Japanese PM in big trouble over breaking campaign promise
By lilwonders
@lilwonders456 (8214)
United States
May 24, 2010 12:40pm CST
The prime minister of Japan is in big trouble with the poeple right now. He promised during his campaign that he would close the US military post on Okinawa. The majority of the citizens of Japan want it gone (60%) so they voted him in. Well he tried...but has now backed down after a lot of preasure from the US government. He is now saying the post has to stay. Now the people of Japan are hopping mad and are telling him if won't close the post and keep his promise..than he needs to leave office.
Talk about being stuck in a tight spot...close the post..tick off America...don't close the post tick of the people of his country and loose his job. Personally as an American I think we should close the post. If they don't want us there...we should leave. It is their country not ours...are we going to let Japan or another foriegn country have a military post in OUR country? No we would not stand for it.So why should they?
What do you think? Should the PM be more concerned with his relationship with his citizens or his country's relationship with America?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
24 May 10
Simply put, he made a stupid promise and was extremely foolish to think he could do such.
"are we going to let Japan or another foriegn country have a military post in OUR country? No we would not stand for it.So why should they?"
They stand for it because they got spanked in a war that they started when they bombed Pearl Harbor. Also, they lack a standing military, something their own people seem rather ignorant of sometimes. Our troops were initially put their to prevent them from becoming an aggressive military force and have stayed to protect them and be close to the Korean peninsula.
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
24 May 10
Oh I know history well...so I know why we are there. But really...isn't it time we stop playing world police...and if Japan thinks they can go it alone...I say we let them. It would save us money not having that post open.
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
24 May 10
I agree, it would be nice to remove that from our budget. We could sell them the base, bring our troops home, and save a boatload of money. I think THEY would quickly realize their mistake when their military budget suddenly went out of control leaving them with new deficits.
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
24 May 10
ya....but by the time they figured that out...we would be out and it would be their problem and not ours. LOL.
@laglen (19759)
• United States
24 May 10
His citizens should come first of course. But well, we know how that works out here... I agree we should pull out. There is some money saved..
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
25 May 10
I agree. We could save money and let Japan start taking care of themselves.
1 person likes this
@TTCCWW (579)
• United States
24 May 10
Politics and stupid politicians strike again...
He should have never made this promice without first reading the treaty's that his parents or grandparents signed with the US after their surrender in WWII.
We are not going to give up that base as long as there is stability problems in that part of the world and we are there, in part, meeting our treaty obligations to Japan and protecting their sovereignty.
I understand that the Island that the base is on is very seperated from the rest of Japan and that they are the only ones really complaining.
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
24 May 10
If Japan does not think they need up to protect their sovereignty...then let them protect it on their own. How much money does that post cost us a year?
As for the politican....I have to admit...that was a HUGE promise to make...he really should have thought about it HARD before made it. Now he is stuck. It is being said it really may cost him the job of PM. We will have to see if it blows over or if they force him to resign.
