Regarding the Feb. 17 article "U.S. Reps. Paul, Kucinich urge military pullout from Japan amid budget woes": Finally U.S. congressmen have begun to see the necessity for a U.S. pullout of military forces from Okinawa and the rest of Japan. It is an unnatural state to have foreign military in the streets, waterways and airways of a host nation. It creates anxiety, distrust and fear among the home population. The United States has been insensitive and arrogant in this regard.
We Americans would never tolerate the same conditions at home. Congressmen Ron Paul (Texas Republican) and Dennis Kucinich (Ohio Democrat) have been listening to the cries of the Okinawan people and to those Japanese who yearn for the freedom to make their own decisions vis-a-vis national security.
This first step taken by Paul and Kucinich needs to be followed by a groundswell of grassroots action to bring the powerful ideals of Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution to North America. May we remind the decision-makers that Article 9 has enabled Japan to live in peace for 65 years. Think what Article 9 may do for America and the world at large.