Meanwhile, Tokyo Juggles 4 Plans For Okinawa Transfer

By Jeff Marchesseault

GUAM - As Japanese officials figure out where, whether and when they will officially propose relocating a busy U.S. military facility from its present site in Okinawa, proponents of a directly related military buildup down here on Guam can be glad they have a friend keeping the faith up north.

While politicians in Japan debate where to relocate the American air station from its current location in Okinawa's crowded city of Ginowan, Gen. Edward A. Rice, Commander of U.S. Forces Japan, is defending the original bilateral plan to move the base to remote, coastal Camp Schwab in Nago, Okinawa. Sticking to the plan would enable a smoother, timlier buildup on Guam.

New Party Or Not, The Show Must Go On

As U.S. officials have repeatedly stated: it's Nago or no go. America and Japan spent 15 years negotiating a 2006 settlement to realign forces both within and outside Japan and reportedly exhausted every conceivable alternative before arriving at the present agreement to transfer Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to the Nago peninsula. In other words, it's too late to turn back now. No matter that August elections have brought a new party to power for the first time in about 55 years. The 2006 accord was an agreement between two nations, not two political parties.

According to today's edition of the Japan Times and a Kyodo News report, General Rice told Japan Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada that it would be difficult to transfer U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa to nearby U.S. Kadena Air Base, a government source said.

The Times and Kyodo go on to report that Rice cited difficulties with the plan from the viewpoint of military operations during talks with Okada and Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa, the source said.

A Four-Headed Dragon

The news agencies also reiterate that while Okada is eyeing Kadena as the absorption point for Futenma's operations, Japan Defense Minister Toshimi Kitizawa wants to uphold the 2006 bilateral accord, while Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has proposed moving the base out of Okinawa altogether.

But wait, there's more!

According to the Times and Kyodo, an unidentified Japan lawmaker proposed on October 4th that Japan and the U.S. sign a memorandum (of understanding) that Futenma functions will relocate to Kadena, stay there for 15 years, then transfer to Guam or the U.S. mainland.

That's four proposals and no decision in sight. And the last is just as controversial as the first.

The Times and Kyodo state that Kadena Mayor Tokujitsu Miyagi, reacting to the anonymous lawmaker's new proposal, said: "I'm opposed to the plan. It can't be accepted." Reportedly, Kadena residents fear noise pollution would worsen if Futenma's aircraft ever re-based there.

Guam News Factor has reported that Guam is still searching to find a single voice with which to communicate a unified message to the federal government regarding its civilian-side needs going into the island's $15 billion U.S. armed forces buildup. It appears Japan is facing a similar domestic problem. Perhaps it's time both host locales take a cue from the U.S. Department of Defense by finding common ground, getting their internal priorities in order, and coming back to the table with the clarity only a single message can bring.

Until then, it's nice to know that high-level officials like Gen. Rice are so committed to best laid plans.

Read the Japan Times-Kyodo News story, "Kadena USAF-only is best: general", October 30, 2009.

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