Why should the U.S. ambassador to Japan have to spell out how much Japan benefits from its alliance with the United States? The reason is that Japan's leaders remain incompetent in explaining vital security issues to the Japanese public, and so take the easy way out by bleating about the so-called burden of hosting U.S. bases here.
Last week, U.S. Ambassador Tom Schieffer publicly reminded Japan that while Japanese leaders constantly talk about the "burden" Japan shoulders by hosting U.S. bases, most Americans in the U.S. military stationed in Japan would much rather be home. And while Japan contributes significantly by means of host-nation support to America's burden, it would be far cheaper for America to take its forces home.
The reason Japan should be willing to shoulder such burdens, Schieffer said, is that the presence of U.S. forces and bases helps maintain the peace. One would think that was obvious. Yet, remarkably, no Japanese minister has yet been able or willing to say so.