Why is the United States government allowing this to happen?

The Japanese are not the same people as they were in WWII. Just like you and I are not our grandparents (or Great-grandparents). Why is it okay for the U.S. to have bases everywhere when we do not extend the same courtesy to anyone else?

Because at the close of WW 2, it was agreed that the US would administer the islands until a later date (unknown) when the Ryukyus would be be reverted to Japan.

I spent a year on Okinawa in 1964 as a Navy Corpsman with the Marines and I can tell you that although they were a very kind, pleasant people, their allegiance was to Japan since basically having been born and raised in that area which was part of Japan. A few years later, they actually were reverted to Japan and we were allowed to continue with our military bases there. The reversion never seemed to have made much difference.

I haven't heard anything about our military forces being asked to leave. But if they have, then so be it.

The decision to move 8,000 Marines to Guam was made long before the Staff Sergeant based at Camp Courtney was arrested for an alleged rape of that 14-year old girl. Okinawa reverted back to control by Japan because that is what was promised in the Peace Treaty signed in San Francisco in 1951, where the U.S. recognized Japan's residual sovereignty over the Ryukyu Islands.

The invasion of Okinawa (Operation Iceberg), which began on the first of April 1945 did not involve more ships and personnel than the invasion of Normandy (Operation Overlord) on the 6th of June 1944. But, we did lose more ships and Navy personnel in Operation Iceberg than in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

The immediacy of politics demand we blow individual events out of proportion, and that one person's tragedy (or one person's stupidity) can dictate the future of a much larger group.

While I do not wish to under-value this girl's suffering, neither can I allow the Marines to be demonized by a single event. This is a case of the Japanese seizing on a politically convenient moment to force a move that has been in the making for some time. Why does the US allow this to happen? Because the alternatives are not reasonable, and because we value, as said in above answers, a Japanese-American friendship in the face of Chinese expansion more than we value a single base on Okinawa.

Guam is a better base for force projection given its' location relative to the rest of the Pacific rim. The Japanese are footing a large portion of the bill to move 8,000 Marines to Guam. That doesn't mean we will no longer have troops in Japan. 1/1 SFG will still be on Okinawa and we have other multi-service troops stationed elsewhere.

I will say first as a whole the Marines are a good bunch of people..but I will warn you right now some of what I have to say is not good..so be warned now and take what I have to say as my opinion as well as others I know and have been stationed with opinions of the Marines on Okinawa. The war on terrorism must and will take the Marines to where they are needed..and Japan does not need us to protect them any more..why should the Americans be the world police anyway?!? The war is long over anyway..and the Japanese know how to protect themselves very well and they are a proud and cultured people..and will not stand for any crime to be put on their people by anyone!!! To say it was only one stupid Marine who got them ousted is not true...it was more than one!!! As you will see from what I write!

I will attempt to answer your question...Being a female officer stationed on Okinawa in the early 80's I do know that our government has always been aware of the problems caused by the Marines! Sexual assault is not the only crimes they commit...it ranges from sexual assault to bar fights, general misconduct..to murder..and that is not only on the Japanese but on the Americans as well! The military has long been aware of the influence the Marines have there..the Marines know what the other branches of the military stationed on Okinawa say about them..and that is that the only Marines stationed on Okinawa are bad and problem Marines..a dumping ground for the ones the Marines can't control!!! That they keep the military lawyers in court more than any other branch of the military!!!! From what I saw of what was being said..it was fact!!!

Before being stationed on Okinawa females are told not to date or be seen in the company of the male Marines unless you want to end up in court or worse!! They are told you stay on your end of the island and they will for the most part stay on their end....but alas the Marines don't stay on their end..they are all over the island!!

Now to another part of your question..you wondered why the Japanese could order the Marines off the island..for years now the Japanese have had the majority rule of the island..the war is long over and they are after all the true owners of the island..as to an army..who says they don't have one??? Have you taken a gander at the population of the Japanese lately??? They out number Americans three to one, and that does not include the ones living in America on Visa getting an education in our colleges and universities!!! I personally agree with the Japanese..get rid of the Marines...send them somewhere else to cause problems..anywhere they go the bad ones will cause problems..now that is not to say the whole branch of Marines is bad..they are not..there are some very wonderful and proud Marines and as a whole they are a good and decent bunch of people..but as they say it only takes a few to spoil the batch..and that batch is stationed or was stationed on Okinawa...I may very well be at the top of the hate list for the Marines..but I will be in very good company!! Our government must have agreed to the ousting of the Marines or it would not have happened..and seeing as they are aware of the problems they cause it was a good thing! Well that is all I have to say..agree or disagree or agree to disagree..that is your choice! Always Lee

One of the larger issues is that this nation needs these bases to project our power and presence throughout the world . This ability is necessary to stay a super-power in world affairs .

It is a strategic necessity to have an American base in other nations because we can react more quickly to events that affect this nation's interests .

The days of isolationism are over and we as a people with democratic ideals are there for those who struggle against communism and terrorism .

As a former Marine I understand that the responsibility of honoring and respecting the citizens of these nations who "host" our military is very important . I am saddened that this has stereotyped all Marines and U.S. military everywhere as disrespectful and behave in open defiance of common convention .

Personally , I do not think that we should be universally condemned for the actions of a single indiscretion by a member of our service and penalized by a nation that will first turn to the U.S. for help in the upcoming years as an ally against Chinese expansionism .

Semper Fidelis !

:0)

Um, because the island is Japanese territory? Because the war was over a long time ago? Because they have the absolute right to control their own territory? Because the US forces there have repeatedly acted in a very bad manner? Because the Marines don't NEED to be there? Because they'd be more useful elsewhere?

Do ANY of those confuse you? Apparently so, as it seems clear that you don't understand the war is over, and that the island isn't our, and never was.

guam is way more important than okinawa in the global war on terror, as well as a strategic part of missile defense against n. korea. also, a huge air base, servicing none other than our most prized possession the b2 bomber, one of which crashed there recently. and, closer to the indonesian islands that our ally australia is becoming embroiled in. where better to have all these marines, more centralized, more dispatchable.

japan can take care of themselves, especially while we control the amount of oil they get thru the straits of hormuz

and control the sky's above them. stop worrying, we are still the guys at the top of the food chain,

If they want us out, we should leave. They aren't our colony. We don't own them, and they aren't the same dangerously warlike people who attacked us in WW2. Their kids are playing video games, not pledging to die for the Empire and drilling in military academies.

And yes- we have slipped that far. Due to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, we are being seem as oppressors by other countries in the world and have lost the moral authority we once had.

We're not abandoning Japan.....the Marines are (I think) transferring to Guam and Saipan---

The Navy and the Army are both going to have more of a presence there (the Navy will have an Aircraft carrier berthed there--John C Stennis? Not sure which one though).