The Pentagon also must include QDR recommendations as part of a detailed budget blueprint for FY 1999 and revised program plans for FY 2003. In December the National Defense Panel will submit its evaluation of the QDR to both Secretary of Defense William Cohen and Congress. Mr. Ota apparently hopes that the latter proviso will open yet another window of opportunity to press for base reductions on Okinawa. Although the stationing of American forces on Japanese soil is a matter decided solely by the two central governments, the governor earlier this year launched a full-court press in Washington, sending two separate delegations of prefectural officials to lobby members of Congress as well as Pentagon officials. DOD principals remain adamantly opposed to reducing the 47,000 U.S. troops stationed in Japan.
Some congressional offices seem sympathetic to the southern islanders' plight, however.
Mr. Ota's remarks May 20 that he would concentrate his efforts on appealing to the U.S. public suggest that the governor may try to sway opinions on Capitol Hill so that Congress, in turn, will press the Pentagon for base reductions on Okinawa as defense planners flesh out the QDR recommendations. The governor's crusade also may have received an unexpected boost from a special panel of former senior U.S. defense officials and experts. The National Defense Panel did not criticize the Pentagon's decision to maintain 100,000 military personnel in both Europe and Asia, but it pointed out that Washington cannot assume long-term access to forward bases in these two regions. Access may be granted or denied for any number of political or military reasons, panel members noted. At the same time U.S. forces might be called on to project power in areas where no substantial basing structure exists.