There has been an interesting turn of events in talks on the Futenma base relocation. The US and Japan restarted talks and it now seems the US might be acquiescing to the move of the Futenma Marines off of Okinawa entirely. 4,700 of them are said to be going to Guam, with the remaining going to places in the Pacific TBD (possibly inc other places in Japan). The planned move to Nago in Okinawa, a less crowded part of the island, seems like it will be scrapped. Strange that the US has decided to totally change its position on this. Especially since Sens McCain, Webb, and Levin were opposed to any move just back in December, and Tokyo seemed to give up on the move back when everything was put on hold in June. Does anyone have some insight on the issue?

Philip Streich
Pomona College