Japan balks at housing cost in Marine move

[unhappycamper]

Japan balks at housing cost in Marine move
The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Dec 10, 2007 7:03:15 EST

TOKYO — Washington’s estimate of the housing costs it wants Tokyo to shoulder for U.S. Marines after they are moved from southern Japan to Guam is too high, Japan’s defense minister said Monday.

Japan has agreed to help move thousands of Marines from its southern island of Okinawa to the U.S. territory of Guam and provide new housing for them under an agreement last year to streamline American troops in Japan.

But Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Washington’s proposal of 70 million yen ($627,800) per house is too high.

“Do we have to provide such extravagant houses by using our tax money? Obviously, it’s too high,” Ishiba told the upper house’s audit committee. “We have to examine it closely.”

Ishiba did not say what would be considered an appropriate level but added that a similar house could be built for just over half that price on Okinawa.


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2007/12/ap_guamhousing_071210/

[MADem]

1. Jesus, are they buying the entire housing area, too? That's some serious moolah! nt