In the past few years, US foreign relations with Japan haven't exactly been great. In the article, Obama agrees to Talks on Location of Marine Base in Japan by Helene Cooper and Martin Fackler, Obama and Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama of Japan have re-opened the discussion to relocate the naval base in Okinawa to a less populated region or out of the country all together. The subject was a very sensitive issue after Robert M. Gates, US defense secretary, had closed off negotiations a month earlier. If the base is relocated, marines may be moved out of Japan as well. While running for prime minister, one of Hatoyama's campaign promises was to negotiate to have the base removed entirely. The base is not a popular Okinawan feature especially after 3 service men raped a 12-year old girl in 2005. The likeliness of the negotiations actually succeeding seem unlikely, but the underlying message to the article is that US/Japan relations are changing.
The article was a great analysis of the changing relationship between two countries that have a mutual dependence on each other. By highlighting one aspect that builds tension between the two, it gives way for analysis of the relationship as a whole. The lead wasn't too wordy and summarized the vital information of the story.
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