Sad State of Affairs

Recently a 38 year old Staff Sergeant stationed in a military base located in Okinawa, the southernmost of Japan's islands, was accused of raping a 14 year old girl. This has created an uproar in Okinawa which is the only place in Japan to house US military forces in any number and this most recent incident is only the latest in a long line of abuses by the military stationed there. Adding fuel to the fire is the fact that the marine doesn't dispute the occurrence of the rape, just the degree. To give you just an idea of said incidents here is a link listing them all:

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/national/news/20080213p2a00m0na034000c.html


As this rape occurred at a time when the US and Japan are negotiating placement of a larger airfield on the island it has created a great deal of tension between the two countries with Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda saying it is inexcusable. As the US rushes to address the growing political problem created by such crimes I can personally only feel empathy for the islanders and all they have had to put up with since WWII. Not only were they ordered to commit mass suicides by the Japanese military when the island was overrun, but just last year the government attempted to have this stricken from Japanese history books. Along with such blatant disregard for their past suffering they have had to deal with a repeatedly uncontrollable US military presence with no end in site. Such flagrant abuses of power by the United States sickens me as they attempt to force their military presence on a supposed 'ally' simply amazes me.