Heavy base security will be the norm
for the long haul, commanders say
By David Allen and Jennifer H. Svan, Stars and Stripes
Commanders at bases on Okinawa and at Yokota Air Base, Japan, told their people during
town hall meetings: Don’t expect life to return to normal anytime soon.
At Yokota, several hundred people filled the base theater for the first town hall
meeting since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Force protection and the threat of terrorism
were discussed, with questions ranging from one’s vulnerability off base to an
explanation of the phrase "loose lips sink ships."
"Life is different now," Air Force Col. Mark Zamzow, 374th Airlift Wing
commander, said. "There are inconveniences we have to endure, we want to minimize
those. We want to make life as normal as we can, and at the same time, keep us all
safe."
But base travel these days is not normal.
Gates can be closed without warning and an order to search all cars belonging to
Japanese employees and off-base residents can back up traffic.
Routine events will be affected. The regular weekend flea market on Camp Foster —
where the Japanese public is invited — has been canceled, and base officials on
Okinawa are looking into whether to ban Japanese children from coming on base for
Halloween.
"We’re in this thing for the long haul," Marine Col. Paul Pisano said at
a town meeting for residents of camps Foster and Lester Thursday night.
The town meetings are regular occurrences on U.S. bases in Japan, but recent events
have changed the focus of the venues.
At Yokota, one man asked Zamzow "how can we keep a low profile," since the
"Y" license pate issued to persons connected to the U.S. military is a
"dead giveaway."
"They’re after big, visible targets," Zamzow reassured him.
"They’re not going to go after individuals."
Another woman wondered how tight-lipped base residents have to be during this time of
heightened security.
Zamzow advised her to not talk about "anything operational. If you don’t need
to talk about it, don’t," he said.
Maj. John Quattrone, the base security forces commander, said the threat could come
from anyone.
"We do have some radical leftist groups in Japan," he said.
At the Camp Foster meeting, Pisano thanked the 75 people attending for their patience
as Marines on Okinawa enforce force-protection measures.
Pisano said base residents should change their travel patterns and use gates that are
not quite so busy.
"There will always be delays," he cautioned. "But the question that we
have to ask is whether it’s worth the risk not to check vehicles periodically.
"There’s all kinds of rumors floating around," he said. "But let me
make clear that Okinawa is a lot different than other parts of the world. It’s safe
here."
Traffic was also a big topic at the two-hour meeting at Yokota. Traffic has been slowed
at times during the last several weeks because of force-protection measures.
Perhaps as a sign that some things may be getting back to normal, at least half of
Thursday’s meeting on Camp Foster was devoted to discussions of cleaning up the bases
after typhoons; a new program by the Naval Criminal Intelligence Service to protect
children from Internet porn; and the 10-year construction program for new housing on Camp
Foster.
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