Do we overstep our sovereignty with some US bases on foreign soil?

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 12:52:20 -0400

To be fair, I don't particularly think the Japanese want us out of Okinawa. That said almost every location that has a military base has some of the population wishing it wasn't there.

But does this governor have a point? Or is this a Japanese issue and they need to resolve it internally? I do have a hard time with him going to the UN, since his overall government supports the move.

http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/2015/09/22/okinawa-governor-lobbies-un-body-over-base-move/72612864/

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 22 at 2015 1:12 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 13:12:28 -0400

Sir,

This seems more like an issue internal to the Japanese. There isn't a lot of information in the article, however, what is there seems to show that the Japanese Government supported it, but the local government did not know about it and does not support it.

If they want it stopped, they need to redress their grievances with their government, not the UN.

Response by SSgt Christopher Brose made Sep 22 at 2015 1:39 PM

SSgt Christopher Brose — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 13:39:50 -0400

I think most of our bases are where they are because of treaties, and/or because we were victorious in a war. If the nation of Japan wants us out, I think we should be willing to discuss it, but a governor? Not really. There are always going to be locals who don't want a military base nearby, that's even true within the U.S. It's reasonable to make attempts to be good neighbors, but not to relocate simply because some locals don't want a base nearby.

Response by SSgt Christopher Brose made Sep 22 at 2015 1:40 PM

SSgt Christopher Brose — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 13:40:24 -0400

Nothing against you LCDR Private RallyPoint Member, but I find it highly ironic that someone is questioning the possible overstepping of our sovereignty, while an appeal is being made to the UN to address it. The UN would, if given the opportunity, step all over our sovereignty and everyone else's too. It is a useless, gutless, parasitic organization. I'm not one who advocates U.S. withdrawal from the UN entirely, but I think it's high time to let some other country host it for the next half century. Let some other country fund it, too.

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Sep 22 at 2015 1:44 PM

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 13:44:32 -0400

We did a lot of environmental damage to Vieques and Culebra in Puerto Rico ...

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Sep 22 at 2015 2:00 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 14:00:35 -0400

We are spread far too wide and need to pull back, unless it is in our National security interest. When any nation wants us out and we do not have adequate logic for the base based on National security, leave. With the caveat that they are totally responsible for their own National Security, with our assistance as requited by treaties. Remember one of the reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire was the imperialist expansion using their military.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 22 at 2015 2:01 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 14:01:11 -0400

The Okinawans want us out of Okinawa. However, the rest of Japan wants us there. The attitude towards American military personnel is night and day when it comes to mainland Japan and Okinawa. Okinawans saw the traffic, noise pollution, and crimes committed by a few service members as problems which could be mitigated by moving us all off the island, however, they are only viewing the problems from a local standpoint. The island is their bubble, and they see their problems as local.
Millions of dollars would be drained from the Okinawan economy by moving so many service members and potential customers off the island, and while traffic and noise issues would be alleviated, they would face an even greater problem, the removal of American forces from the region to someplace like Guam would detract from the overall security of Japan in the face of increasingly aggressive Chinese foreign policy.
The Japanese and the central government see the bigger picture, and while this situation may be frustrating to the Okinawans, its an entirely Japanese issue. The UN doesn't have any real power to do anything about this, especially with the US as a permanent seat on the security council, so the best that the Governor can hope for is an angry letter from certain member states and re-election from his constituents, which I feel is the big takeaway. It sounds like he's burned his professional bridges with the central government at this point.

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made Sep 22 at 2015 2:34 PM

SGT Jeremiah B. — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 14:34:32 -0400

The only base I know of that such an argument could be made for is Gitmo. Cuba has wanted that base back for ages and we've just continued to send them a rent check. All of the others exist with the permission of the nations, if not supported by the local population.

Response by Cpl James Waycasie made Sep 22 at 2015 3:36 PM

Cpl James Waycasie — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 15:36:47 -0400

I do know that when I was in Okinawa most of the population welcomed us, but there was a minority that would hold protests about once a month just outside our main and back gate with signs saying Yankee go home. Being only just turned 18 yrs old and being from Georgia I resented being called a Yankee, lol. While in Korea it seemed most of them were glad of our presence but then again you had a small factor ( Mostly young male Koreans resenting Americans dating Korean women) that resented our presence. This probably holds true to most places, but I am sure there are some exceptions.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 22 at 2015 3:47 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 15:47:59 -0400

If an officer went over his bosses head, he would be eating a crap sandwich.

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Sep 28 at 2015 2:22 PM

PO1 Glenn Boucher — Mon, 28 Sep 2015 14:22:34 -0400

I was stationed in Japan for 16 years while in the Navy, mostly sea duty but and I have been to Okinawa several times.
I think that no matter where a base is that some of the local population doesn't want it there for a variety of reasons. merchants might grumble on occasion due to drunken and boisterous service members but overall they prefer the steady business they get.
I know that most of the protesters in Japan are paid to attend the protest and they, for the most part, don't care one way or the other as long as they are paid.
We will never appease everyone, every day but I think the presence of the US military does provide a sense of security that someone is there to defend them.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 29 at 2015 7:32 PM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 19:32:15 -0400

I could be way off on this, but when I was there Okinawans didn't consider themselves Japanese, (unless the Japanese Olympic team was doing well). I think he's trying to snub both the US government and the Japanese government. He is a politician after all.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2018 11:09 AM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 11:09:03 -0400

Treaties and agreements are not overstepping. It's not like we as a nation, are occupying seized land. Cuba is a different story and technically not overstepping. We have leased GTMO since 1903 even though their current government has been protesting that lease since the Cuban revolution in 1959. That said, until they create a non-communist government, I can live with that.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Jun 16 at 2018 11:14 AM

SGM Bill Frazer — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 11:14:36 -0400

1. Japan conquered Okinawa hundreds of years ago- they consider it to be a part of their homeland- yet treat it much like we treat P.R. .2. It is not a sovereign nation and therefore has no place in the UN asking for anything. 3. As always it is politics.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2018 11:16 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 11:16:02 -0400

We only have bases in countries where we have been asked to have bases. We could very well be spread too thin, but that is also comes with being the BMOC.