Posted on 05/02/2006 3:54:02 AM PDT by Guard Dog
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Japan and the United States on Monday approved details of a sweeping plan to realign U.S. forces in Japan by 2014 while giving Japan's military greater responsibility for security in the Asia-Pacific.
In a joint report, the countries made special mention of the burden faced by Japanese communities hosting U.S. bases. Locals, especially on the crowded island of Okinawa, often complain of the crime, accidents, land use and noise associated with the bases.
On Okinawa, the two sides agreed to relocate the U.S. airfield at Futenma, with a target date of 2014. The operations will move to two new 1,800-meter-long (1970-yard-long), "V"-shaped runways, to be built in a less congested part of the island, to deal with safety, noise and environmental problems.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
NO BUT IT WAS A LONG TREK OUT OF THE VIL TO HENOKO IN 76'
SEMPER FI! AND GODSPEED!
Personally, I sorta enjoy the image of the heirs to Japan's ancient samurai tradition arming themselves once again and staring hard-eyed across the waters at Beijing and Pyonyang.
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