by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - During today's hearing of the House Armed Services Committee on the proposed 2012 defense budget, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said planning for realignment of Marine forces from Okinawa to Guam could not move forward until the issue involving the Futenma Replacement Facility is resolved.

Gates responding to a question from Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo said, "Without resolution of that issue troops don't leave Okinawa and lands don't get returned to the Japanese" Gates said he hopes to have resolution to the Futenma issue by the end of this spring. Meanwhile Bordallo also asked whether he supported war reparations for Guam and the compromise measure she reintroduced this Congress. Gates responded yes.

The compromise version removes payments to descendents of survivors of the Japanese Occupation. Bordallo on the floor today said the people of Guam are being asked to provide additional land for firing ranges and the main base area for the buildup and resolution of Guam war claims is going to be critical in overcoming historical injustices.