Posted on 10/11/2006 5:57:03 PM PDT by elhombrelibre
CARGO UNLOADED UNDER TIGHT SECURITY Patriot missiles believed to have arrived
NAHA, Okinawa Pref. (Kyodo) U.S. forces transferred Wednesday what is believed to be missiles for a U.S.-led missile defense system from a freighter in Urama, Okinawa, to the U.S. Air Force Kadena Ammunition Storage Area in the prefecture.
On Wednesday morning, U.S. service members and other workers unloaded the cargo, which arrived Monday, after police cleared the route of civic groups that had blocked the road in protest of the deployment of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptor system.
The United States plans to begin partial operation of the PAC-3 system at the U.S. Kadena Air Base and the Kadena Ammunition Storage Area by the end of December, deploying all 24 missiles in the system, according to the U.S. military.
While the cargo was being transferred onto dozens of trailers from the freighter at the U.S. Navy's Tengan Pier in Uruma, members of civic groups shouted from outside the pier's gate, "We will not allow the PAC-3 system to be deployed in Okinawa."
Meanwhile, Yoritaka Hanashiro, head of the executive office of Gov. Keiichi Inamine, expressed the office's displeasure, saying the U.S. government had not given a sufficient reason to the public for the missile defense system's deployment in the prefecture.
"Deploying the PAC-3 system before definite steps are taken to reduce the burden of the Kadena Base cannot win the understanding of local people, and it is regrettable," Hanashiro told a prefectural assembly session about the U.S. bases.
The missiles are being deployed as part of the agreement reached in May between the central government and Washington on the realignment of the U.S. military in Japan.
The PAC-3 system is designed to intercept incoming ballistic missiles in their final phase, once they have re-entered the Earth's atmosphere and have descended to altitudes of just over 12 km, according to Japanese officials.
The move came just days after North Korea declared it had conducted a nuclear test Monday. In July, Pyongyang also test-fired seven missiles into the Sea of Japan.
Don't dally: Nakagawa Kyodo News Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa said Wednesday that Japan should expedite efforts to set up a missile defense system in connection with North Korea's announcement Monday that it conducted an underground nuclear test.
Speaking at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo, Nakagawa also denied the possibility that the country would pursue nuclear arms, backing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's remarks to that effect made during an Upper House Budget Committee session Tuesday.
Nakagawa also hailed Abe's summits Sunday and Monday with Chinese and South Korean leaders, saying the talks made it possible for Japan to mend soured ties with its neighbors and pave the way for mutually beneficial ties.
No Japan nukes: Rice WASHINGTON (Kyodo) U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Tuesday dismissed suggestions that Japan might develop nuclear weapons in the wake of North Korea's atomic test, saying she trusts Tokyo as a security partner.
"There's no evidence that this is a position that has any particular purchase in the Japanese system, or certainly among the Japanese population," Rice said in an interview on Fox News.
Rice made the comments when asked about suggestions by U.S. experts and lawmakers that Monday's nuclear test by North Korea could lead to a nuclear arms race in Asia, with Japan and South Korea going nuclear in response.
Some have even advocated holding out the threat of a nuclear Japan as a way to pressure China into pushing North Korea to abandon its nuclear program.
"I don't think there's anybody that really thinks changing the nuclear balance in Northeast Asia by having Japan go nuclear would improve the security situation," Rice said.
"We trust the Japanese. They're our security partner."
But Rice acknowledged that North Korea's emergence as a nuclear power "could set off all kinds of effects in the region," which is one reason why China has condemned the test and accepted possible U.N. sanctions against the North.
Exactly so!
I agree and President Bush keeps proving what dopes they are.
God bless President Bush, nopardons. He knows what we're dealing with, and he knows what needs to be done, and how it needs to be done. I believe that with all of my heart.
Surely, Murthat was being clairvoyant and knew troops woud be needed in Asia. sar/
There will always be those who simply don't understand and/or cannot comprehend what is going on behind the scenes. They take soundbites and run helter-skelter, so to speak. I can't even wrap my mind around the enormity of the decisions our President has to make each and every day, but I firmly believe that he listens to those around him, he's thoughtful in his considerations, and he prays for guidance.
I couldn't agree with you more, if I tried to; well said!
Watching the liberals and others treat him with such obnoxious disrespect has really open my eyes to the evil we face here and around the globe.
P.S. Thanks for pulling me away from my first attempt at creating a home page. (I just got started) Your post was wonderful and I'm glad I didn't miss it.
LOL...I'm sure he did.
Personal pages can always wait ( I have a completely empty one . LOL ), good posts need to be read ASAP. :-)
My first-born is stationed at Kadena.
LOL...It's pretty short right now and may just stay that way! I have a stalker on my tail here and he/she can't find me if I stay on my homepage. LOL!
Oh.....oh; not good.
I had to break away for awhile. Seems I have a moose, or a bear (but I bet it's just a moose) lurking nearby and the doggies are not happy about it. LOL
I know you have faith and trust in President Bush too, nopardons. God love him, he needs our prayers and support now more than ever. It's good to "see" you! Hope all is well with you and yours. :)
I'm sure President Bush appreciates our support, 1035rep. Watching and listening to the Dems and liberals has become more and more upsetting to me in recent days. They are bald-faced liars, and to say they are misguided would be an understatement.
Best of luck to you on your home page. I've never done such a thing so I can't offer any advice. I'm sure if you need a bit of inspiration you can find it here on FR from our healthy supply of resident experts. :)
Though far from perfect ( who is? LOL ), President Bush has been and will still be a good president. He has SO much on his plate and needs all the prayers he can get and prayers for our troops too!
Nice to "see" you too! :-)
If you haven't seen me around much, it's because I'm on vacation.
Hope that all is good with you and yours!
Read "usual left wing loonies" for "civic groups".Sort the Okinawan version of ANSWR and Code Pink.
I absolutely agree with everything you said. His faith is strong and so is my support for him.
Our moose haven't been troublesome. They just like to feed on my dried-up flowerbeds and garden leftovers. My doggies usually respect them, but last weekend our 3 year old dog (Malamute/Siberian) was lucky she didn't get stomped by a cow moose and her two, almost full-grown, calves. LOL
Had some bear troubles in the area around where we're building our guest cabin, but so far our place is still standing.
Hope you're having a wonderful vacation! If you get the urge to wander from wherever you are, do try to avoid the Koreas. ;)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.