Yokosuka residents angered at alleged murder by U.S. sailor

Friday 04th April, 09:50 AM JST

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kendodan at 12:56 PM JST - 4th April

Absoulty right!!!! NotJohnWayne
nigelboy at 01:05 PM JST - 4th April

Maybe I am missing something, but I'm thinking if anyone isn't capable of being a positive representation of their service (and country) anywhere in the world, WTF are they doing being in the service in the first place??

Free meal, shelter, money, and guaranteed citizenship to a person from third world countries sounds like a good deal at the time.
nigelboy at 01:16 PM JST - 4th April

"The U.S. also has jurisdiction if you commit a crime during the performance of your duties.

"If you are accused of a crime in Japan and are currently in U.S. custody, the agreement says that you will remain in U.S. custody until you are charged with the crime"

I believe these are the two issues that anti-SOFA's have a problem with. They want Japanese jurisdiction and custody on all crimes committed outside the base.
robin_hood at 01:46 PM JST - 4th April

"I gave the "screening for overseas assignments" issue more thought while at lunch... I don't understand what further screening is required... if an individual is deemed qualified/capable of serving in the Navy, what extra stuff is being looked at to deem them capable of being stationed overseas?"

How about Psyche Eval... This should be standard, they would have caught this knucklehead before he even left the states...

All law enforcement agencies do this... It adds 2 hours to the process..

If we didn't have people coming over hear and stabbing people in the neck with a kitchen knife or raping 12 year olds, there wouldn't be any issue.

Gee, what's on the overseas screen... That things a joke.. And they can waiver anybody for basically any reason for needs of service.

That needs to change..

And how about holding recruiter's liable for knowingly admitting undesirables or failure to do the required legwork in ensuring these people are suitable....?
NotJohnWayne at 02:28 PM JST - 4th April

How about Psyche Eval... This should be standard, they would have caught this knucklehead before he even left the states...

Robin Hood, My point is, if an individual "fails" a screening prior to being stationed overseas... why are they allowed to serve in the first place. If you are crazy/unstable/too stupid to be stationed overseas, I'm thinking you shouldn't be wearing a uniform at all!
WarriorVoice at 02:34 PM JST - 4th April

OK! I am sorry for my befroe commits, because I was very angry at the American US Military bashing. There are a lot of us that do not do crime, that actually say, here we go again getting punished because of one persone cruel crime. We really hate that, so we wish the Japanese do not hate US American military and there families. There are US Civilians over that do not do anything at all, that speak the japanese language and have japanese friends, but are punished to because of US NAVAL Personnel, which is not right, because that take away our constitutional rights. We love our freedom, that is why we are American Civilians that work with the Department Of Defense, not for them. American civilians love and respect japan, we go by different rules under the American Embassy, but the US NAVAL BASE Yokosuka control our freedom. Please do not judge all Americans here in Japan by actions of a few, that is a wrong judgement call, by any country. When I was little I thought all Japanese people was Ninja's and like killing, but when I finally had a chance to come to japan, with a open mind, I was able to see differently.

Thank you for being a great host country, I love it here, I will be staying here with my japanese wife and kids, and I also understand the Spirit of Mount Fuji, it is over whelming
nigelboy at 03:15 PM JST - 4th April

The US is paying for the presence of the US bases. Japan's contribution is a pittance compared to the total cost of stationing troops here--especially when you consider how much of their payment is immediately returned to the local economy.

DanTheManinJapan

According to the Allied Contribution to the Common Defense dated 2004

"Cost sharing in support of U.S. forces stationed on its territory remains Japan’s most significant responsibility sharing contribution. Indeed, its host nation support is the most generous of any U.S. ally, and consists of funding covered under both the Special Measures Agreement (SMA) and the Facilities Improvement Program (FIP). The Department’s estimate of Japan’s cost sharing support for U.S. forces in 1999 was $5.2 billion, covering 78.8 percent of U.S. basing costs.

This, of course, is the highest among the 26 other Alliance countries but in fact it's nearly 1.1 times the total of those 26 other nations.

Furthermore, using the "economic" effect, in my opinion, is weak reason for ANY military base. By using that argument, one could conceivably argue that there should be no base closures whatsoever and that there should be MORE.
jambon at 03:27 PM JST - 4th April

Ask the Yokosuka residents who Yoshie Sato was. (Who?)
Seawhiz at 03:39 PM JST - 4th April

I don't think all you anti US Military folks on this blog ever stop and think about what you are saying before you post this crap. How about putting blame where blame is due. The US navy doesn't pay these individuals that decide that their above the law and decide to attack innocent people or rape 12 y/o girls. I agree with some of the statements on this post that the US military should set certain criteria in place to allow only individuals that have been serving their country and it interests with at least 5 years of service and a pschye eval annually. I disagree with the title of this article, its flat out wrong. I have lived here in Yokosuka for a few years now and I know that my Japanese friends are not angeredm their saddened. Because they don't like having the spotling shine on them and their culture.

I notice that a lot of the time most of these post are send from individuals that have no idea of how the people of Japan culture works. I hope that if the fellow that committed this stupid and senseless act gets what he deserves.

I think the third, (second Japanese people, First the cabbie) victim of this crime is all the service members serving their country here and around the world who are getting blacked ball for this guy that join the Navy but became a punk and decided to run away and hide.

But enough of this story of this guy, how about one of you antiamerican military force in Japan bloggers come up with some serious solutions to a problem and not unhelpful statements. thanks and have coke and a smile on me. .....
Alphaape at 04:58 PM JST - 4th April

"Japan’s cost sharing support for U.S. forces in 1999 was $5.2 billion" that is a nice amount of money, but still it does not even cover the cost of construction of a nuclear powered aircraft carrier, nor the cost of the associated air wing (aircraft only) onboard. Plus Japan spends it's own money for it's own defense programs, but they are still getting a good deal (in terms of not having to lay out a large portion of you Federal spending to military costs since the end of WW2.

As far as the other economic impact, ask a few of the owners of busniesses who will suffer loss of income during this self impose period of reflection. And if the others get what they wish in keeping the majority of the personnel stationed here in base housing on base, there was a recent article in the Stars and Stripes that stated that about 20,000 personnel out of the total assigned to Japan (mil and civil) (with about 4500 in Yokosuka alone) live off base in houses on the economy. Let's look at Yokosuka, if they moved all of those people onbase (4500), and they paid an average of $2000 a month in rent ($9,000,000/month; $108,000,000/year) being paid to the local realtors, that is a lot of money.

However, before everone starts blasting me, this in no means gives any US military person the right to flaunt the Japanese laws or justify any bad behavior done by a few idots. So before all the US military bashing crowd gets fired up, look at what we do contribute besides the security to Japan.
robin_hood at 06:42 PM JST - 4th April

"NotJohnWayne" "My point is, if an individual "fails" a screening prior to being stationed overseas... why are they allowed to serve in the first place. If you are crazy/unstable/too stupid to be stationed overseas, I'm thinking you shouldn't be wearing a uniform at all!"

I get your point, but my point is the bigger picture here, being based in japan or anywhere overseas for that matter (notwithstanding U.S. territory), requires special treatment and standards.

In the U.S. if someone gets in trouble, there are no stipulations regarding who will get jurisdiction, but overseas all U.S. military, family, dependents, and government civilians are considered "representatives" of the U.S., no we they are not diplomats, but they a get a special status because they are here only because of the U.S. Hence no finger-printing & photos at immigration, they are excluded.

So not only is the U.S. responsible for these knuckleheads, they have an added responsibility of ensuring they are not bringing thugs or criminals over here under the auspices of the military.

Obviously, the U.S. Military isn't going to start performing "Psyche Evals" on every single recruit entering the Military (I agree completely with your comments and I believe the standards should be hight for everyone), they wouldn't be able to get a large enough pool of recruits to pass (it's sad but true), but they need to start somewhere and they need to start using some proven "Risk Management" methods and processes such as the "Psyche Eval" or polygraph to identify these guys early.

If this guy stabbed a taxi driver in San Diego, or any other city in the U.S., you wouldn't have heard one thing about it... Instead it's an international incident, and I'd bet everyone from "George Dubya" on down to the lowly GS-5 at the embassy in Tokyo was made aware of this incident.

Bottom line, they are not doing squat right now nor have they been for a long long time to prevent something like this from happening again and they need to start...
Desiderata1967 at 08:54 PM JST - 4th April

Just one thing...if the US was taken out of Japan, you can be pretty sure the Japanese would be crying for help when the Chinese and Koreans launch an attack here. And they surely will if the Americans are made to leave.
jambon at 10:04 PM JST - 4th April

I think all Nigerians residing in Japan should be embarrassed as much as the U.S. military.
VoXman at 12:13 PM JST - 6th April

They want Japanese jurisdiction and custody on all crimes committed outside the base.

... and they'll get that as soon as Japan gets their Police Investigative, Judical Process and prison systems off both of Amnesty Int, and the United Nations Civil Rights Violators watch list.
VoXman at 12:36 PM JST - 6th April

most generous of any U.S. ally, and consists of funding covered under both the Special Measures Agreement (SMA) and the Facilities Improvement Program (FIP). The Department’s estimate of Japan’s cost sharing support for U.S. forces in 1999 was $5.2 billion, covering 78.8 percent of U.S. basing costs.

True, but where is the funding for operating and maintianing a Aircraft carrier at sea and the destroyers and support ships, plus the 100-200 aircraft as well. It costs a million dollars a day to keep a carrier at sea. Who pays for that? Who pays for the logistics of moving 1000s of families back and forth each year from the US and Japan? Who pays for the training, heath care and payroll for 50,000 plus servicemembers(Sailors Airmen, Soldiers and Marines) here in Japan and Okinawa? Finally who pays the respects for the dead and handicapped servicemembers whose condition is a result of operations in support of the US Japan Security agreement? The answer is Not Japan.

Fact is we have so many ships, because of operational necessity. If we leave Japan the political situation in this region remains the same. But the US tax payer would foot the entire bill for the 7th Fleet that would now be stationed in Guam instead of the Japanese taxpayer, paying their 5plus billion.

So where will the money come from to replace the umbrella of security provided by the US. I know many posters here say well, Japan doesn't need it. China and NK won't invade nor bother us. We'll work out a treaty or some agreement. They are our trading partner etc..etc... ok well its good to be optomistic, but Japan's elected officials have a different plan. If the US Mil goes home, the J-Gov plans a massive expansion of the Air,Sea and Land forces of Japan. Japan doesn't have the money, so thousands of public works projects that the Japanese enjoy, (like perfect roads) will end or be put on hold. Luxury tax will go sky high on Gas, and cigs...

No what Japan's very smart leaders are doing and will do irregardless of what the posters here and the protesters say, is to gradually build up its hardware and expertise. Gradually expand the number of personnel and incentives to join the military until the Japanese can stand on their own 2 feet without the US proping them up. All the while maintianing the US Japan security Agreement. That will never change.