According to the following article by the AP published in the Honolulu Star Bulletin, while Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was touring Hawai’i, encountering anti-bases protesters and failing to reach an agreement with Japanese Foreign Minister Okada over the relocation of Futenma Air Station in Okinawa, Senator Inouye flew off to Japan to meet with the Japanese Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Okada to see if he could make progress with the Japanese government to accept a relocation of Futenma Air Station within Okinawa.

Okinawans have been saying “NO” to the bases for decades.  Moving the base to Henoko is not a lessening of the impact; on the contrary, it is an an expansion.  Furthermore, moving the bases and troops to Guam is not an option.  The proposed military expansion in Guam is a tsunami that will be devastating to the culture, environment, snd social conditions of the Chamorro people of Guam.   The U.S. militarization of Guam constitutes a gross violation of human rights and self-determination of Chamorro people.

Although Inouye says that “his goal isn’t necessarily to solve the problem, but to listen and establish communication,” he is going to Japan to throw his weight into the mix.

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http://www.starbulletin.com/news/breaking/81258797.html

Inouye travels to Japan to discuss military air station on Okinawa

By Associated Press

POSTED: 10:56 a.m. HST, Jan 12, 2010

U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye is traveling to Japan, in part to help find a solution to a dispute over where to move Futenma air station.

Inouye, D-Hawaii, began his five-day visit today. Inouye and Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., will meet with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada.

Inouye said the United States’ relationship with Japan depends on resolving the Futenma air station situation. Both nations agree that the station, on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa, must be moved.

But most Okinawans oppose the U.S. position that the base can’t be shut down until a replacement is established somewhere else on the island.

Inouye said his goal isn’t necessarily to solve the problem, but to listen and establish communication.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, meanwhile, today is in Honolulu where she will discuss the Futenma air station and other issues with her Japanese counterpart, Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada.

U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye is traveling to Japan, in part to help find a solution to a dispute over where to move Futenma air station.

Inouye, D-Hawaii, began his five-day visit today. Inouye and Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., will meet with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada.

Inouye said the United States’ relationship with Japan depends on resolving the Futenma air station situation. Both nations agree that the station, on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa, must be moved.

But most Okinawans oppose the U.S. position that the base can’t be shut down until a replacement is established somewhere else on the island.

Inouye said his goal isn’t necessarily to solve the problem, but to listen and establish communication.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, meanwhile, today is in Honolulu where she will discuss the Futenma air station and other issues with her Japanese counterpart, Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada.