The relocation of Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Futenma in Okinawa has been the source of a long dispute between the United States and Japan, with scant hope for resolution in the foreseeable future. This situation is peculiar, since all parties – the US, Japan, and Okinawa – agree that the Futenma base is dangerous (with houses close by), share the goals of removing the risk of accidents and reducing the US footprint on the local community, and have strong respect for the US-Japan alliance. Yet, despite strenuous efforts by the two central governments, the situation remains unresolved for nearly two decades.