CrucialS comments

Why isn't it the simple relocation of an old base? Because the new base will house port facilities for large transport ships to berth and ramps for LCACs to use. The annual operating costs for the new base are estimated by GAO to amount to $200 million, that is 70 times more than the current operating costs of Futenma.  

Looks like you found your new schtick... what happened to the whole Futenma occupies stolen land... violation of the Geneva Convention etc. etc. argument? Have you realized it has no accuracy?

At least Kanye cares about his country. More than you can say about his haters.

Kanye West only cares about Kanye West. Anyone who has ever listened to his songs or followed what he had done and said since his car accident launched him to fame knows that. He wears the hats and makes the statements because it draws publicity and for him publicity is his livelihood. He couldn't even string together rational thoughts in any of his statements.

The Philippines kicked the U.S. Military out but yet the U.S. Military still has obligations to defend them? People are always saying if Japan kicked the U.S. Military out then the Japanese would be on their own and have to defend themselves so why do the Philippines get to kick the U.S. Military out but still have U.S. soldiers and even Japanese soldiers putting their lives on the line to defend the Philippines?

-_-

The Philippines kicked the U.S. Military out so there should be no U.S. troops involved in defending them until they are willing to accept permanent U.S. bases on their soil. If the Philippines want the U.S. Military to defend them, then they should be required to take all of the Marine Bases that are on Okinawa. Why should the people of Okinawa be required to bear the burden for hosting bases to defend a country that kicked the U.S. military out

-_-

Don't mix up internal issues with bilateral diplomatic ones. 

If its a bilateral diplomatic issue then that means Gov Tamaki and the OPG have no involvement in this issue.

Inequality by "US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement" has caused Antipathy of People of Okinawa historically.

For example,

Dangerous Military-drill that is prohibited in US mainland is "OK" in Japan.

It threaten and endanger safe of Japanese Residents.

Unfair US-Japan Agreement unlike other countries such as Italia and Germany should be corrected soon.

What military drill are you even talking about? I've seen you post the same comment in 3 different websites...

It ironic you talk about "fake news" because that comment is fake news. The drills done on the continental US are far more dangerous and less prohibited that the ones the US does in Japan... I would know because I've participated in them in several different countries.

What military drill are you even talking about? I've seen you post the same comment in 3 different websites...

^that was meant to be my comment not a quote

Inequality by "US-Japan Status of Forces Agreement" has caused Antipathy of People of Okinawa historically.

For example,

Dangerous Military-drill that is prohibited in US mainland is "OK" in Japan.

It threaten and endanger safe of Japanese Residents.

Unfair US-Japan Agreement unlike other countries such as Italia and Germany should be corrected soon.

What military drill are you even talking about? I've seen you post the same comment in 3 different websites...

It ironic you talk about "fake news" because that comment is fake news. The drills done on the continental US are far more dangerous and less prohibited that the ones the US does in Japan... I would know because I've participated in them in several different countries.

The planned facility is not an extension of the existing base for sure nor is it simply a quid pro quo for Futenma. It is the complex of many new facilities and functions, and so can be called a new base.

If you had a house for 70 years and you add an extension to your house to make another bedroom and put a pool in your backyard do you have a new house?

It is not a new base. The base they're building for the Futenma relocation has existed for 70 years.

It won't impact the relocation. The Government of Japan has the legal right in this case. They will receive a Stay of Execution and continue construction and then win in court over the legality of OPG's revoking permission. It's just more delaying of the inevitable. It's sad that we will go 8 years without a governor who will actually put an effort in improving the prefectures quality of life and economic opportunity.

Futenma needs to be closed.

Yep. And any of the media that speaks against the LDP will lose their credentials...

Facts defeat you on that slander. No one loses their credentials for have opposing opinions on the leading party. Asahi and Mainichi do it every day.

Japan's Corruptions Ranking: 20th least corrupt out of 180.

https://www.transparency.org/country/JPN

The Japanese Govt. is responsible for the economic situation of the people of Okinawa and it is the responsibility of the Japanese Govt. to improve the livlihoods and quality of life for the people of Okinawa but the problem is that the Japanese Govt. places priority on the U.S. Military Bases instead of the people of Okinawa

Then why does the GOJ allot a budget to Okinawa that is equal to Tokyo when Tokyo dwarfs Okinawa in population and GDP if they placed no priority on citizens and economic growth? Facts disagree with you here and demonstrate the OPG is to blame.

Well, it took about two weeks to fix the sinkhole in Fukuoka. I wonder how fast they'll be able to fix the bridge now that they're expecting to start work this month. Say what you want about Japan but you have to admit their engineering feats are amazing.

... Candidates who support relocation for Futenma have won every local election since the end of 2016. Pretty indicative of the support. The only claim that the opposition has is Gov Onaga’s win in 2014. Times have changed, my friend. Okinawans are focused on other issues

In the 2014 Gubernatorial election there was a total of 691,343 votes making up 64.13% of eligible voters. 691,343 is 64% of 1,078,033.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okinawa_gubernatorial_election,_2014

Although it’s more likely the number of eligible voters has increased with Okinawa’s population growth i’ll use this data. The 93,000 is roughly 9% of eligible voters. 9% doesn’t indicate anything and is not impressive.

93,000 out of a population of 1.4 million...

By the way, CrucialS, tell me why you and posters of your ilk here are so eager and intent for a pro-relocation candidate to win in this election. Doesn't it mean the Henoko relocation plan has been carried out by Washington's initiative?

First and foremost the LDP/New Komieto candidates have better platforms focused on legitimate and tangible improvements for Okinawa or their districts. The opposition runs in one issue every time (its shown in their losing record recently).

Secondly, closing Futenma is a must and the relocation to Camp Schwab is the fastest way to do it.

Finally, relocation is the lowest priority of supporting candidates like Sakima Atsushi. Anyone who has lived in Okinawa without an agenda or bias knows that the bases and Schwab expansion are not a priority amongst the common people here. It’s an issue totally exaggerated by few media sources and mostly western media. Most Okinawans want better paying m quality jobs and better education for their kids.

casting by dangling carrots and big money in order for a candidate in their favor to be elected

Sounds like you’re just bitter that the candidate you wanted didn’t run on a better and more widely supported platform.

Will voters be able to see through this crafty tactics of the pro-relocation camp’s?

... more likely, the voters will elect Atsushi because he (and all recent LDP winners) doesn’t center their platforms on the base issues. Okinawans have higher priorities and concerns... it’s not 2014 anymore

Can we please get some Eldridge OpEds published here. At least he makes clear concise points backed by data instead of rambling emotional appeals

Zones,

This isn't an incident. This is a precautionary landing to ensure the aircraft is capable of completing its flight without incident.

World,

This isn't newsworthy this is just pilots being responsible.

Japan4life,

Why is it any different if bases with amenities are built for the Air Force/Army (like in the countries I've listed) than if its built for the Marines. By that standard your argument fails miserably since on Okinawa nearly all of the amenities you listed are Air Force owned such as the beach resort you talk about and all but one golf course.

RIP Onaga.

Name another country outside of Japan that would build thousands of Central Air conditioned Housing units, Dependent Schools, Day Care Centers, Golf Courses, Military Clubs, Libraries, Bowling Centers, and other leisure centers for the U.S. Marines who contribute almost nothing to the defense of Japan. I wish that all Japanese Taxpayers could come inside the Marine Bases and see what their tax money has been spent on.

Challenge accepted! Republic of Korea, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and Saudi Arabia...

Goodlucktoyou on there being a shred of truth to that massively anecdotal claim. I could believe it if you were drinking with tourists from Beijing or one of the many Chinese exchange students who study at the Universities... Whoever you talk to does not seem very Uchinanchu in mannerism and politeness.

Onaga’s action shouldn’t be judged in terms of legal technicalities only. The whole relocation issue must be discussed in light of a broader picture of why it’s absolutely necessary for Futenma’s functions to be maintained in Okinawa at all.

That's not how the law works. A legal standing agreement gave permission to build the expansion to Camp Schwab and Onaga is reneging on the agreement and it will be judged on whether he has the legal right to renege or not. The broader picture no longer matters in regards to constructing the expansion and hasn't for years.

Guam is better as Americans are not hated, and well, it is American

They're not hated in Okinawa either. People who actually live here know that and what you read from the Times or Shinpo is a distorted one sided view meant to fuel the false opinions such as the one you stated.

With America's 800 billion annual trade deficit, it is time for a fair playing field. This should not be difficult for anyone to understand.

We have a trade deficit because we import, we import because American consumers prefer to buy lower cost products, lower cost products are made overseas where the cost of living is lower. We don't manufacture here because the cost of production is to expensive in the US, we design a product and then build the overseas. The moment costs for US consumer's goes up this whole plan will go up in smoke.

yes with all the welfare handouts under the President back then no wonder it collapsed. This time, unemployment down, welfare down, illegal aliens out, and most importantly, consumer confidence up.

This comment makes no sense and here is why

-It's spoonfed Hanity Crapola.

-President George W. Bush was in office when the 2008 bubble burst occurred.

-It had nothing to do with government handouts and more to do with deregulation leading to risky.

-Illegal Aliens probably are a greater benefit to the economy than harm. It's cheaper labor (good for industry) leading towards cheaper prices (good for consumers) and their lack of documentation means they don't require any insurance/benefits. Probably the only negative of undocumented people is they can't be taxed.

-It's more commonly accepted that the current economy is a result of President Obama's late first term and second term policies and this is a continuation of the trends that those policies initiated. Trump had very little to do with the current economy. It's more likely his reversal on a lot of those policies will lead do a weaker economy in the 2020's. Especially when you launch a trade war... I mean read on world trade from the 1880s-1910s. We learned a long time ago tariffs were a bad practice.

return all excess land to the people of Okinawa so they can improve their quality of life

It's not the military bases that degrade their quality of life, it's the dysfunction and laziness of the OPG. They've done nothing to improve the economic opportunities outside of boost tourism. Tourism increases may look good but it only provides low paying service industry jobs. Rather than focus on base issues the OPG could focus on bringing in higher paying industries (tech, pharma, transport) that would higher skilled/educated people. Those companies aren't staying away because of the bases and educated Okinawans aren't moving to the mainland because of the bases.

Prefectural Governors don’t dictate national security planning or sign international treaties. Constantly bringing up the base issue as if the governor has a vote is a moot point. Nagasaki, Yamaguchi, Shizuoka, Kanagawa, Saitama, and Aomori don’t get votes in the disposition of military installations in their prefecture and neither should Okinawa.

Sure, practice all you want (print more money as well). Just remove the invasion of North Korea as the objective.

That’s not the objective and wherever you heard that is making false claims for propaganda. The objective is to repel the invasion initiated by the DPRK and prevent them from being capable of continuing a military conflict.

than*