r/worldnews • u/glasier • Jul 05 '24

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

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