"Okinawa rape case - guilty until proven innocent?"

Following the allegation that a US Marine Staff Sergeant raped a young girl, I have decided to expand my research of the US-Japan/Okinawa relationship in the hopes of identifying weaknesses in the so-called "mutual" defense treaty and "host" nation support. I will focus on certain crimes committed by USFJ and the various outcomes relating to US-Japan relations.

As so rightly pointed out, the Japanese media and certain political elements have had a great run on pushing their agenda to have the US bases removed, SOFA revamped, and righting the wrongs committed against the citizens of Okinawa. Bear in mind that it "seemed" like the young victim was secondary to the grand scheme to further push a political/economic agenda.

When will the US understand that apologizing BEFORE all the facts are laid out, instituting punishment BEFORE the case is presented, and (un)knowingly criminalizing all US military and civilian personnel due to the action(s) of the few under SOFA-status does nothing more than to fuel or perpetuate the negative stereotypes that the media, certain Okinawain/Japanese citizens, and right-wingers have of the USFJ?

Why do the "experts," "analysts," or other Japan pundits not point out "honne - tatemae" like responses in dealing with situations like this? Was the apology due to being guilty of rape or an apology for other charges that the military will use to punish Hadnott under the USMJ? Was it due to a loss of face? Did the USFJ, experts, linguists, and/or other bother to refute the use of language in the Japanese press in identifying the perp as a suspect, criminal, or rapist? What did the girl report? In my eyes Hadnott is definitely guilty of being stupid, unbecoming of a Marine, and for wanting to do X, Y, or Z with a minor. Guilty as charged on those three BUT what is the rest of the story? Please understand that I am not defending this guy but I am questioning how this incident was used to further certain causes.

Why did certain Japanese newspapers give no more than a paragraph or two to report that the Marine was released due to no charges being filed? No charges? No DNA? No evidence? Did the story pan out? Some say a payout/payoff! What? The last "actual" young rape victim that received big press received approximately $9000.00 in "gomen" or" I'm sorry money" (to keep it at the street term). Was this situation too much for a 14-year old and her parent(s) to handle? Most probably yes since she and her family have been blasted in Japanese language blogs and websites.

Wake up people. Nothing is dropped and kept quite in Japan out of respect of the victim UNLESS there was nothing to pursue on the Japanese-side. The media and certain elements would milk this until the cow ran dry. There is much to pursue on the US-side and I hope that the perp gets what he deserves. Whether we hear additional details of this in the media, behind the scenes bargaining is still going on. The only downside is that the Japanese government must now shine the light on the screw up by the Aegis crew / MOD in handling the accident that killed a fisherman and his son.

Stayed tuned, more news coming your way! There is ALWAYS more to the story!

Respectfully,

A.E.
USMC (former)

after reading this horrible news of another rape in okinawa by these americans, i wondered why the punishment for rape in japan is so lenient?! migod! 7 to 10 years in jail?! ONLY?!!! it should be death penalty or at least life imprisonment! and why are there so many american bases in japan? they should ALL be in iraq. yeah, that's their war anyway! bases from okinawa are going to be transferred to guam. if i get the news right, i think they should be there by 2010. now this freaks me out coz i live in saipan. a very close island near guam. right now, i'm already thinking of moving. DON'T FORGET WHAT HAPPENED TO THE YOUNG INNOCENT 12YR OLD SCHOOLGIRL WHO WAS ABDUCTED & RAPED IN 1995. PLEASE PRAY FOR HER.

[Editor's Note: offensive language has been edited out from this post in accordance with our editorial policy]

Hey Anonymous in Saipan! If you are thinking of moving due to US Marines being relocated to Guam, you may want to try a few coastal cities in North Korea. That should give you a good buffer.

At any rate, do yourself a favor and not make blanket statements about the men, women, and children of the USFJ based on the bad deeds of a few servicemen in Okinawa.

Try picking up a Japanese (Okinawa) newspaper to see if there is any additional reporting on the rape of a 13-year old girl from Uruma, Okinawa who was raped by a 30-year old Okinawain. Sourse: Sankei Shinbum (Okinawa Editor (?).:
3.

携帯電話のゲームサイトで知り合った沖縄本島中部の女子中学生（１３）に対し、
１月１２日、本島中部のホテルで「みだらな行為」をしたとして、
沖縄署は県青少年保護育成条例容疑で、
うるま市の会社員（３０）を２１日、逮捕。
昨夜の県警発表ですが、今朝の地元紙は掲載見送りの模様。

http://koyamay.iza.ne.jp/blog/entry/484373/

How about a 74 year old Okinawain male molesting a 11-year old child? Send him to Iraq?

２２日午前１０時４５分ごろ、
沖縄本島中部の女子小学生（１１）に対し、
宜野湾市の無職男（７４）が「わいせつな行為」をしたとして、
宜野湾署が強制わいせつ容疑で緊急逮捕。

How about to males arrested for their deeds with two Jr. H.S. girls?

http://koyamay.iza.ne.jp/blog/entry/482332/

Do more research and save the bashing for another thread. Let's stay on course here at Japan, Inc.

TOKYO, Japan (CNN) -- The U.S. military in Japan has charged a Marine with rape and other violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice in the alleged sexual assault of 14-year old girl in Okinawa.

A civic group member protests against Hadnott near the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo on February 13.

Staff Sgt. Tyrone Luther Hadnott, 38, has been charged with the rape of a child under 16, abusive sexual contact with a child, making a false official statement, adultery and kidnapping, the Marines said Friday.

No dates for the court-martial have been set.

In February, Japanese authorities released Hadnott after the girl dropped the allegations against him, but the Marine Corps conducted its own investigation to see if Hadnott violated codes of military justice. It held him at a Marine facility.

The rape accusation against Hadnott stirred memories of a brutal rape more than a decade ago and triggered outrage across Japan. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda deplored as "unforgivable" the allegations against Hadnott.

The incident also led to tight restrictions, for a time, for American troops and their families at the U.S. base on Okinawa.

The U.S. military in Japan also formed a sexual assault prevention task force after the incident.

More than 40,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Japan, most of them on Okinawa. The troops were placed there under a security alliance after Japan was defeated in World War II and was renounced its right to a military.

The U.S. military presence has at times bred resentment among some Japanese, who have long complained about crime, noise and accidents. Anti-American sentiments boiled over in 1995 after three American servicemen kidnapped and gang-raped a 12-year-old Okinawan schoolgirl.

Two years ago, a U.S. civilian military employee was jailed for nine years for raping two women.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/04/25/japan.usmilitary/index.html

it would be a refreshing change of pace for the US military to not be involved in rape.

It will be interesting when China has hundreds of bases in the US, and Americans are being molested by them, it will feel very different then won't it!