Apologies from US officials
Today the US Ambassador to Japan offered personal apology. He expressed deep regret for the alleged rape of a 14 year old Japanese girl by a US Marine. The Ambassador brought along the commander of US forces in Japan. The Marine in question denies the rape allegation although he admits to forcibly kissing the girl. This case has provoked anger throughout Japan. Okinawa’s governor said the incident was an act of evil and called in unforgettable. The case has rekindled the memory of a rape of a 12 year old girl by three US servicemen back in 1995. That attack prompted massive protests on Okinawa, the island which stations most of the 50,000 US troops stationed in Japan and is a critical component of the US military presence in Asia.
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