AND THEY'RE DECLINING TOO FAST FOR US TO CARE IF THEY MIND:

An Emerging Rift With Japan? (Jacob M. Schlesinger, 9/01/09, WSJ: Washington Wire)

In the wake of the Democratic Party of Japan’s landslide victory Sunday, American officials suggested they’re likely to bat away a key campaign promise of the new ruling party: a renegotiation of plans to move a controversial military base in Okinawa.

“The United States has no intention to re-negotiate the Futenma replacement facility plan or Guam relocation with the government of Japan,” Ian Kelly, the State Department spokesman, told reporters Monday, referring to plans to move some of the Futenma Marine Corps Air Station to a different part of Okinawa, and shift another part to Guam.

“Our position has been that the agreements were made between governments, not with a specific political party,” Defense Department spokeswoman Maureen Schumann told Washington Wire today.