preference over the US occupying forces. It's really that simple.

pacint,

Construction on the school started in 1968 and the school opened in April 1969 while Okinawa was under complete U.S. Military control. A lot of the buildings near the bases were built during the U.S. Military occupation and the U.S. Military had no problem with it at all. Since the U.S. Military had complete control over Okinawa from 1945 to May 14 1972, they could have prevented people from building so close to the bases if they had wanted to.

Japan4life.

Thanks, wasn't sure if the USA or Japan build that school, said that the type and number of aircraft was different at that time.

As they say: 'The only constant in life is Change'.

pacint

There are many schools such as elementary, junior, senior and kindergardens all over there. Some existed before 1945 and some later. Schools should be in the town as people live close.

In So. Calif. in USA, there is Camp Pendleton base. Nearby, there are Disneyland. California State Univ. Fullerton, Angels baseball field, Orange Coast College and quite many children's schools but Military airplanes do not drop anything. How is Iwakuni area?

Kwatt.

I was not sure when the school opened is all.

Being neither Okinawan, Japanese or American I normally don't get involved in those issues, none of my business really.

toshiko

Simple, there is a strict law in US. Military planes can't fly over or must avoid resident areas and amusement/recreation areas. Not in Okinawa.

I just want someone to explain to me why does Okinawa have 13 U.S. Military Bases on this small island that is 70 miles long and an average of 7 miles wide but yet in all of Mainland Japan there are only 8 U.S. Military Bases. 8 of the 13 U.S. Bases on Okinawa are Marine Bases so Okinawa has just as many Marine Bases than there are total U.S. Bases in Mainland Japan.

Why does their need to be 3 different locations on a small island like Okinawa that the Military flies in and out of. You have the JSDF at Naha Air Base, you have the Air Force, Navy and occasionally the Marines flying out of Kadena Air Base and you have the Marines at MCAS Futenma. Why is not Naha Air Base and Kadena Air Base enough for the small island of Okinawa?

japan4life

It is very clear that Japan does not need so many heavy US military bases in Okinawa to protect only Japan in peace time. As you see Japan is not at war, so clearly no need of such heavy military bases there. The US should let J SDF handle more roles of US military to protect Japan, however the US wants to keep many military bases longer in Okinawa, Why? Ask your government about it and answer you.

Truman ordered GHQ to create bases in Japan because Japan will attack USA. Then later, Japan requested USA too protect Japan from Russia and China because Japan is not armed. Okinawan schools were in Okinawa before bases were created. I still think worse GIsare sent too Okkinawa,, better ones to mainland.

extanker:

In 2004 a helicopter felt into a village, and what did the US millitary did? They went before anyone else and basically put up a barricade arround it; making it basically a deployment of foreign military forces in civil private property, in which not even the police was allowed to go near.

It's extremely disturbing where there are millitary forces of another country, in "peace time" in the middle of the street making a blockade.

Imagine that happening in the US. I don't think you would have the same reaction about it.

japan4life:

Because Okinawa was under US control until 1972.

In fact, the US used Okinawa as one of it's main operation bases for the Vietnam War.

The idea that they are there to "protect" Japan is nothing more than face for their real objective, having military bases in "strategic" points.

American machines are not noted for reliability. Remember the helicopters prepared for the Iran hostages rescue mission? They didn't work. Look up the reliability ratings for American cars versus Japanese. The role call of military ships and aircraft involved in incidents over and off Japanese terriitory recently has been appalling, and clearly it's not the machines in every case but also the poor ability of their crews and maintenance staff. Japan should build up its own defence forces and the Okinawan's employment opportunities and get the Americans off the island.

The base has been there since after WWII. It will be easier to move the schools around the base.

kwatt:

Thanks for your reply but I want some of these posters who are always criticizing and blaming the people of Okinawa whenever there is an incident by the U.S. Military to tell me why the U.S. Military needs 13 Military Bases on Okinawa. And I am not including Naha Port or the various POL Facilities or Tengan Pier or the large areas of land that is taken up by Military Family Housing Areas in that number of 13.

Luis David Yanez:

Thanks for the reply. I was stationed in the Army on Okinawa from 1967 to 1968 so I am familiar with the roles that the bases on Okinawa played in the Vietnam War.

japan4life

It seems nobody knows why US military needs 13 military bases on Okinawa. They just have been built bases all over there for decades under full US control. The US did not have to explain each base every time to J government. Better ask US government or military about it.

Luis David

You assume that those who disagree with you “must be American”

No country pays the price for wars and protecting other allies like America does.

America pays the biggest cost, loses the most lives, and the list goes on.

Why are you stating the obvious and wondering if its technically right or wrong?

Of course the USA is here to build and further its empire. Half of the countries are still fighting the cold war.

You feel like what the US does is “extremely disturbing” in peace time. As a local I’ll let you know that I and most Japanese appreciate them a whole lot. We need the USA here until we are strong enough to defend ourselves.

Used to be GIs in Okinawa were to protect Japan but seems they are waiting to be shipped to areas in where US government have plans to create combat zones.

Okinawan schools were created when Tokugawa Feudal systems were toppled. Meiji gov't created schooling system in Japan.

Japan has been paying Pentagon every year to let US military forces stay in Japan. Tenant getting paid by the owner. It's so huge that USA does not pull out.

Beside that, Japan is largest US debt bonds holder in the world.

In 2004 a helicopter felt into a village, and what did the US millitary did? They went before anyone else and basically put up a barricade arround it; making it basically a deployment of foreign military forces in civil private property, in which not even the police was allowed to go near.

It's extremely disturbing where there are millitary forces of another country, in "peace time" in the middle of the street making a blockade.

Imagine that happening in the US. I don't think you would have the same reaction about it.

Clearly you have no idea what a Status of Forces Agreement is or you would understand why that was done. If the US had the need to have a foreign military based on our shores, then it would perfectly acceptable for this to happen.

Okinawa is conquered US territory.

thepersoniamnow:

I mean no disrespect, but you hardly sound like a typical local.

For starters, you speak English, and your America apologism is way over the chart.

As you yourself pointed it out, the US Military complex isn't doing this because of the goodness of their heart, but to protect their own interests. They don't really care about Japan, they care about themselves.

Not to mention that in the case of a War initiated by the US in this region, basically Japan would be on the receiving end of a war no Japanese asked for.

Also, unless you live near one of these US camps, I don't see how you can put yourself as an example that shows that "Japanese people like the US presence here".

For starters, about 80% of Okinawans are against the US bases. Of course, if you live in your house miles away from any kind of disturbance to your daily life because of US military presence, then I can see why you are so oblivious about it.

Also, this US apologist idea that Japan can’t defend itself is frankly quite bizarre. The JSDF is considered one of the strongest military forces in the world.

extanker:

Funny you would say that, since the US is the one with about 800 military bases in over 70 countries all around the world.

Not to mention that the security treaty was forced on Japan, and it has stipulations like Japan be prohibited from providing foreign powers any bases or any military-related rights without the consent of the United States.

It feels to an extent kind of like the unequal treaties that turned Japan into a military state in the first place, so it feels like the story repeating all over again.

The SOFA... Who planned and waited for ten years until he finally got Eisenhower signed? Why current gov't is not interested in debating to change SOFA? Who was the only one who backed SOFA promoter? Study. History at that time. Your will know why current gov't ignore Okinawan people's wish.

Posters, you must have seen through various media how dangerously Second Futenma Elementary School is located at the current site.

The school was founded in 1969 at the current site because the city could not find any purchasable land plots other than here with their own revenue sources. The central government rejected the city's petition to assist them to buy land, saying there's no legal basis to assist a local government for such a purpose.

In the 1980's Ginowan City asked for the partial return of nearby West Futenma Housing Area for the school to be relocated to. To which the U.S. side replied favorably but with five conditions attached.

     Condition 1: the area of the land to be returned will be 1ha.

     Condition 2: The hill adjacent to West Futenma Housing Area should be developed  maximally.

     Condition 3. Houses for U.S. personnel should be built in Camp Zukeran.

     Condition 4. The land where the school is currently situated, together with the buildings, must be given  

                          to the U.S. for an amalgamation of Futenma Air Station.  

It is because of this last condition that aborted the inceptive relocation plan. The whole process is exactly like Futenma's relocation to Henoko.

Afterwords: West Futenma Housing Area (51ha) was rturned on March 31 this year.

kwatt: "however commercial airplanes try not fly over towns/schools as possible as they can, but military don't care about it."

Hogwash and propaganda. The US military tries not to fly around civilian areas, and that's part of why they want to move to the thrice agreed upon base and be away from the civilians who built their houses around the current bases. So, thank Onaga that the US military still occasionally flies over the schools or other buildings around the base. As for commercial airliners not flying over civilian areas, you're kidding, right? You do realize that most airports are in the middle of cities, right? Ever fly into Itami?

I watched CBS news. It showed a helicopter flying without people inside. Autonomous something. It is tested somewhere in California, etc. It is for old heli. So maybe some company may improve old military copter?

The dropping something. was not intentional, I think.

Not to mention that the security treaty was forced on Japan, and it has stipulations like Japan be prohibited from providing foreign powers any bases or any military-related rights without the consent of the United States.

It feels to an extent kind of like the unequal treaties that turned Japan into a military state in the first place, so it feels like the story repeating all over again.

Here's a link to the security treaty, that it seems you've never actually read, on Japan's own Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. Please show me where it says any of that nonsense you claim it does.

http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/n-america/us/q&a/ref/1.html

Funny you would say that, since the US is the one with about 800 military bases in over 70 countries all around the world.

Not sure how that has anything to do with what I said, but that is why we don't have the need to have a foreign base on US shores. If we did, there would be a SOFA in place and things like investigating a military accident would fall under the jurisdiction of that military. It's not a US-Japan conspiracy, it's common anywhere a foreign government has troops stationed outside their country.

smithinjapan, et.al: 

I've been arguing it's the U.S. Marine Air Station Futenma that should be moved outside Okinawa, preferably to a Californian desert, rather than Second Futenma Elementary School that should be moved off from the current site. Moving the elementary school first is like putting a cart before the horse. There's no strategic reason why the Marines base can't be relocated outside Okinawa. After all, there's no guarantee under the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty for the Marines to be able to be stationed in Japan, of which Okinawa is a part.

No one has countered this argument of mine squarely except caviling about my words.

In his post on Dec. 22 | 12:12 am JST, smithinjapan, for example, criticized me by saying:

You're the one who considers it as such when it's convenient, and call yourselves "Okinawans" (ie. as opposed to Japanese, when you don't side with the government, insinuating you are not the same) when it doesn't suit you.

This is no argument.  So I call on smithinjapan to refute my argument above item by item.