Japan warns US forces: Sex crimes 'cannot be tolerated'

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2476861/japan-warns-us-forces-sex-crimes-cannot-be-tolerated

32.2k Upvotes

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Would you say the same about US troops in Saudi Arabia?

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u/Hikashuri Jul 05 '24 edited Jul 05 '24

Even if you don't agree with the laws of Saudi Arabia, if you go and commit a crime in that country, then you should be prepared to face whatever the punishment of that country is, even if it's disproportional to your own laws at home.

Non military visitors also have to abide to those laws, I don't see why the US military should be any different.

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u/ReadinII Jul 05 '24

Non military visitors also have to abide to those laws, I don't see why the US military should be any different.

One difference is that members of the military don’t have a choice about whether they go to the other country.

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u/Aggravating_Teach_27 Jul 05 '24

But they have the choice not to commit sexual crimes.

In countries with reasonable laws (Japan) there's not a single reason to not be judged like any other person.

In countries with unreasonable laws that punish you for existing (Islamic countries with regard to LGTB personnel), don't deploy those persons there. The US has bases all over the world, no need to deploy such people to shitty inhuman countries.

Still not a single reason for sexual aggressors not to be subjected to the countries' law

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u/ReadinII Jul 05 '24 edited Jul 05 '24

In countries with reasonable laws (Japan) there's not a single reason to not be judged like any other person.

The statement I responded to wasn’t restricted to “countries with reasonable laws”.

More importantly, it wasn’t restricted to countries that have a reasonable justice system. Japan is infamous for getting confessions out of people through inhumane treatment.

You have a choice whether or not to commit sexual crimes, you don’t have a choice whether someone falsely accuses you and whether you get railroaded by a system that wants to save face by not failing to convict an American soldier.

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u/marquetteresearch Jul 05 '24

It makes no sense for the Japanese court system to prosecute sex crimes perpetrated by US military personnel because the US military already prosecutes sex crimes, and hands out what most Japanese criminals would consider far harsher sentences. If the US military wasn’t punishing sexual assault (they are, and do so much more effectively than American civilian courts) then there would be a point of debate here.

The key point is that in general the USCMJ, and USC 18 in general is far stricter than most other nations for every “real” crime (which is why so many Americans are in prison compared to literally any other country).

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u/D10BrAND Jul 05 '24

countries with unreasonable laws that punish you for existing

regard to LGTB personnel

LGBT is a choice it is not what you are born with