Japan's Base Problem

'Nonetheless, the most important lesson to be learned from the events in Kyrgyzstan this past week is that supporting authoritarianism, no matter how valid the excuses, comes with a cost. This is something that everyone, especially "realists" who say that regime type should be irrelevant in the determination of foreign policy, ought to acknowledge. Soft-pedaling criticism of dictators who assist this or that American foreign policy objective, ­whether it be hosting a military base or supplying us with oil, may bring promised "stability," but it is always illusory. As the behavior of Kurmanbek Bakiyev demonstrated, authoritarians are by their nature irrational and unpredictable. Worse, when an authoritarian regime falls, the people who take over naturally feel resentment toward anyone who supported those who oppressed them.

'

'Mr. Hatoyama is now scrambling to put together a modified version of the 2006 agreement, which called for relocating the Futenma base from the center of the crowded city of Ginowan to Camp Schwab in Okinawaâ??s less populated north. He is now considering options, including building a smaller air field at Camp Schwab, government officials said. Mr. Hatoyama also wants to lessen Okinawaâ??s burden by moving training activities and up to 1,000 of Futenmaâ??s 2,500 Marines to Tokunoshima, said Takeshi Tokuda, Tokunoshimaâ??s Lower House representative, who was briefed on the plan.

Mr. Tokuda said he firmly opposes the move.

â??Prime Minister Hatoyama is just trying to save face at our expense,â? said Mr. Tokuda.

The mood on the island is now overwhelmingly against the plan. The main road along the coast of this mountainous island is now lined with hand-painted signs saying â??No Base!â? The mayors of the islandâ??s three towns agreed on Saturday to meet with the prime minister, but only to express their opposition to his face, they say.

'