US Consul General’s Remark: Glimpses of an Occupier Mindset [View all]

[unhappycamper]

http://watchingamerica.com/WA/2014/09/08/us-consul-generals-remark-glimpses-of-an-occupier-mindset/



U.S. Consul General Alfred Magleby spewed a remark that cannot be overlooked. This remark further demonstrates the deep-seated occupier mindset towards Okinawa within the ranks of U.S. diplomats.

US Consul General’s Remark: Glimpses of an Occupier Mindset
Published in Ryukyu Shimpo (Japan) on 14 August 2014 by Editorial [link to original]
Translated from Japanese by Chris Hennessy.
Edited by Nicholas Eckart.
Posted on September 8, 2014.

It is reported that Magleby, in remarks toward Satoko Norimatsu, the director of the peace group Peace Philosophy Center, and (some of its) members, stated that “the number of protesters (to a new military base) in Okinawa can be zero or 100 — productive dialogue isn’t possible."* The Canadian-based Peace Philosophy Center had visited the area in order to submit signatures from foreign experts endorsing a declaration to oppose the transfer of U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Base to Henoko.

This displays a strange mindset on the part of Magleby. What the majority of Okinawans want is the earliest possible dissolution of the discriminatory burden of military bases, bases in which approximately 74 percent of the U.S. military forces and facilities in Japan are concentrated into 0.6 percent of Japanese territory. The people forcing this military burden on a citizenry that opposes it are saying, "You need to change your way of looking at this." It’s completely absurd.

With regards to the issue of Futenma, Okinawans fear the functional enhancement of U.S. military that will accompany the move. And 80 percent are opposed to plans to fill in a resource-abundant sea area that is home to many dugongs. Many are also opposed to stationing U.S. marines — though it is worth noting the overall numbers of marines will decrease. However, besides (installations for) marines, Okinawa already has great numbers of U.S. air force, navy and army installations, on top of which there are extremely large aerial and naval military exercise areas. Looking at all this, don’t the couple of requests by Okinawans regarding the return of Futenma and the withdrawal of Osprey aircraft seem small? Talking about these things as if they are excessive demands is vicious word manipulation.

Magleby also stated, “Okinawa and Nago City should cooperate for the national defense."* The side forcing a burden is asking people suffering the burden to cooperate even more. The viewpoint of current U.S diplomats hasn’t changed at all from the U.S. high commissioners who despotically ruled Okinawa before its controlled return in 1972, has it?