U.S. to move 9,000 Marines from southern Japan

TOKYO —The United States is to shift 9,000 Marines out of Japan in a move Washington hopes will ease sometimes fractious relations with its ally over the huge American military presence.

The redeployment, which will see troops moved to Guam, Hawaii and Australia, will go ahead regardless of any progress on the moving of a busy airbase on Okinawa that had originally been a key plank of a deal with the US.

In a joint statement issued in Washington and Tokyo, the two sides said they remained committed to the relocation of the Futenma base from its present urban location to a coastal spot --a move that is heavily resisted in Okinawa.

Source

Interesting bit of news that leaves a lot of room for speculation when it comes to all the news that we hear regarding Japan and Fukishima.

Make what you will of it.

reply to post by UberL33t


The Japanese around the bases have protested us and had a love/hate thing going long before Fukushima happened. School girl rapes...and other little things make for real pissed off locals and the Japanese seem to have real long memories for some things. Oh, it only happened a few times over many many years, but that's enough when the media make it super-news.

I seem to recall the troop shifts to Guam being talked about well before Fuku as well?

reply to post by Wrabbit2000
Thats true, but why move now. Protests from the Japanese for us having a Military Presence there has been going on probably since before I was born. Why the quick response from the Military right now. Interesting to say the least??

Unless, they need more troops.

I thought it may have something to do with Fukushima, but they are still keeping 10,000 of them there and only moving out 9,000 others.

reply to post by Wrabbit2000


I considered both the things you mentioned. I guess now was a good a time as any to follow through with a move. However, the latter would also be the ideal hush story IF there was perhaps another reason for the move.

I am sure our Aussie friends would love the additional American troops

reply to post by Portlandia


If they move them all out it'd be too obvious.

The moving of Marines from Japan to Guam and other places has been in the works for many years.

I don't think the US should have bases in any other country but the US. But many local economies have become dependent on those bases. Which is very unfortunate.

The Marines on Okinawa have been confined to the base a few times and after a couple weeks, each time many businesses had to close down.

reply to post by Wrabbit2000

I seem to recall the troop shifts to Guam being talked about well before Fuku as well?

Yes, I will second that notion. From what I can remember, this has been being negotiated since well before Fukushima. Took a while to work out the details as they were just trying to figure out who the real enemy is. Little do they know - The true enemy is themselves.

reply to post by UberL33t


I came into your post thinking it had something to do w/ Fukushima....to my surprise it wasn't...but...your opinion was...lol I have a friend that's in the Air Force in Okinawa ....I'm going to ask if they've heard anything on the AF end...I'll let you know...

are we talking over night they are moving 9000 personnel or over a duration of time. That answer could mean something