30 yrs after accord with Japan, return of U.S. Futenma base still far off

Once thought possible within five to seven years, the return to Japan of land used for a U.S. military base in Okinawa remains a distant hope for local residents, three decades after Tokyo and Washington reached an agreement.The long-sought return hinges on the completion of a replacement facility in a coastal area in the same prefecture that will accommodate the functions of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, currently located in a densely populated area of Ginowan.Construction of the facility off Nago has been delayed amid local opposition, political wrangling and legal battles.The ce…READ FULL ARTICLE