Japan Says It Has `Had Enough' of Misconduct by US Military

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a.GEkIqWnlT0&refer=home

Feb. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda today condemned the actions of a U.S. Marine accused of raping a 14-year-old girl, and other officials said the incident may harm relations between the two countries.

``This can never be forgiven,'' Fukuda said, speaking before parliament. ``Similar things have happened in the past and I consider this a very serious case.''

Allegations that the U.S. Marine raped a girl in Okinawa prefecture Feb. 10 are ``extremely regrettable,'' Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said today. Japan has ``had enough'' of incidents involving the sexual misconduct of U.S. troops, he said.

The 38-year-old Marine arrested Feb. 11 acknowledged touching a girl in his car, while denying he raped her, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported today. The case may affect the relocation of U.S. troops and a base on the island under an existing agreement, Komura said.

[bdamomma]

1. oh crap, raping a 14 year old???

our names are in the mud.

[salin]

2. this type of story comes out of Okinawa a little too often

it is horrendous. And yet it continues to happen. Is it the media coverage (or coverupage) or is there something about this base that makes this heinous crime recur while we do not hear recurring stories of rapes from any other base (meaning over the years - it seems like there is a case of a serviceman raping a Japanese woman or girl every two or three years)

[ProdigalJunkMail]

3. never forgiven???

while i find the actions of this Marine (and others to be sure) despicable, the use of the word 'unforgivable' coming from the Japanese is a bit over the top. That whole episode referred to commonly as WWII and their actions in the pacific theatre kind of make that statement nearly laughable.

Please understand that I in no way condone what has happened here...just the statements made by Fukuda.

sP

Edit for even worse grammar than normal...

[melody]

4. That's what happens when you have this many members of the military spread out across many cultures

That and a lax military code that considers rape and torture okay but being gay a bad thing.