Okinawan press saw Maher’s comments as revealing true U.S. attitudes toward the island

Evidence

For many, far from looking like an aberration, the incident exposed some of the attitudes long underlying U.S. basing policy in Okinawa. An Okinawa Times newspaper editorial said Maher’s comments showed that U.S. officials “seem, deep in their hearts, to despise Okinawa and make light of the base problem.” Okinawa’s other major daily, the Ryukyu Shimpo, wrote that Maher had provided, “unintentionally, a revelation of real U.S. thinking.” — David Vine, Base Nation_ How U.S. Military Bases…, 836