News

**silversides**

U.S. To Remove 9,000 Stationed On Japanese Island

About 9,000 U.S. Marines stationed on the Japanese island of Okinawa will be moved to the U.S. territory of Guam and other locations in the Asia-Pacific, including Hawaii, under a U.S.-Japan agreement announced Thursday.
The move is part of a broader arrangement designed to tamp down tensions in the U.S.-Japan defense alliance stemming in part from opposition in Okinawa to what many view as a burdensome U.S. military presence.

It also reflects a desire by the Obama administration to spread U.S. forces more widely in the Asia-Pacific region as part of a rebalancing of U.S. defense priorities in the aftermath of a decade of war in the greater Middle East.

The agreement was outlined in a joint statement issued Thursday night by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and their Japanese counterparts.

Citing an "increasingly uncertain security environment" in the Asia-Pacific region, they said their agreement was intended to maintain a robust U.S. military presence to ensure the defense of Japan.

"Japan is not just a close ally, but also a close friend," Panetta said in a separate comment. "And I look forward to deepening that friendship and strengthening our partnership as, together, we address security challenges in the region."

The joint statement made no mention of a timetable for moving the approximately 9,000 Marines off of Okinawa. It said it would happen "when appropriate facilities are available to receive them" on Guam and elsewhere.

Under the new agreement, about 10,000 Marines will remain on Okinawa, which has been a key element of the U.S. military presence in Asia for decades. The U.S. also has a substantial Air Force presence on Okinawa.

"I think we have made some progress and this plan offers specific and forward-looking action," said Japan's Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba, who added that Japan wanted to "reduce the burden on Okinawa."

Japan, including Okinawa, is a linchpin of U.S. strategy for deterring aggression in the region and for reinforcing the Korean peninsula in the event North Korea attacked South Korea.

The Obama administration believes the new agreement with Japan will make the alliance more sustainable, while also giving the Marines more regional flexibility.

Between 4,700 and 5,000 Marines will relocate from Okinawa to Guam, according to a U.S. defense official who briefed reporters on some of the details before the agreement was official announced in Tokyo and Washington.

The remainder of the 9,000 who are to relocate from Okinawa will move to Hawaii or be part of a rotational presence in Australia and elsewhere in the region, the official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was previewing the official announcement.
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http://refreshingnews99.blogspot.in/2012...anese.html

**ButtonsAren'tToys**

It probably doesn't have anything to do with service members and their families afraid of Fukishima fall-out Anon

**gOO~**

Ah man... I love Okinawa! Lived there for 3 years by choice. I am glad to see they are leaving some folks there because it would greatly hurt local business if they were all gone. I hope we find a good balance for all. I myself love the Japanese people and am thrilled that we are finally moving past Hiroshima and building a solid friendship!

**silversides** · (This post was last modified: 04-29-2012 06:28 PM by silversides.)

I had a uncle that was at the battle of Iwo Jima and at the battle of Okinawa in WW2. He was in the navy on a ship that was already somewhat outdated when WW2 began. It did ok during the war though. My uncle worked in the engine room.

USS New York (BB-34) was a United States Navy battleship, the lead ship of her class of two (Texas being the other). She was the fifth ship to carry her name.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_New_York_(BB-34)

[Image: 2FCD_4F9D68D8.jpg]

So at the end of the war the Ship had two choices either the navy could keep the ship and they would sail to Philidelphia or they could scrap the ship and sail to San Francisco so my uncle said that he figured out that if he gave a bad report they would scrap the ship and everyone would get out of the navy early. So he asked the captian, if he could do it, and everyone thought it was a great idea. So everyone got out of the navy early.

**Ahanata**

Nah.

These shiftings of servicemen was discussed a cpl years before fukishima.

**gOO~**

ButtonsArentToys Wrote:

It probably doesn't have anything to do with service members and their families afraid of Fukishima fall-out

No.. They have been talking about doing this for years.

**royalyflushed**

I'm sure the Chinese will enjoy the day they take Japan ... another nation that is being prepped for the ultimate sellout!

**silversides**

So I guess they get their island back. Cheer

**єηтαηgℓє∂**

Ahanata Wrote:

Nah.

These shiftings of servicemen was discussed a cpl years before fukishima.

~white^ ^lurker~ Wrote:

ButtonsArentToys Wrote:
It probably doesn't have anything to do with service members and their families afraid of Fukishima fall-out

No.. They have been talking about doing this for years.

I can 100% confirm that they have been talking about this build up since around late 2008'ish. It's been a back and forth game with Guam, main land US and Japan, and Guam lost. I feel horrible for that tiny 30 mile long, 8 mile wide island. I spent a total of 8 years there and can tell you that Guam will either expand beyond their dreams or go to complete and utter shhh-. There was a couple who looked like they were in their late 50's protesting this outside the gate daily for almost 2 months, then I guess they gave up.
The not so funny thing is, Japan owns must of the real estate there.

**Soldiers bring money** lop guest User ID: 89734 04-30-2012 01:49 PM

Okinawa is losing a major source of income. They will realize it eventually.

**Old Whatshisname**

ButtonsArentToys Wrote:

It probably doesn't have anything to do with service members and their families afraid of Fukishima fall-out

Correct. the Marines have been a sore point for the Okinawans since the 1960's; they (the Marines) are not that good for the island's economy, and getting he Marines out has been part of the politics for almost a half-century.

**Old Whatshisname** · (This post was last modified: 04-30-2012 01:59 PM by Old Whatshisname.)

єηтαηgℓє∂ Wrote:

I spent a total of 8 years there and can tell you that Guam will either expand beyond their dreams or go to complete and utter shhh-.

I went to one of the two high schools there for a year, Tumon HS, before they changed the name to Kennedy HS.

**silversides**

Hey good morning Duncan,
Yes Okinawa is a Japanese home island and they have wanted us out for a long time.

Old Whatshisname Wrote:

ButtonsArentToys Wrote:
It probably doesn't have anything to do with service members and their families afraid of Fukishima fall-out

Correct. the Marines have been a sore point for the Okinawans since the 1960's; they (the Marines) are not that good for the island's economy, and getting he Marines out has been part of the politics for almost a half-century.

**LoP Guest** lop guest User ID: 89734 04-30-2012 03:53 PM

Imagine all the money those soldiers brought to that island and spent there.

**LoP Guest** lop guest User ID: 4364 04-30-2012 04:15 PM

ButtonsArentToys Wrote:

It probably doesn't have anything to do with service members and their families afraid of Fukishima fall-out

no, no it doesnt. with all due respect to anyone enlisted or retired, you think they have you sign on that line so they can look out for enlisteds personal best interest? it is the military sir/mam. GETTING RADIATED is what they do for a living. they get enuff off the radars and shit without having to worry over fuku bro.