US public brainwashed but showing signs of sanity

Evidence for intense propaganda bombardment: 52% think the US should keep bases in Japan; 62% think they should keep troops in Korea.

But a there's a fair amount of common sense too:

The public opinion poll also found 51 percent opposed the use of U.S. forces even if North Korea were to invade South Korea. It also showed 61 percent opposed the use of U.S. forces if China were to invade Taiwan. The poll found that 68 percent think it is necessary for the U.S. to win the approval of the U.N. Security Council if it were to consider using military force to destroy North Korea's nuclear capabilities.

From a Japan Times article with the interesting headline: 40% in U.S. say bases unnecessary.

Incidentally, anyone who thinks members of US elites are always more liberal than average Americans needs to explain away figures like these:

According to poll by the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, 39 percent replied that the United States should not have long-term military bases in Japan, while 52 percent said the U.S. should maintain them.

The figures were similar to a separate poll of U.S. leaders, including senior government officials and lawmakers, as 38 percent of those respondents said long-term U.S. bases are unnecessary, while 56 percent felt otherwise.