Osprey!

This is coolbert:

The deployment of six Osprey [a company?] tilt-rotor aircraft has created a stir both in Japan and the United States.

"U.S. Sends Aircraft to Okinawa, Despite Fierce Opposition"

"TOKYO — The United States military sent the first batch of a sophisticated but accident-plagued new aircraft to an air base on Okinawa on Monday,"

"The first six of the MV-22 Osprey aircraft arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, the Japanese Defense Ministry said. It said another six of the ungainly-looking aircraft were due to arrive this week at the base, in the center of the crowded city of Ginowan."

Osprey tilt-rotor transport aircraft being deployed to Okinawa. The Osprey not having a good reputation, being perceived as prone to accidents and catastrophic crash!

Osprey however having done a tour of duty in Iraq for one year, an entire battalion [18 birds] and emerging with honor, unscathed. I would imagine unscathed, as THE INTERNATIONAL AND AMERICAN MEDIA WOULD HAVE RAISED HOLY TERROR IF AND WHEN A CRASH HAD OCCURRED!!

Those concerns of the Okinawans NOT TOTALLY UNJUSTIFIED!! 

That Marine air base built originally in 1945 CONSTRUCTED ON THE RUBBLE OF DESTROYED VILLAGES AND SURROUNDED BY FARMLAND IS NOW AND HAS BEEN FOR SOME TIME  100 % TOTALLY SMACK-DAB IN THE CENTER OF WHAT IS NOW A RESIDENTIAL AREA!! GINOWAN CITY!!

"Futenma Airfield was constructed by the US military following the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. It was built partly on the ruins of the villages of Aragusuku, Ginowan, Kiyuna and Isa, and entirely over the village of Kamiyama and surrounding farmland."

Marine Air Station Futenma right in the center of Ginowan City. In 1945 all that residential area did NOT exist!

Fears of the Okinawan people and especially those residents of Ginowan City not unfounded, one of those Osprey to go down might very well kill a lot of folks and do a lot of damage.

For a period of DECADES this airfield has been a subject of controversy. And the Osprey hardly ameliorate the situation. Hope and pray, keep your fingers crossed, the attitude and atmosphere is already bad enough.

coolbert.