U.S. Forces in Japan to carry out NLP with carrier aircraft
As the United States steps up its war preparations, ostensibly to fight
terrorism in the wake of the Sep. 11 terror attacks in New York and
Washington, tension was increasing at and around U.S. bases in Japan.
On Sep. 17, local people witnessed a chartered ship being loaded with
helicopters of the U.S. Marines at a pier near Naha City in Okinawa. Exactly
at the same time, large helicopters of U.S. Marines, CH46 were carrying out
landing and take-off practices at the Naha Military Port.
A cab driver who came across the scene said, "I've never seen such a busy
movement. It looked like the U.S. was going to war."
At the U.S. Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, six F-15 jet fighters and two
KC135 refueling planes took off before daybreak on Sep. 16 for the U.S. base
in Alaska.
The U.S. Forces in Japan on Sep. 18 notified Japan's Defense Facilities
Administration Agency that they will carry out touch-and-goes (night landing
practices) for a week from Sep. 20 with aircraft from the U.S. aircraft
carrier Kitty Hawk based at Yokosuka Port in Kanagawa.
Reporting this, Akahata said on September 15 and 17 that these moves
indicate that the U.S. Forces in Japan are in full-fledged preparation to
mobilize the aircraft carrier for a war against terrorists.
At the U.S. Atsugi Naval Facility in Kanagawa, NLPs were started without
notice on Sep. 15. Each day, noisy touch-and-goes were held into the night.
Residents of five cities near the base made calls to city offices in protest
against the loud noise caused by the drills. The number of such calls
reached 1,148 in just four days.
The mayors of Ayase and Yamato cities (which host the U.S. Atsugi base)
tried to make representations to the base commander, but their request for
an interview was rejected. Calling for maintaining calm life in their
cities, the mayors sent protest letters to the commander.
The U.S. Forces unveiled a plan to carry out NLPs at the following U.S.
bases: Misawa Air Base in Aomori, Yokota Air Base in Tokyo, Atsugi Naval Air
Station in Kanagawa, and Iwakuni Marine Air Station in Yamaguchi. They also
say that Iwojima Islands on the Pacific will be a major site for NLP.
A cruiser and two oilers left the Yokosuka base on Sep. 15.
At Maehata Munitions Depot in the U.S. Navy Sasebo Base in Nagasaki on
Sep. 18, munitions were unloaded without notifying the local government
beforehand. The U.S. Forces neglected their routine prior notification
promise.
Also at Sasebo Bay, the U.S. Navy conducted exercises with two LCACs
(Landing Craft Air Cushioned).
The U.S. Marine Corps Iwakuni Station has notified Iwakuni City that the
runway will be used all day.
The commander of the U.S. Kadena Air Base in Okinawa has said that Kadena
is ready for war. (end)