"Henry J Cobb" wrote in message
...
Kevin Brooks wrote:
"Henry J Cobb" wrote in message
...
Use of Okinawa requires the permission of the Japanese government, which
might not want to get involved in a shooting war with the Chinese.

No, it does actually does not really require their approval. The
latitude
for the US to use Okinawa bases as it saw fir has been codified in
treaty
format since as early as 1952: "Such forces may be utilised to
contribute to
the maintenance of international peace and security in the Far East and
to
the security of Japan..." Note the "and" in that sentence from the
original
agreement. When the treaty granting reversion of Okinawa to Japanese
control
was negotiated, the following clause was included: "the return of the
administrative rights over Okinawa...should not hinder the effective
discharge of the international obligations assumed by the United States
for
the defence of countries in the Far East including Japan." Note the use
of
"including".

See: http://www.niraikanai.wwma.net/pages/base/chap2-1.html

And this treaty can be changed.

The people on Okinawa are fed up with the American bases and will
continue to apply presure until something is done about it.

ROFLOL! Henry, you have gone now from "*requires* a permission slip" to,
"Well, they may change their minds..." (ignoring the FACT that the treaty
section noted was a joint document signed by both Japan and the US, and as
it set forth the conditions under which we agreed to cede control of Okinawa
back to the japanese, they are not in any position to unilaterally do much
about it).

You were wrong, Henry. Be a man for once and admit it.

Brooks


http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/newse/20040313wo03.htm
Inamine also told Rumsfeld that "we can't put up with an increase in
practice drills and other noisy activity by U.S. forces. Our patience
is limited."

-HJC