national

U.S. Navy temporarily relieves commander of ship struck in Japanese waters

19 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017.

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

19 Comments
Login to comment

 temporarily relieved

The US navy has just become the biggest joke in the world!

They believe that because the crew of the ACX Crystal was Filipino, that they are automatically at fault because Americans are superior to everyone, American arrogance at its best! I see where this is going, and I don't like it!

From the Navy Times:

Sources told Defense News last month that there was no indication a collision alarm sounded before the Crystal collided with the Fitzgerald's starboard side. Such an alarm would have alerted sleeping sailors. 

I talked about this in a previous post, too many people on watch on a US navy ship for this to have happened!

The CO should have been canned permanently by now!

-3 ( +11 / -14 )

Two words - military "intelligence." NK, Russia, China and several other countries know that the USA has the deadliest weapons in the word. However, it is becoming more clear that although all the billions are spent on them as well as training, something is drastically wrong. A sub popping to the surface, a ship "sleeping" in the pathway of an enormous ship, and all the other unbelievable, mysterious accidents in Japan and throughout the world just give confidence to all the bullies. To borrow a phrase, "maybe the USA military is too big to survive." One solution is send all the dependents in Japan, SK, and Europe home. The government pays the same. Double the pay for all military personnel. And make sure everyone physically looks like an NK soldier.

-4 ( +5 / -9 )

I guess Japan needs to pay for it's own military protection, then.

0 ( +8 / -8 )

I fear we will never know the truth to this

9 ( +10 / -1 )

@Leila26

The US government wants the bases to remain here more than the Japanese people want them here, I am not talking about the Japanese government, but the people. Having all the bases here just makes Japan more of a target after Americans antagonize any country, not just North Korea!

Whether it is a war, a cold war, or just pretending to "protect" Japan, it is all about keeping the military industrial complex rolling and making money for the elites of the world! The bases here started out as an occupation after the war, then Korea had a war, so they still needed the bases, the the Vietnam conflict, still needed the bases, Cold War, the Middle East invasions, and so on!

-5 ( +8 / -13 )

Leila26Today 08:24 am JST

I guess Japan needs to pay for it's own military protection, then.

The US is in the region (world?) for its own interest, nothing to do with "protecting" anyone ...

2 ( +7 / -5 )

The US is taking a perhaps justified hammering here, but in times of crisis they often turn out to provide the most generous and effective assistance of any.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

If the USA keeps bases in Japan, the phone call for the cop of the world gets a faster response. However, the USA needs to decrease the number of bases in Japan and SK, and send all dependents home. Any military personnel who object need to ask for a transfer or retire. That action would allow the military to double the pay for those who stay in Japan and NK and and change to a 6 months on and 6 months off rotation. The unemployment rate of people who support the services, etc. at military bases will go up, which means the Japanese government needs to train people for the future.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Japanese mostly came from china, just like Hong Kong or Taiwan. It would be better to be closer to china than occupied by USA, which apart from the ww2 victory has no historical entitlement. These bases and weapons of mass destruction just make us a target. We have a pretty good military, just look at what they are doing in Kyushu.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Goodlucktoyou:

These bases and weapons of mass destruction just make us a target.

These bases and weapons of mass destruction also save you a proverbial s*tload of money that you don´t spend for defense. I don´t care if you kick out the US bases, but in that case get ready for a massive arms race with China. (Or be prepared to become a Chinese vassal state, if that is what you prefer.) So if you want massive military spending, with the accompanying tax increases etc, fine. Oh yes, and I am sure you will enjoy the vastly increased sympathy from Korea and the Philippines for a new armed-to-the-teeth Japan. So take your pick.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

So take your pick.

US military out, that's my preference. Chinese vassal state or American vassal state - no to either.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

@WilliB

Japan spent about $2 Billion last year to host U.S. forces, that money would go a long way to help out the JSDF. On their own Defense Budget Japan spent $42 billion, 8th in the world, 1/5 that of China, but still not that bad! The American government keeps bases here for mainly their own national interests!

In my opinion, this region would be much calmer without the American military presence in Japan and Korea. You may say that North Korea is a threat, but I am positive China will keep them in check, they have too much to lose if the region is ever brought to war, economically and financially!

The militaries of the world are like a bunch of teenage boys, a lot of chest-thumping, showing off, and looking for bigger toys to impress everyone! A big waste of money in my opinion!

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

I may not be a huge US supporter, but let's be honest here: every country acts in its own interests, not just the US. States are rational selfish actors, just as individuals, and won't take any action unless it is to their own benefit. And sometimes this happens to benefit others as well, when interests are aligned - which is what altruism is. Just want to put that out there.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

China would take the Senkaku Islands as soon as US forces left, for starters. They know that Japan has some good equipment, but is not really on a serious military footing, not for a long time yet, and is pretty easy to read.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I thought the Captain would be facing a court marshal, if only to determine culpability.

It's those damned stealth Cargo ships, the USN just can't pick them up on radar!! or see them as they loom over them!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Surprised it took this long. This commander's career is likely over and most likely we will never hear about it.

@Zichi - I agree with you. Some of the comments regarding "US military out" are interesting. Japan is nowhere near having the capacity to engage potential threats in Asia and it would take a great deal of time for this to happen. I agree Japan should have the ability to defend itself (it is a sovereign nation after all). As Metaterapin says...all countries act in their own interest and they should. It is the duty of elected governments to take care of their tax paying citizens. It does not mean nations cannot be charitable.

I think the end game should be a gradual withdrawal of US troups from East Asia. But for this to be feasible/practical this would required Japan to revisit Article 9 (not so popular) and for Korea and Japan to form an alliance (the past would need to be retired).

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites