Okinawan governor welcomes U.S. response on alleged rape

This is for the first time I remember the Okinawa governor welcomed the action of the American government. Anyway, we don't have money to spend more for Okinawa. Please stop to use a bad news to extort money from the Japanese government.

Senator Jim Webb, a former combat Marine who has long taken an interest in Okinawa, told the symposium that the nighttime curfew was “backwards” and that the military should instead encourage more interaction with residents. Total idiot. Never lived in Okinawa or witnessed or understand all the stupidness or disrespect shown. I will tell you first hand. Not from a outsider. Born and raised in Okinawa,yet I am a American. The military does not enforce and and loose ends on controlling their military. Liberty restrictions? who will know if there is no one there to know exactly where their troops are. They say you have to be on base? Who is to know you didn't jump the fence or just stay out until 6:00a.m. which is has been done.

Mr Webb is right; punish the masses for the deed of a few is not right.

Anyone thinking the Okinawan Police is a joke and the military does not respect them, as stated last night by some dummy (expert) on TV, has not dealt with them.

If guilty, these two should answer to the Japanese system.

shut up old man...it amazes me how quickly all the Japanese and foreigners living in Japan forget about all the good the US military did after the earthquake....how in the hell can that be forgotten by the actions of 2 criminals???? And the reaction of the US Military is completely idiotic by basically locking down all of the US forces from 11 PM to 5 AM....that tells the Japanese...yes we need to lock up our people because they are dangerous....stupid!!!

Another typical two-faced politician! Stir up anti-American hatered in Okinawa and then kiss some ass in Washington.

Jim Webb:“Let me say very clearly—you do not want to go to jail in a Japanese prison,”

What's that mean?

He is so happy he got a reason to visit Washington... give me a break gandpa...

Too bad Sen. Webb who is the biggest supporter for Japan is retiring.

daviddd1212Oct. 24, 2012 - 07:42AM JST shut up old man...it amazes me how quickly all the Japanese and foreigners living in Japan forget about all the good the US military did after the earthquake....how in the hell can that be forgotten by the actions of 2 criminals????

I wouldn't take rape lightly. You are a guest in the foreign country. Behave like one. The Okinawa govenor is concerned with what happened to one of their citizens. I really don't know what this victim is going through, but it's not easy. One issue of concern is what happens immediately before the rape of this poor Okinawan women. She must've experience terror, the frightening realization of what is about to happen but knowing one is powerless to stop it. She has to relive these moments before the rape and blame herself for failing to prevent the assault. She will also experience a variety of other feelings in the weeks following the rape, fear, anger, embarrassment from the deep cultural community, and self-blame.

sfjp...I did not rape anybody...and these guys are not even stationed in Okinawa.... why do I have have to pay a price for these idiots actions...and by the way I feel horrible for the woman!!! Castration for the two fools would be a great punsihment! Public castration!

Was only a couple of days ago commenters here laughing at and taunting Nakaima for traveling to Washington to meet with "low-level" bureaucrats.

toguroOct. 21, 2012 - 08:54AM JST

"You either love him or hate him depending on your stance on the base issues, but you have to admire Nakaima for not backing down on this issue."

@saidani

Yeah, it takes a lot of ball$ to meet with "low-level" Pentagon officials. LOL

and...

Tom DeMickeOct. 21, 2012 - 04:22PM JST

He's going to meet with "low-level officials": Does that mean officials only in the basement of the Pentagon? When will this silly game ever end. It's getting old and fast.

Kurt Campbell, Mark Lippert, and Senator Webb. low-level, huh?

OkinawamikeOct. 24, 2012 - 07:20AM JST Mr Webb is right; punish the masses for the deed of a few is not right.

Mr. Webb has clearly forgotten his training. The COs were entirely right. It is core to the marine philosophy that the entire unit trains together, fights together, is rewarded together and is punished together. This punishment will make sure that the next time two trouble-makers heard out they'll be followed by some of their buddies to make sure they behave themselves.

Frungy Oct. 24, 2012 - 09:23AM JST

spoken like a true Marine, one who is honored and respected wherever he goes, even on Okinawa. too many frat-boyz have stolen your honor.

Rape is a crime, and if convicted, the two knuckleheads who have upset the balance for all of us should go to jail for a long, long time. If convicted, their home town newspapers should carry the story of these two sex offenders exploits, and the damage it has caused to all of us NON-rapists and NON-lawbreakers, who are living very happily in Japan. Okinawa is a wonderful place with warm and friendly people, and they all know we're not all criminals. I guess the military leaders believe that by locking down all the bases, the US is displaying a show of sensitivity to the issue. I think there are better ways.

Total idiot. Never lived in Okinawa or witnessed or understand all the stupidness or disrespect shown. I will tell you first hand. Not from a outsider. Born and raised in Okinawa,yet I am a American. The military does not enforce and and loose ends on controlling their military. Liberty restrictions? who will know if there is no one there to know exactly where their troops are. They say you have to be on base? Who is to know you didn't jump the fence or just stay out until 6:00a.m. which is has been done

Show me your "all seeing" eye or device and I will invest in it. Another forced perspective rant with no real truths.

I don't believe that the current curfew is a "punishment" as some people here are posting. It is my understanding that the curfew was put into place in order to curb possible conflicts due to anti-American sentiment following this heinous crime. They are trying to prevent folks from being out too late at drinking establishments where altercations would be more likely to happen with the over consumption of alcohol. While I'm not happy about this current restriction, I do understand the logic. I estimate this curfew will be in place for around 2 weeks until people's tempers have settled down a bit. To our Japanese hosts, please don't let a couple of bad apples spoil the bunch...

I like the post about castrating the rapists. That seems like what an Islamic state would do. For the person who raped that 12 year old girl a while ago this treatment would be more appropriate.

Or maybe what would be an appropriate karma is if these guys are put in a normal US Feederal prison and then they are raped by a bunch of guys. Maybe that would awaken them.

@Joseph Garret Baxter

Au contraire, I think an islamic state would stone the woman and flog her for allowing herself to be raped. Anyway, why would anyone want to emulate an islamic state? Just look at the state of most of them...

Mr. Webb has clearly forgotten his training. The COs were entirely right. It is core to the marine philosophy that the entire unit trains together, fights together, is rewarded together and is punished together. This punishment will make sure that the next time two trouble-makers heard out they'll be followed by some of their buddies to make sure they behave themselves

The problem with this statement is that all military personnel are place on curfew, not just Marines, who by the way had nothing to do with this crime.

The problem with this statement is that all military personnel are place on curfew, not just Marines, who by the way had nothing to do with this crime.

are you worried that you will miss some parties over the next few weeks? is it too much to expect a little perspective about the overall situation on Okinawa of which, if you are stationed here, you are a part, either willingly or unwillingly.

As reported this has been a long fueled tension in Okinawa. By the sound of it there doesn't seem to be any end insight. If the governments of both countries could not come up with an appropriate solution, as a suggestion, it might be better for the Okinawan and the law abiding military personnel to join force to arrive at a solution

is it too much to expect a little perspective about the overall situation on Okinawa of which, if you are stationed here, you are a part, either willingly or unwillingly.

So Taro you believe the rest of the military and their families are guilty by association?

are you worried that you will miss some parties over the next few weeks? is it too much to expect a little perspective about the overall situation on Okinawa of which, if you are stationed here, you are a part, either willingly or unwillingly

.

If someone in your family gets a DUI, should your whole family lose driving privileges?

Been here for 30 years, so I won't miss a damn thing. Not SOFA, so I can go anywhere I like, at any time.

My point is the base is not a prison as some people would like it to be. You are responsible for your actions and the masses should not be punished for the actions of a few individuals.

So Taro you believe the rest of the military and their families are guilty by association?

I believe, based on comments by some, that some are tone deaf to the tensions that exist on Okinawa now and should stop whining because it might inconvenience their personal life for a short period of time. nice try, though.

If someone in your family gets a DUI, should your whole family lose driving privileges?

you simply choose to ignore the complexity of the issues by this example which is not analogous to what is happening.

You simply choose to ignore the complexity of the issues by this example which is not analogous to what is happening.

And you simply lump all Military personnel together on Okinawa as the cause of all problems here.

I believe, based on comments by some, that some are tone deaf to the tensions that exist on Okinawa now and should stop whining because it might inconvenience their personal life for a short period of time. nice try, though.

Yet your previous comments make it easy to take the next logical step in finding them all guilty by association.

They are not tone deaf either, they are, as in the US Military, also very PO'd about the rape as well, and that was before the imposition of the curfew. Yet the military being the military will punish everyone for the actions of a few and the punishment is politically motivated, nothing more nothing less.

Short period of time or long, how long will it last, weeks, months? Who knows, but I garuntee you that the potential for further incidents has been raised by this action, like the last time when military folks jumped fences, or got DUI's even though there were restrictions in place.

And you simply lump all Military personnel together on Okinawa as the cause of all problems here.

I did nothing. you should take that complaint to the Pentagon or wherever the curfew came from. again, nice attempt to make it about me instead of the issues.

@taro67

It's great you know all these big words, and you feel the need to throw them out while your engaged in dialogue on the forum, but that vast knowledge of vocabulary does not mean much. So if what I am reading from what you have typed is correct, the Japanese teenager who killed the American teen over a girl (by the way, which was not covered in the news, go figure), then all Japanese must be murderers right? If I remember correctly that teenager was from mainland and not Okinawan. So should all Okinawans be looked at as killers because of him?

Let's not act like there are not rapes that go on off base here in Okinawa as well. The media here chooses to push their no base issue by only showing negative news on the military or finding people who speak English to speak down on the military, like the guy on RBC last night.

I agree we are all apart of the situation, we are in the military and should be held to a higher standard, but at the end of the day, the military is a volunteer force with a wide array of backgrounds. At the end of the day, we are all humans. If you want to talk about the wrongdoings of someone, maybe we should look at the number of Okinawans/Japanese who are barred from entering military installations for a variety of reasons.

I am sure not everyone on the island of Okinawa feels like you, there is not so much tension that people are going to start a riot. But flying kites in the flight path of an Osprey...that's smart, don't cry about the helicopter being un-safe if you do stupid things like that. Are you seriously talking about someone whining?

It's funny to see the same people protesting that work on base. You don't want the base, but that's how many people make their living. You complain about the Osprey, but wait for next years Foster Fest, I want to see how many Japanese/Okinawans come on base to take pictures of the Osprey. You don't want the base but everyday hundreds if not thousands of Japanese/Okinawans visit the base and spend a lot of money on base and then sell it off base. You don't want the base but like it or not we are your major source of economy, I don't think tourism, brown sugar, fish and vegetables is enough to keep your head above water...I will wait for your big meaningless words

Why the Band-Aid approach of just making MEN follow a curfew law? Rape doesn't happen at noon? Just get the troops off of Okinawa now via Ospreys, et al, and move on. How many years has the USA occupied Japan? 1945-2012. 67 years! How long did Japan occupy Korea? 1915-1945. 30 years! There must be a way to remove the Yanks from Japan. In the last presidential debate it was pointed out that there are less horses and bayonets in the military because there are more ships and submarines to defend the USA. When will the USA military understand this concept, decrease the paid vacation for the military and the families, and stop supporting the Japanese economy?

I will wait for your big meaningless words

sorry to offend you by trying to use English properly. perhaps I was not as good as I thought as I meant only to comment on the curfew which was not originated by the Okinawan people, but the US military. For Okinawans, such small steps are important because so many feel ignored by both the Japanese and US governments. Those who made the curfew were right to do it because of the tension situation which has been building for a long time.

it just seems that those who complain about the curfew ignore the complexity of the issue that the US leaders recognize. perhaps that is why those people rose to the level to make such decisions and those who complain did not. at any rate, complaints about the curfew should be taken up with the US government and its military leaders. trying to make this an issue caused by Okinawans is unfair and ignores this specific situation and its effect on the long-term problems as seen by Okinawan people. i was only asking for some perspective.

Yubaru Oct. 24, 2012 - 10:48AM JST

All of your complaints that you list should be directed to the US government, not Okinawans. as for your predictions, only time will tell, though I would imagine the same people who made the curfew would take other measures to ensure your predictions of increased incidents do not happen. it would seem to be a failure of leadership if they do not.

@taro67

Most of us if not already, should be aware that Okinawans have long been ignored by the Japanese and U.S. governments. We all know that the Japanese military based themselves on Okinawa as a blockade to keep U.S. ground troops from reaching Tokyo, thus forcing Okinawa and it's citizens into a war they knew nothing about.

We know of how the government in Tokyo, gave the U.S. free access of Okinawa to place bases at will and how they defer any idea of a base being placed in mainland.

We understand that, but as has been said, don't lump the actions of a few into a large group of people. The U.S. government listens to the government of Japan (Tokyo) and since Okinawa is apart of Japan, they do not necessarily have to listen to the government of Okinawa. Maybe I missed it, but no one blames this issue on the Okinawan people. Others commented on Nakaima, who every night on RBC/QAB/ONN is bad mouthing the military, but then goes to Washington and praises leaders. It has to be one way or the other, but thats whats wrong with all politicians today. I agree the curfew was correct, but in the long run, a curfew will never stop the actions of an idiot or two. We can only hope that the officials won't succumb to the pressures of the local business owners like last time.

Wouldn't you agree the one-sided news coverage shown here in Okinawa is unfair and ignores the specific situation of what the American military is really doing here? All the stories that are covered help to further infuriate hatred towards Americans. It's sickening to see these protests where children and teens who obviously have no idea what an Osprey is or the true story behind the Battle of Okinawa speak on something and not be able to grow their own ideas. I have lived here for almost 5 years I'm a civilian), and have no plans of ever living anywhere else for the rest of my life. But there is no way for Okinawa and the American military to ever be "friends" if we can't get over our high horses and hatred and talk about the good and bad that is happening here.

For Okinawans, such small steps are important because so many feel ignored by both the Japanese and US governments. Those who made the curfew were right to do it because of the tension situation which has been building for a long time.

The imposition of the curfew is a knee jerk politically motivated reaction to appease the Okinawan politicians, nothing more, nothing less.

Tension building? It's for the most part self imposed and the overwhelming majority of Okinawan's have no tension with regards to the bases, other than the constant repitition of old news on the news.

mpokiOct. 24, 2012 - 12:01PM JST

A very reasonable comment, much of which i agree with. As for the local media, you see it as unfair but there are no limitations on media outlets which are pro-American. meanwhile, this issue gets almost no coverage in the US, and certainly not pro-Okinawa. For that matter, there is little coverage in mainland Japan except for the newsworthy incidents. Forgive the Okinawans for being a small voice in the wind.

As far why the Americans are here, it is quite obvious they are in Japan to protect their interests. They have long coveted Okinawa for its strategic location. Commodore Perry planted the first American flag here. The myth of being here to protect Okinawa or even Japan is like Santa Claus, only for children.

I would agree that there is not a path for American forces and Okinawans to co-exist without drastic changes. unfortunately, the changes offered by the Americans (Henoko) is not acceptable. So, Americans and Japanese governments have two choices, a) to find another solution, or b) force the US plan on the people and ensure that Americans will never be welcomed there. To ask Okinawans to accept the plan without complaint or opposition ignores reality.

Okinawans are friendly people who historically have never had an issue with anyone. But first Japanese and now Americans have pushed too hard for too long. We have not the force to defeat people who might be friends if they would give us some respect and fairness, but we can make life tough for them if we are forced to do it.

The imposition of the curfew is a knee jerk politically motivated reaction to appease the Okinawan politicians, nothing more, nothing less.

Complain to the US government.

Tension building? It's for the most part self imposed and the overwhelming majority of Okinawan's have no tension with regards to the bases, other than the constant repitition of old news on the news.

The results of voting on the island would tend to make this statement false. In fact, the overwhelming majority vote for pro-Okinawa politicians.

I dunno, there are a lot of leftist that moves in from the main land and demonstrates....

“Let me say very clearly—you do not want to go to jail in a Japanese prison,” he said.

Really? I'd rather be in a Japanese prison than a US prison. Japanese prisons are strict but orderly and a lot safer than US prisons. Atleast I don't have to worry about getting stabbed in the neck with a spoon or jumped by a prison gang.

I agree with Senator Webb. By restricting people to inside a gate at night, you give the impression to the typical Japanese citizen that there is something to be afraid of when there is not. The only way we can control our people is by locking them up, they are dangerous, that is the message. Instead the message should have been, we are really sorry for what happened and we will punish those who did it. But then reinforce that this is an uncommon event and that military people will continue to interact with Japanese citizens on a daily and nightly basis as we are allies and in a mutual defense partnership.

So you restrict people's movements for a while based on a random time that someone decided sounds good (11pm). No one gets raped for a while after that, so Japanese get the wrong idea that this is a solution and then they will want that to continue. Lets say you dont restrict people's movements instead. No one also gets raped for a while also, then people can see that in fact this is uncommon and everyone and everything gets back to how it needs to be.

This curfew will not last only a little while. I was here in 2002 -2005 when I left. They said "only a few weeks" of curfew about the white guy who murdered the japanese guy in 02. The curfew lifted this year, 2012...

Once again, many are saying others shouldnt be punished for someones actions.

I still agree.

But the anti whatever needs to stop... Paid vacation??? Now i know some people here are ignorant.

Being on the kittyhawk before its decomm , do you know how many threats that the Navy deflects from Japan ??

Not everything makes the news so you can have something to complain about in your moms house

@Shinobi

This curfew will not last only a little while. I was here in 2002 -2005 when I left. They said "only a few weeks" of curfew about the white guy who murdered the japanese guy in 02. The curfew lifted this year, 2012...

I have been assigned on mainland Japan since 2010 and there has been no curfew, not sure where you are getting your info from. There was a locally generated curfew at Yokota AB restricitng the hours Airmen could be in the "Bar Row" district in Fussa. But that was not the same issue and it certainly did not affect the entire military force across the island of Japan. The curfew as it currently stands most likely won't last more than a couple of weeks, once tensions are a bit more relaxed, it will be lifted...

This incident shows yet again that it is now time to allow Japan to use nuclear deterrence and take care of itself. Send the boys home already.

Complain to the US government.

Nope, just pointing out things as I see them. I see things from both sides of the coin but am not allowed to write too much about what I see from the other side without getting the posts censored.

The results of voting on the island would tend to make this statement false. In fact, the overwhelming majority vote for pro-Okinawa politicians.

You really have little knowledge of Okinawan politics to make a statement like this. Okinawan's vote first for relatives, 2nd many vote for whom either a parent or boss tells them to vote for, and after that who knows. But then that is an assumption on my part however it is based upon some fairly good sources of information that I trust.

Certainly, the "quick response" Nakaima felt he had received was not an apology nor an indefinite nighttime curfew imposed upon U.S. personnel nor carrots like monetary assistance with the help of Tokyo. If it was only such mediocre measures, Nakaima couldn't have rejoiced as he did however quick these measures were taken.

He must have felt the U.S. side was serious about what Okinawa has been asking for -- relocating Futenma outside the prefecture and deploying the Osprey somewhere else.

I, for one, oppose their relocation and deployment sites should be within Japan because I take the position that the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty is the issue that must be reviewed above anything else.

The names quoted that Nakaima met I never even heard of which means they are low-level. Simply put. Folks, the curfew will resolve nothing. There will be another rape, it's just a matter of time. There have been curfews in the past...they come and they go. Military folks here on Okinawa come, and then they go. New faces come not fully understanding the history of what's been going on just since 1995 alone. Never head of Senator Webb but I liked what he said. Fully agreed. As for prisons...you don't want to go to an American prison! There it is legal for fellow prisoners to rape and abuse you. You don't have that in Japanese prisons. These two fools will get off with a light sentence compared to what they would get in the U.S. The sentence those three stooges got for raping that little 12 year old girl in September 1995 was 7 years! 7 years for raping a child. Anyone who thinks that's appropriate, raise your hand! I don't see many hands! 'nuff said!

Food for thought; If the Okinawan politicians had taken the deal initially offered to have the heliport built at Henoko, and MCAS Futenma closed, along with moving 10K plus Marines and their families to Guam, it is VERY possible that this incident would never have occurred in the first place.

Okinawan politicians have to accept a portion of the blame, they are responsible for not having all the bases south of Kadena already moved out of Okinawa.

Nobody would have to be apologizing for anything, and there would be no curfew imposed either.

Like I said food for thought.

It's ABOUT DAMN TIME! This time the "curfew' needs to stay. To all the idiots who don't think this is the RIGHT move are probably U.S. Military themselves and don't want to have any previliages taken from them. But the as a whole they don't deserve the previleage to be OUT at night unless they are undersupervision. Rape by soilders have been on the rise. Already this is the 3rd or 4th rape. There were 2 already in South Korea by U.S. soldiers one guy even broken into an 18yr old girls apt and raped her. He got 10yrs. Decent Americans who work abroad are always the ones who has egg on their face when these blockheads do dumb shiet.

They should implement this curfew everywhere Not just Japan. It will be nice to travel and not have to pick up a local paper and read stupid crap like this every other month.

@Blacklabel

by the way Senator Webb is an idiot who cares nothing about the safety of local population because he doesn't live there....thousands of U.S. military servicemen DO belong behind lock and key.

"The rise in gang activity coincides with the increase in recruits with records. Since 2003, 125,000 recruits with criminal histories have been granted what are known as "moral waivers" for felonies including ROBBERY and ASSUALT." - FACT

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-3107316.html

Food for thought; If the Okinawan politicians had taken the deal initially offered to have the heliport built at Henoko, and MCAS Futenma closed, along with moving 10K plus Marines and their families to Guam, it is VERY possible that this incident would never have occurred in the first place.

LOL...so its Nakaima's fault and all of those opposed to the relocation. Nice logic. By the same token, if Japan had never lost the war, it might not have happened. And If Roosevelt had not erected an oil embargo, it might not have happened. And, to be sure, if Perry had not invaded Japan, it might not have happened. This is fun...pointless, but fun.

But, wait...I thought the defense of the troops stationed on Okinawa is that these guys were transients. So, are you saying they would not have come if the base was in Henoko? But, Henoko was for the Marines and these guys were Navy? Your food for thought is not very appetizing when we really look at it.

You really have little knowledge of Okinawan politics to make a statement like this. Okinawan's vote first for relatives, 2nd many vote for whom either a parent or boss tells them to vote for, and after that who knows. But then that is an assumption on my part however it is based upon some fairly good sources of information that I trust.

Anecdotal and refuted by the results. To trust your "good sources" one would first have to trust you and you have an agenda which makes it difficult to establish trust. so.....

But, wait...I thought the defense of the troops stationed on Okinawa is that these guys were transients. So, are you saying they would not have come if the base was in Henoko? But, Henoko was for the Marines and these guys were Navy? Your food for thought is not very appetizing when we really look at it.

Like I said something to consider. Okinawa's politicians say no to the bases with one side of their mouth but then tell the government they want more money for hosting them. That is a fact.

Okinawa's politicians have made choices that extend the problem, now over 15 years, when they could have and still could, get Futenma moved, but would rather prolong the problem.

Like I said something to consider.

Sorry. why consider something that is meaningless as I pointed out earlier. It is only food for those looking for any reason to blame Japanese. From Okinawa perspective, it wouldn't have happened if the US had simply worked with Okinawa for the past 15 years to resolve our concerns. But that discussion gets us nowhere, too.

Even TDY troops should have some Sensitive Japan awareness training. Similar cases from the natives would never make it past the police station. and politicians would praise the guys as studs, (Waseda super free club incident). In fact, women will be made to feel guilty of causing the trouble themselves. It will come to the point where American should deal with Japanese as if they were dealing with muslims: just stay away from them.

Yubaru (Oct. 24, 2012 - 05:31PM JST),

The exactly same argument as you make can be made from our position also. We've been asking Futenma be closed and the land returned to Okinawa unconditionally. Demanding a new base in its return is gimmickry. We've also been asking for the reduction of this excessive U.S. military footprint in Okinawa. If our demand had been met, then "it is VERY possible that this incident would never have occurred in the first place," to repeat your hackneyed phrase.

Americans always are for local control except when it is inconvenient for them. In their case they get the majority Yamato people to do their dirty work. The Marine bases do not defend Japan. Second a ground war on Okinawa would kill perhaps a 100,000 Okinawa people again. Move the Marines to Australia and let them bother the sheep instead of urban areas.

Even TDY troops should have some Sensitive Japan awareness training. Similar cases from the natives would never make it past the police station. and politicians would praise the guys as studs, (Waseda super free club incident). In fact, women will be made to feel guilty of causing the trouble themselves. It will come to the point where American should deal with Japanese as if they were dealing with muslims: just stay away from them.

I'm not 100% sure but normally when you go TDY you get and OSI breif (AF anyways) about local conditions and whatnot. Including how the locals view the US presence in their country. However, if someone is just passing though for a couple days, they don't get a briefing like that.

Stephen the goal is to keep the PRC army off of Okinawa. So the Air Force and Navy are important and do say sir on how so few Marines will prevent the PRC from doing anything. If we lose the big battle of the South China Sea there is nothing to prevent the PRC from invading Okinawa. Once we lose control of the air and it it will be all over. The Marine bases and others will be plastered before invasion. Kindly tell me what the frack they would do against 25,000 invading Communists Chinese? The Air Force and Navy have a purpose, the Marines will be surrender bait. All of American dependents falling into the PRC bag will be bad.

Forcing the forces assigned to Japan to adhere to a curfew because of the actions of a couple of glorified delivery boys stationed in Texas is like imprisioning a town's population for a murder committed by someone who's already LEFT the town... The wrong people are being punished and in an outrageous proportion to the actual number of perpetrators.

Fadamor, only the US SOFA population that likes to go out after 11pm is being "punished". Again it is the Americans command that made the decision. I would be happy if the US command would not let SOFA Americans drink off base at all. As a woman there is nothing like walking into a bar full of drunk American men. I can handle the drunk Japanese ones am going to break my knee one day on their privates.

Fadamor, only the US SOFA population that likes to go out after 11pm is being "punished". Again it is the Americans command that made the decision.

Let's see... where to start? Despite your claim, the curfew affects all forces STILL out after 11 p.m., not just the ones who want to GO out after 11 p.m. The American command made the decision on the curfew after the hysterics that the Okinawans displayed after the crime was reported. It was about the only thing they COULD do because everything else had already been done. With regards to the forces stationed in Japan.

I would be happy if the US command would not let SOFA Americans drink off base at all. As a woman there is nothing like walking into a bar full of drunk American men. I can handle the drunk Japanese ones am going to break my knee one day on their privates.

Then what you're saying is that you're afraid of American's so you'd be perfectly fine with them being locked away rather than being out where they can interact with you. This, despite the fact that on Okinawa you're 99.2% more likely to be a victim of a crime by someone NOT in the American military (or their families) than one who is in the military (or their families). Can you see the irrationality you're projecting?

The exactly same argument as you make can be made from our position also. We've been asking Futenma be closed and the land returned to Okinawa unconditionally. Demanding a new base in its return is gimmickry. We've also been asking for the reduction of this excessive U.S. military footprint in Okinawa. If our demand had been met, then "it is VERY possible that this incident would never have occurred in the first place," to repeat your hackneyed phrase.

Yes it could; however you forget one teeny-tiny bit of information, which is something the Okinawan politicians should have considered at the time.

There is an agreement in place between the US and Japanese government covering the administration of the bases and in the terms of the agreement, para-phrasing here, a "like wise suitable facility" will be provided, unless otherwise agreed upon.

Okinawan politicians should know better than to expect that they could unilaterally disregard the security treaty with the US. Before anything else, the treaty would have to be renegotiated or amended. However no one considers that a part of the process and all they do is demand this or that. They had a proposal on the table 15 years ago and refused to accept it, extending the problem for going on 2 decades.

A bird in the hand is worth more than 2 in the bush.

Look, Yubaru. The Japan-U.S. Security Treaty is not a moot question here. Many of the Okinawan politicians, including Nakaima, support the security treaty. And yet, all of them demand Futenma be relocated outside Okinawa, not within. They are not demanding the treaty "be renegotiated or amended," as you say.

Probably, you are mixed up about the security treaty with the SACO agreement of 2006. Yes, this 2006 agreement must be renegotiated or done away with completely.

You don't have a right to say "A bird in the hand is worth more than 2 in the bush." Why? Because the U.S. is not the almighty to decide the fate of others. The SACO agreement was gimmickry that had been negotiated over our heads and signed without our consent. We are the people most ill-affected by it and you can't disregard our wishes if you think the U.S. is a world champion of democracy.

It's probably a good thing that the governor didn't meet with the Senate candidate Mourdock on this trip.

i think the japanese have a word for this "curfew": 反省. (hansei)

Forcing the forces assigned to Japan to adhere to a curfew because of the actions of a couple of glorified delivery boys stationed in Texas is like imprisioning a town's population for a murder committed by someone who's already LEFT the town... The wrong people are being punished and in an outrageous proportion to the actual number of perpetrators.

I still fail to see why people come to this site to argue and complain about the curfew. Okinawans did not make the curfew. Japanese did not make the curfew. You all should address your concerns to Lt. Gen. Salvatore Angelella, care of Yokota Air Base.

Okinawans did not make the curfew. Japanese did not make the curfew.

On the contrary. The over-reaction of the Okinawan politicians with their "resolution" is EXACTLY the reason the curfew was imposed. Nothing else caused it. The two sailors involved in the incident were not part of the U.S. forces stationed in Japan, so the normal routine would have been to discipline the command responsible (the one in Texas). This was perverted by the Okinawan resolution saying the U.S. Military Command in Japan hasn't done enough to eliminate crime. They had to do SOMETHING after that, but none of their personnel were involved in the crime. There was no individual to make an example of, so they had to go with ALL personnel.

On the contrary. The over-reaction of the Okinawan politicians with their "resolution" is EXACTLY the reason the curfew was imposed. Nothing else caused it.

Sorry...you are wrong. The US brass have finally realized that they need to do something to show "good faith" before Okinawa goes from a nuisance to a full blown anti-American revolt. You might want to blame this on Okinawa's politicians who have certainly taken advantage of America's embarrassment but, after enduring 67 years of being ignored, why wouldn't they raise a fuss to force action. The curfew is a result of the chickens coming home to roost for the Americans who have had their way over Okinawa for too long. Karma.

Your explanation assumes that the Japanese should sit quietly in the corner and shut up. Those days are gone.