Japan is an island nation. Bahrain is an island nation. Japan is home to major U.S. military facilities. Bahrain is home to major U.S. military facilities. Japan has been wracked by an earthquake and tsunami that has captured the world’s attention since it happened last Friday. Bahrain has been wracked by growing unrest as its Shiite majority protests the heavy ruling hand of its Sunni monarchy.
Things got worse at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear complex Monday when a blast destroyed the building housing reactor No. 3, leading to the loss of coolant at reactor No. 2, and spewing radiation into the sky. Things got worse in Bahrain Monday when the beleaguered government welcomed 1,000 troops, largely Saudi, to help restore order.
On Tuesday, Navy officials in Japan stressed there is no need for the families of U.S. military personnel to leave the country. On Tuesday, Navy officials in Bahrain closed a base school, warned sailors to stay away from protests, and said it would begin moving dependents, on a voluntary basis, out of Bahrain at government expense.