Japanese official on Okinawa to review U.S. base options

[unhappycamper]

Japanese official on Okinawa to review U.S. base options
By David Allen, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Tuesday, November 17, 2009

YOMITAN, Okinawa — Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada arrived Sunday on Okinawa to investigate the feasibility of moving Marine air operations on the island to Kadena Air Base.

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During a visit to Gov. Hirakazu Nakaima’s office in Naha, Okada said he wanted to find out why Kadena Air Base is deemed unavailable for use by the Marines.

"A plan to move the operations to Kadena was once reviewed," Okada said.

"I want to know the reasons why the plan was not feasible and whether the move would be possible at all. We are now intensively reviewing the plan."

"I hope that the government will move forward in a visible manner with reducing Okinawa’s burden of hosting U.S. military bases," said Nakaima.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=66137