Bring 'em home

Today, The Japan Times' lead editorial is about the realignment of American forces. Japan government was concerned with reducing their "burden of hosting U.S. military installations." We're told "important issues" have yet to be resolved.

Interestingly, when Congressman Murtha is calling for a "redeployment" of our military forces to Okinawa, the Governor of the Okinawa prefecture is unhappy Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station's "relocation" has been delayed for another 8 years.

The Japanese are unhappy that they must pay "60 percent of the costs of transferring 8,000 U.S. Marine personnel from Okinawa to Guam." The Japan Times is miffed that they are required to "help pay the cost of building military facilities on U.S. terrority is in itself unprecedented and the issue is likely to stir intensive debate in the next Diet."

The editorial concludes, "Japan must pursue independence in security and economic policies. Excessive loyalty to the U.S. will be ridiculed by the international community and by Americans themselves."

After 50 years of defending Japan, I couldn't agree more. Pack our troops up and bring 'em home! Just as with Europe and South Korea, it's time our so-called friends and allies pay the cost of defending their own freedom and liberty.