Three weeks have passed since the crash of a CH-53D transport helicopter based at the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station. Okinawans are increasingly angry at the U.S. forces for resuming flights without determining the cause of the accident. Their anger is also directed at the Japanese government which is submissive and accepts all that the U.S. military says or does. It is in this context that Ginowan City, led by Mayor Iha Yoichi, has called a rally at Okinawa International University, the crash site, to protest the crash incident and call for an early return of the Futenma base site. This initiative was supported by many public organizations.
Military flights over populated areas

The Japanese and U.S. governments reportedly have agreed to set up a new consultative body this week to discuss how to improve the implementation of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). However, the crash of the helicopter deployed at Futenma base is not something that can be resolved by better applications of SOFA.

The U.S. Futenma Air Station occupies a vast central area of Ginowan City where 800,000 people live, causing lots of problems for the city and its people. "It is just like a human body with the lungs and stomach gutted out," said Tobaru Seiken, Ginowan Mayor at the time, in December 1955 to a Japanese Communist Party Dietmembers' team investigating the damage from U.S. military bases in Okinawa. He was referring to the fact that Ginowan citizens are compelled to live on the fringes of the city.

While forcing Okinawans to endure these living conditions, the U.S. forces are enjoying the freedom to fly CH-53 transport helicopters over the city. Unlike cargo aircraft with fixed wings, helicopters can approach the airfield from any direction and turn round at a low altitude over residential areas. The noise is deafening.

Given their flight methods and frequent use, no one can say for sure when helicopters and other military aircraft will crash. While forcing Okinawans to endure the burdens of U.S. bases, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld after viewing Ginowan City from a helicopter last November reportedly said that it would be strange if no accident occurs under such base conditions.

Although the U.S. forces promised to take safety measures each time they caused an aircraft accident, such accidents have never been eliminated. After the latest chopper crash, the Japanese government stated that it will make arrangements with the U.S. forces to get rid of the danger of accidents and establish safety measures. What an evasive statement that is! The need now is to take drastic measures to eliminate accident risks. To defend Okinawans' lives and properties, the government must demand that the U.S. forces halt flights over populated areas and remove the Futenma base.

In an effort to restore its normalcy, Okinawa International University is demanding that U.S. forces suspend all flights from the Futenma base and immediately return the base site. That is the what Ginowan and Okinawa residents want to see happen.

U.S. force reorganization increases accident risks

As part of a global reorganization of its military forces, the U.S. is trying to strengthen U.S. bases in Japan as strongholds for its global projection of forces and enhance their mobility and operations. The role of the U.S. Marine Corps in Okinawa as a strike force will be strengthened and flight activities in the Futenma base be intensified, as CH-53D helicopters were dispatched to Iraq from the base before the cause of the crash was investigated. The danger of aircraft accidents will increase. Suspension of flights to and from the Futenma base and an immediate removal of the base is a matter of life or death for Okinawans.

Throughout Japan, we must raise voices calling for the removal of U.S. bases.

http://www.japan-press.co.jp/2397/okinawa.html


If the collective japanese government ever does decide officially that the americans must go. It will be one difficult struggle. However it may be easier japan becomes part of the U.N. Even so the first step must made.

The Sea Stallions (CH-53D) have no reliability problems that I know of, the crash was merely a freak accident, I see no valid reason to ground an entire fleet of aircraft over an accident that could be seen as a stroke of bad luck. Helos crash all the time, the US loses over a hundred aircraft of all types every year to crashes...

You seem like a reasonable man. I will...enlighten you on this subject. There is more to it then just this incident.

Americans cause accidents and crimes in the areas they occupy and have been doing so since they got there. Only since the year 1995 have there have been more and more. Okinawa people have had to deal with crime dangerous accidents and the constant noise from the american planes. It is not getting better. It getting worse.

So yes this one time it was just a freak accident. I am sure that they were not trying to hit that college. However these men flew out from a base that okinawa wants closed down because it has a long history of accidents. The americans promised the return of this base a few years ago. It has not yet happened but this accident did. This is just one of many acts of disregard for japanese safety exibited by the americans. So I ask of you nicely not to play it off like this is no big deal.

do Americans do anything good in Japan? All I read is bad things about them

Try think back in World War 2 why they actually stay there.

OK, I see now. Funny, because I should have known a lot better than what I have demonstrated in this thread, since the exact same thing has been happening over the years involving US personnel in Korea. Almost every town/village in close proximity to American bases are crime-ridden ghettoes, and we've also had a fatal F-16 crash and a U-2 spyplane that dropped straight down on top of a local village. The American soldiers are a brash, hot-headed bunch... cause nothing but fights and other troubles when they're off duty, big headache for the local police department and for the villagers as well.

And it was totally new to me that the Americans had been years overdue on their promise to leave Okinawa. I never knew.... I guess the numerous rape cases and other violent crimes that have been happening there in recent years aren't really helping their case either.

Now, I'm REALLY convinced they should leave Okinawa. I mean they said they were going to years ago, and all this $hit happens as a direct result of them NOT pulling out, I can understand now how upset the locals must be... Well, best of luck to you guys

Do you guys really think that there is a lot more bad from the peoples on that base than the good? Have you ever heard of the numerous good things that the good people on the base have done. I believe the media give the US a bad name. When was the last time you have seen something on the news or newspaper that they have done anything good. They only want you to focus on the bad things. The good over weighs the bad....but shyt were talking about Okinawa, there are a lot of screwed up marines over there, at lease in mainland the good is more but you would never know it if all you read or see it is on the news


"Try think back in World War 2 why they actually stay there."
Shyt, I know why they are here. I am not talking about the past, talking about the present. You all need to close this wound and focus on whats going on now.
the US did this to us back in the days Japan did that to the other asian countries back in the days, all this hate for these countries and all their ppl's, don't you think their own ppl did not support what they have done? damn... don't know wtf I'm talking about anymore

Michael Jackson- "Heal the world"

Just too bad for those japanese women/girls in particular. I guess they should just change the law, when an american soldier commits atrocities in any base in any foreign country, they should be put in prison/death penalty!!!

The only thing remotely good for japanese coming out of this is perhaps these bases help support the local economies. However I see the bad far out weighing the good.



The US gives its self the bad name.



They do not do anything good besides what I have stated above. When there is a natural disaster it is the JSDF that actually helps the local people.



Convince me.



They are there to exploit japan as a military facility for their wars in asia. Not to protect japan or to keep japan from remilitarization anymore.

if any soldier commits atrocities...



They sure do, all the Jpn ppl working on all the bases, all the shops that live off the Military out side the gate


Nah, those retarded mofo's gives the US a bad name


I believe there were Americans helping when the earthquake hit Kobe. Not sure if the bases around that area did. If they didn't, what a shame but then again I was told that the military/dependants people cannot because if they do help Jpn people out in town when they are in an accedent the person helping can get sued if anything happens to the injured person but if I saw someone hurt out in town I would help regardless and if that mofo sues so be it, at least I did what I can. (I am not in the military) I know over at our area we set up a lot of fund raisers for the people of Kobe. Bet no one heard of that. It was small but it made a difference to the people who received it.



I can try..
"Navy crew members and family volunteered to cut grass, prune trees, clean up trash and brush and conduct other general maintenance in and around the Misono Orphanage grounds" that sounds like they did something good

every month or other month people from the base goes out to different locations to help clean up beaches, parks, schools ect.

every month at our base there is a fund raiser to help feed some of the homeless folks

I remember hearing about a service member saving a couple of Jpn kids in Okinawa from drowning

this is all I can think of off the top of my head
yeah it's just a few but I am sure there are more, it's just we don't hear about it or we don't care to hear about it, we only focus on the bad

I do believe that if any American over here does a crime the local police should handle it then after the person does their time then they should be deported out of the country, that also goes for any foreigners in Japan, and if they are under the SOFA then the military should be their only to make sure that person gets a fair trial



can't argue with that

Let me put it this way. If the americans would act like civilized beings then no one would be able to "give them a bad name" in the first place.



There are a few incidents however they are few and far between. I don't think they did anything that particular time. I believe that it was only the JSDF helping out. Perhaps the americans sent out a helicopter or something. I doubt they did much more than that.



As I previously said the bad outweighs the good on this one. Yes the americans may to a token act of kindness every now and then. However they exploit and put japanese people in danger all year around.



Yes and the american navy was also responsible for drowning "just a couple" japanese children.



I will tell you what. I can recognize that the americans may help japanese people every now and then. Do some good once in a while. Does the media focus on the bad? Sometimes yes. However I don't blame these people. Just because a american picks up some garbage around a military base (which americans were probably responsible for anyway) this does not change the fact that they are commiting crimes and accidents all at the expense of japanese people. All the while rumsfeld says to the okinawa government "stop complaing it isnt a big deal". So I still disagree. By the way japanese isnt the only people american servicemen and government treat like $hit.



Yes well the american government seems to feel that their men are above the local laws.

Japan has very weak army(not even an army just volonteers for common defence) since the end of WW2 when japan pledge never to raise an army wich can harm others (not sure bout this though but somewhat like that) so now as Victors of ww2. Japan weak army, cold war and and ally of US , Us put a Military base there to protect japan from hostilaties

i heard once that the soldier at okinawa raped a 14 year old japanese girl
and somehow these dude got aways with it because they were US soldier
2 black and i think a white US soldier raped a 14 year old japanese girl

Another pathetic US-bashing topic by Ogumo. He must be having a good time sniffing the Chinese Communist Party's rear end.

Actually NQSH the CCP wants the Americans to stay in Japan.
I'll explain it cause you probrably can't figure it out your self.

As long as US forces are in Japan, the Japanese won't have any excuses to rearm.

And who told you that?

Why would China want US forces stationed in Japan and South Korea with aircraft carrier and submarines armed with nukes?

Japan lost WW2 bad luck
it's time to face the music and accept that there's a price to pay and unless the nation stops and starts to reconcile the past then the status quo will be the only way.

What are they doing with all that weaponry??
Nothing much.
If US leave then, Japan would just build a bigger navy. US forces in Japan are of no real threat to China. Since China isn't seeking a fight with US.

Right. But China doesn't exactly want a hyper power in her back yard either. First is Korea and Japan. What's next? India, Vietnam and the rest of South East Asia?

Be honest to yourself would you?

Of cause not but US is still a hyper power if it didn't have any bases in Japan.
But by having US forces based in japan, it limits Japan's military capabilities for now.

Japan will eventually tell them to leave.

You also overestimate US power, US can't be everywhere at once nor are they unbeatable.

I'm not overestimating the capability of the US military. The truth is that the US armed forces is unassailable whether you like it or not.

I don't think China likes that fact that a hyper power is in her own backyard and watching her every move from the top down. It's not very pleasant if you know what I mean. Another reason is that Okinawa is not exactly too far from Taiwan so in any case of conflict, the US will be able to relief the Taiwanese in the quickest time possible.

Anyway, what can Japan do? Her age of glory is over. You seem to be hyping the Japanese capability while playing down the might of the USA.

Your right but it's only a few of them and what they do, yeah its f#$ked up and they should pay for what they do. The majority of them are not like that.




ah but they did do something...they should have did more though...damn with all those US military people over there, they should of did a shyt load more Damn those MF that run the bases!
What is the role of the JSDF?






Sorry , didn't hear about this one. I haven't heard the news in awhile. Where was this at?





Yeah they clean up a lot of their shyt on base but the places they clean up out in town is not near the base. Maybe some of it might be from american if they knew how to get to these places. I have been in Japan for quite a while and I know Jpn folks litter all the time...but I am not here to knock the Japanese folks. I am glad that you can recognize that someamericans help out and F the ones who don't. There is no excuse for those/any american to commit crimes, like I said before they should all go through the Japanese courts. If Rumsfeld said that then Fuk Em too, that MF doesn't represent all Americans. There are many American discusted on what those bad MF do. Shyt...they treat their own ppl like shyt!





Fuked up for them thinking that and fuked up for the JPN government for letting them.

Damn......nice chat man, you opened my eyes
You the man though, keep doin it for your people

Seen as the US is moving troops out of Korea (also it is moving them from bases in Germany too), why doesn't it move anyone stationed in Japan??

I do not know what to say about this subject. For now, Japan does not have the military capability to repel large-scale attacks from North Korea or China. It might never happen, but it is still a possibility. The American soldiers are there to "protect" Japan and use Okinawa as a military base to intercept anything from Japan's neighbours.

However, I also do not believe America has Japan's best interest at heart. If that was so, then the Japanese government would have more say on the day-to-day operations of these barbaric soldiers.

Fercryingoutloud, America isn't even a signatory to the International Convention on prosecuting war criminals. So any Nazi-like behaviour those American soldiers commit will be swept under the carpet by Congress and co. It happened during the My Lai tragedy and there is a good chance it might happen again in the future.

I say, Japan must speed up its reforms. Make amends with her neighbours. Then abolish Article 9 so the Americans will not have a legitimate excuse that they are there to "protect" Japan.

Personally, I hope the USA army keeps japanese occupation.

I read that and saw "whine whine whine complain whine whine". Whining about a trivial U.S. issue when egregious ethical problems such as high prostitution in young girls and vastly increasing crime rates in male adults in sexually-related crimes aren't mentioned? How hypocritical.

How is your us serviceman cousin or whatever? Still breathing? Hopefully he will die in service to his "lovely country" in the act the "defending freedom". Now as for this garbage that has tumbled from your mouth. I hardly think that it is to call these issues with the u.s. "trivial". Your ignorance angers me deeply.

Ogumo, I'm fine with you insulting me because they're starting to get repetitive (they always seem to include words like "ignorance", "anger", and "garbage") to the point of being quite boring. So in response to that post, I shall give you a graphic depicting my response:


Sarcastic Caring

*yawn* Lame, Ogumo. I was expecting more from you. But I guess if stereotyping is your thing, then (by your logic of course) would dictact that you will grow up to be a dirty man who pays for the services of underage Japanese schoolgirls to supplement their latest fashion trends. Straight from the media, of course.

I mean, get a life Ogumo. You talk about issues, but instead of doing something about it, you just whine. Oh yeah, that's real mature. I really look forward to another dose of your propaganda.

I was simply describing your post for what it was. Perhaps if you wouldnt make such ignorant comments you wouldn't get ignorant replies.

I too was describing your post in the same manner, in being that yours is justifiably ignorant. The only difference is that you just do this every day.

ADDED: I just realized that whenever anyone disagrees with you, you label them as ignorant in such a vigorous dogmatic fashion. When someone does that, they're not debating, they're ignoring. But this is all moot since all you ever do is whine.

I could make the same comment about your post being justifiably ignorany as well. If you have such a problem with my posts here. Do yourself a favor and ignore them. Don't post in my threads if you cannot tolerate the "ignorance". Wouldn't this be the logical thing to do?



I disagree with you.



I could say the same about your posts. Atleast the ones Ive actually taken the time to read.

The only thing that has stopped China from invading your asses is the presence of those bases. If you would feel better with Chinese bases there, I am sure you will get it soon enough.
That goes for Korea as well.

The US is in Japan cause
1 they dont trust japan
2 they are using Japan for strategic purposes "to keep an eye on other nations"
3 to help trade and economy for both countries
4 to give protection form other countries
5 to try and build a better relationship between nations
thats how it is now what hey originaly intened after the war I dont know.

Now on to the next subject Japan is a country that does not take responsibility for mistakes it's been like that since long ago "yes it's wrong".They have always tried to achive perfection and wont accept anthing less,So concerning crime the easiest way is to blame foreingers I'm not syaing that no foreingers commit crimes,or that they are less than they say but more focus is put on them by the media and the goverment to make japanes crimes seem less"yes that is wrong also".But they dont disstinguish between the crimes. There is a big difference between public dissorder like fighting with someone or burning a house down.Another example would be person with an expired Visa or a person raping someone .To them a crime commited by a foreinger is a crime no matter what the crime is.Until they get over trying to be perfect it will always be like that"even Ogumo agreeed with me when I was Shinta1868 about trying to hard to be perfect".

well this is my first post on here. well i'm in the US NAVY and i'm 18. I argee and disargee with some of things being said here. to tell you the truth when i'm on base the white boys have a way of treating people and thinking the rest are sub-human not all white people all crazy but most think they could do anything they want. being a black male in the USA we see some of the very same things that okinawan see. if japan wants us to leave well i really don't care i join the navy the see the world and get paid. when was the last time you saw a rich white dude in navy. i do what i can to make okinawa better i help clean the beach and pick up trash but when you say that americans are evil just remember that there are nice guys and girl in the USA

Don't take it too personally Black_mike85. This is a public forum where people voice their opinions. It just happens to be an Asian forum where anti-american sentiment are a norm.
It is true that there are good people within the American army, but when generalized, the war crimes and problems that the American army has committed are somewhat unforgiving.
Thus, on one level, you have Japanese nationalist that wants the US army bases out of Japan. Then you have other's that are proud Asians that would like to see western countries stop exercising their military strengths on Asian soils.