Do you think Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama knows what he is doing on the Futenma base relocation issue?

Proves that the majority who read this news site are non-Japanese.

Triple888 at 05:02 AM JST - 2nd May

Proves that the majority who read this news site are non-Japanese.

How so?

Should have left it as is, we need the jobs. we have the highest unemployment rate in japan yet he does not say what he is going to do if he moves the base outside of Okinawa. we need jobs. get toyota, mazda, sharp, etc to open a plant here first then close it.

@triple888 yes lots of Okinawans read this site.

Triple888: "Proves that the majority who read this news site are non-Japanese."

So realizing the current PM is a moron makes everyone a foreigner? I think 80% of the Japanese, who disapprove of the PM, would be upset at your calling them foreigners. The man doesn't know what he's doing... that's not because he's Japanese, it's because he's an idiot.

I don't think he knows what he is doing on all other issues, not only the Futenma one. Bring back Koizumi.

Bring back Koizumi i agree he rocked!

"So realizing the current PM is a moron..." The current "moron" in the Prime Minister's chair has been there for all of six months. The base issue has been to Japan what illegal immigration has been to America; long ignored and passed from administration to administration. Add in the fact that the majority of Japanese (1) want the US military to protect them but (2) don't want the US military anywhere near where they live but (3) don't want the expense/responsibility of providing for their own military and you have a situation that is impossible for anyone. Let's give Hatoyama a chance before we give the reins back to the LDP.

Do you think Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama knows what he is doing on the Futenma base relocation issue?

I think the more intriguing question here (even though these are comments to a poll) is . . . . Does Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama himself THINK he knows what he is doing on the Futenma base relocation issue?

This whole situation could be solved immediately if Japan would grant Independence to the Government of the Ryukyu Islands, who in turn would let the U.S. Military whether they needed any further help from the Americans and ask the rest return to the States. It was supposed to be that way, but Japan, through secret deals brought on the problems of today. This is what the Cairo Accords was all about, but unfortunately Roosevelt died and Japan greedily sought a better deal.

Of all the online polls conducted by JT, will this one have the most lopsided result?

The_Marion; you are correct.

Why limit the discussion to the Futenma issue? Does anyone think he knows what he's doing on just about any issue? Has he kept one of the campaign promises that he made? And can anyone name one substantive improvement or action that his government has initieated and completed in the 6 months they've been in power?

samwatters: "Let's give Hatoyama a chance before we give the reins back to the LDP."

I'm all for giving people chances if I think that they can accomplish something in their time, but it's pretty clear that Hatoyama is unable to decide anything on his own, and is inept for the position. Now, I DON'T think the LDP can do any better, unfortunately, and that is the major problem with Japanese politics in particular -- with exception to the inability to decide things, all of the politicians look and act more or less the same.

Instead of taking these EIGHT months (not six) and fulfilling some of his off-the-wall campaign promises that everyone bought into, he stalled an issue that was already decided, and spent his entire career thusfar on trying to keep his promises to BOTH SIDES (and of course failing, as you will when you promise to opposing sides they'll have their way). Now he's messed up and can't get out of it, and wasted all his time to boot. His approval rating is plummeting, and it looks like once again we'll see a new PM quit within a year of having started the job.

Hatoyama was elected in November, it is now the beginning of May, slightly more than six months. But let's not quibble; it usually takes at least that long to get the losing part out and the winning party in.

Hatoyama reminds me of a Jimmy Carter born with a silver spoon in his mouth; good person, bad politician and cut off from real life in Japan through his family's fortune. But in regards to the base issue (and other unfulfilled promises), Hatoyama is not as apt to go behind people's backs and do backroom deals as the LDP was/is. Given a decent chance--2-to-3 years--I believe a Hatoyama administration will either (a) resolve the base issue once-and-for-all in addition to a number of other issues or (b) force the Japanese citizenery out of their slumber and inspire them to remove power from both main parties and begin electing independents.

Either way, playing musical-chairs with prime ministers is going to do more damage than good.

@samwatters at 09:44PM

Hatoyama was elected in November, it is now the beginning of May, slightly more than six months

I guess the internet and recorded history are wrong? The people of Japan voted the DPJ into power on August 30, 2009. The Lower House of the Diet (Japan Parliament) elected Yukio Hatoyama as Prime Minister on SEPTEMBER 16, 2009. Today is May 4, 2010.

Jimmy Carter is rarely (if ever) described as born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He even grew up in a very small house that did not have electricity for many years. His family was not poor, but not extremely wealthy. Jimmy Carter grew up during the Great Depression and his father Earl was a good businessman, so his family was considered "relatively well off compared to others".

Most times, the President referred to as growing up with silver spoon is George H. Bush. (Google Ann Richards and her 1988 Democratic National Convention speech).

Given a decent chance--2-to-3 years--I believe a Hatoyama administration will . . .

2 to 3 MORE YEARS of Hatoyama??? He is lucky if he has 2 to 3 more weeks remaining in his administration!

I highly doubt the U.S. would wait 2 more years on just the Futenma issue. There is so much more to the alliance than that one issue which Hatoyama has staked his entire administration on.

Add in the fact that the majority of Japanese (1) want the US military to protect them but (2) don't want the US military anywhere near where they live but (3) don't want the expense/responsibility of providing for their own military and you have a situation that is impossible for anyone.

Not impossible to solve. Inform the Japanese government that the US will remove its troops and equipment from Japan on a gradual basis and that it is willing to provide support to the Japanese only on an equal and reciprocal basis, which would mean Japan would have to increase its military and staff the bases themselves, and pay for every associated cost.

@islandview, I stand corrected on the election date. My mistake. I did not mean to infer that former president Carter was rich; I meant to point out that, like Carter, Hatoyama is a good person and a bad politician and just happens to come from a rich family (the founder of Bridgestone). And you're probably right; Hatoyama's days are most likely numbered and that's a shame because if his administration was given two or three years, I believe this and many other issues would be solved. Of course the same thing could be said for Fukuda. Like Perspective pointed out, a gradual shift is probably the best way to handle the base issue but that will take time which neither the press nor the citizes will grant.

Yes he knows, but his hands are tied with the "security alliance" with the US.. all the US has to say it the base is needed (even if it isn't) and the Japanese are obligated to provide land for it.

perspective..

Japan would have to increase its military and staff the bases themselves, and pay for every associated cost.

I'm all for it.. they'd have to die for their own country also. It's better than American young men and women dying for the worlds second largest economy with 60 million potential draftes... are the Japanese obligated to die for Americans? nope.

No he doesn't know what he is doing -but who does?

This will come down to the people of Okinawa -it doesn't matter if that upsets the politicans, Libs/Globalists, and anyone else that wants to throw their name into the hat.

Might as well go for it all now -because they have nothing to lose. =full removal/reduction of all bases.