But the heavy concentration of young, foreign males guarantees that Okinawans will suffer in other ways as well. The 1995 rape was not the first such crime, but it seemed to awaken people's frustrations. Taking the lead was Gov. Masahide Ota, a scholar and author elected on the platform of reducing the American presence. Mass demonstrations led to creation of a commission to examine the issue. But, five years later, the U.S. military continues to dominate the island.
American troops continue to victimize local residents.
After the latest incident, the Marine Corps' Lt. Gen. Earl Hailston visited Okinawa Gov. Keiichi Inamine to make a formal apology. The military imposed a late night curfew and strict limits on drinking. But, Washington's official acts of contrition are far too little too late. It's time to bring America's forces home. The island was turned into a U.S. military stronghold in a very different era.