"American Bases in Japan Are Sitting Ducks" Topic

"When it comes to Japan, U.S. President Donald Trump's opinion is well known: The Japanese are freeloaders. This has been clear since his early days on the campaign trail in 2016, when he declared that if the Japanese "don't take care of us properly, if they don't respect us enough to take care of us properly, then you know what's going to have to happen? … They're going to have to defend themselves." The meaning of "take care of properly" has become clearer in recent months: The White House has drawn up demands for "cost plus 50"—or the full cost of hosting American servicemen, plus a 50 percent premium.

There is nothing wrong with pressuring the Japanese to commit more to the forces that protect them. But a financial focus distracts from more urgent problems in the U.S.-Japanese alliance—most importantly, Japan's determination to cordon off the troops they host onto a small number of easily attacked bases. If changes to American basing are not made, the United States does not just risk being cheated, but defeated…"
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Amicalement
Armand

a given for any sort of fixed base

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand

There was anti-basing activity before the 90's, it was there in Okinawa in 87 when I was there. As USMC helo base I figured some Soviet sub would just launch on us, especially those of us in nice aluminum boxes.

The entirety of China, North Korea, Iran, and Russia are as well.