Disclosing Robert Gates’ Ignorance of the Futenma Issue

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates’ statement regarding the Futenma military base relocation issue, that “we will have some resolution of this by later this spring or early summer,” sent a shock wave through Japan.

Is Secretary Gates ignoring the mounting opposition in Okinawa to the relocation of the base, or is he ignorant of the wavering domestic political situation in Japan? Either way, this seems to be nothing more than an uninformed comment by an indifferent amateur. We would like Mr. Gates to start by gaining a proper grasp of the instability of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty and the siege of anti-military sentiment facing U.S. forces stationed in Japan and especially those stationed in Okinawa. By failing to understand the present state of affairs, Gates is putting the treaty and all of Japanese-American relations at risk with his attempts to coerce the embattled Japanese government into a “relocation” deal.

U.S. President Obama speaks highly of the recent wave of democratic revolution, led by Egypt and sweeping across the Middle East. The voice of the people is finally being heard by those violent dictators, and they will be forced out of their countries one after another. The message of recent global politics is clear: The end is near for governments and politicians who ignore the will of the people. As the self-appointed police force of the world, the U.S. should be careful when it intervenes in an ally’s affairs and tries to press policies against the will of their citizens.

Regardless, pressure won’t work this time. Aside from the Futenma problem, there is also mounting protest over the crimes committed by U.S. military personnel and the noise caused by the military bases. The noise at Kadena airfield has prompted residents to file the largest aircraft-noise lawsuit in history. If the U.S. presses the prefectural governor for the construction of this new base in the face of the people’s protests, it may see a shift from anti-military sentiment to anti-American sentiment. The governing Democratic Party of Japan, which has been erratically shifting positions back and forth under the “people’s persuasion,” could also begin to foster anti-military and anti-American feelings.

From the secretary of defense of the world’s largest superpower we need a rational statement based on a sound analysis of global affairs. Unprepared comments from the holders of the most military armaments and deadly weaponry in the world could lead to an errant and devastating global war.

In the Vietnam War, a false report of an attack on a U.S. battleship led to the bombing of North Vietnam. The Iraq War began as a result of false information regarding “weapons of mass destruction.” The U.S. military’s historical errors are far from insignificant.

Mr. Gates should pay careful attention to what is being said by the people of Okinawa. First, he should understand the problem and then try to come up with a real solution.