Jacob M. Schlesinger The Wall Street Journal May 27, 2010
The Japanese government issued a joint statement with the U.S. formally sealing a controversial agreement to keep a large number of Marines on the southern island of Okinawa, after the Obama administration made some small concessions to help Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama save face for breaking a campaign promise.
The new pact, issued Thursday night in Washington, places greater emphasis than previous agreements on environmental protection, a major concern of critics of the plan for the military base. It includes a pledge to give Japanese officials greater access to U.S. facilities for ecological surveys, and a promise to consider “ways to introduce renewable energy technology” on the base.
To read the full story in the Wall Street Journal, click here.
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For additional information on this issue, please refer to the following reports:
Senate Panel and House Vote to Repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
Julian E. Barnes Los Angeles Times (Tribune Washington Bureau) May 28, 2010
A proposal to repeal the ban on gays serving openly in the military passed two critical tests Thursday, with the House of Representatives and an important Senate committee endorsing a compromise to end the divisive “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
In a late-night vote in the House, lawmakers endorsed an amendment that would repeal the ban, 234 to 194. In the largely party-line vote, 26 Democrats joined 168 Republicans in opposition. Five Republicans supported the repeal.
To read the full story at the Los Angeles Times, click here.
Mark Memmott THE two-way (NPR news blog)
May 27, 2010
It looks like those who favor repealing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law that bars gays from openly serving in the military have the crucial 15th vote they need in the Senate Armed Services Committee.
To follow the story on THE two-way, the NPR news blog, click here.
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For additional information on this issue, please refer to the following reports:
Vinay Sarawagi and Roshni Menon Reuters May 25, 2010
Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama will speak with President Barack Obama over the phone Thursday to discuss relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma Air Station, the Kyodo news agency said.
Hatoyama and Obama’s talks will revolve around relocating the air station, which is in Okinawa Prefecture, to a coastal zone of the Marines’ Camp Schwab, also in the prefecture, the news agency said.
Ahead of the talks, the two governments may release a joint statement centering on agreements to build a replacement facility for the airfield in the Henoko district in Nago and reach a decision on the relocation plan by September, the news agency said it learned from Japan-U.S. diplomatic sources.
To read the full story at the Reuters web page, click here.
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For additional information on this issue, please refer to the following reports:
The British Guardian newspaper on May 21 quoted from a statement made by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to reporters in Tokyo that a dispute between the United States and Japan over the future of a U.S. airbase in Okinawa would not affect the countries’ “rock solid” 50-year-old alliance.
“We both seek an arrangement that is operationally viable and politically sustainable,” said Clinton, at the start of a three-nation tour of Asia that will include visits to China and South Korea. “The goal of our governments remains unchanged: we want to maintain the security of Japan and the stability of the region.”
To read the full story at the New American, click here.
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For additional information on this issue, please refer to the following reports:
Despite His Admission, Sgt. Maj. Garry Tull Acquitted in Sex Case
Nancy Montgomery Stars and Stripes – European edition May 21, 2010
A U.S. Army Europe brigade sergeant major who’d admitted sexual contact with a low-ranking soldier in his command was acquitted Thursday of sexual assault, fraternization, maltreatment and adultery.
Sgt. Maj. Garry Tull shouted with joy, hugged his lawyers and began to cry after a court-martial panel comprising three other sergeants major, a lieutenant colonel, a major and a warrant officer acquitted him on all counts.
To read the full story in Stars and Stripes, click here.
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For additional information on this issue, please refer to the following reports:
IAVA’s Jennifer Hunt Testifies on
“Healing the Wounds: Evaluating Military Sexual Trauma”
On May 20th, IAVA Project Coordinator Jennifer Hunt testified before the House Veterans Affairs Committee at a hearing on “Healing the Wounds: Evaluating Military Sexual Trauma.” IAVA has posted Jennifer’s video testimony along with a downloadable transcript on their site, here.
For more information about IAVA’s work on this issue, click here. Also check out the IAVA Women Warrior Center, here.
To review the statements of those testifying at the House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing or to view the hearing via a multimedia link on their site, click here.
David Allen and Chiyomi Sumida Stars and Stripes
May 20, 2010
Failing to get support from junior members of his ruling coalition for his plan to relocate Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama may break with the coalition and make his proposal public without their approval.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano said Monday in Tokyo that there may be a way for Hatoyama to keep his pledge to present a relocation plan by his self-imposed May 31 deadline without getting the Social Democratic Party or the People’s New Party to agree.
To read the full story in the Stars and Stripes, click here.
This blog is part of a collaborative project designed to deepen and broaden understandings of the relationships between U.S. militarism, foreign policy, imperialism, racism, sexism, and violence against girls and women. Please take a look at the page, Our Mission for more information on the project.
Japanese, U.S. Seal Okinawa Base Deal
