Just a general wondering, but why are american soldiers based in japan??
138317
while it is true that we occupied Japan after WW2, the true fact is, because of Japan's ban on an 'aggressive' military, they need us.  Japan's military is called a Self Defense Force, and are not currently equipped to defend their country against a possible invasion by China(unlikely) or North Korea( less unlikely).\n\nContrary to the vast majority of news reports, Japan and America enjoy a positive, mutually beneficial relationship.
642609
The Japanese leave a bad taste in the mouths of most Koreans. The Jap soldiers often would go to the schools and drag out beautiful female students and rape them over and over. My grandmother said my aunt was raped while the Japanese men laughed. \nIf the village chief did not invite Jap officers to functions, he or somebody in his family would be murdered. At the functions, the Jap soldiers would take most of the food and the most beautiful girls to rape. Many times they rounded up the beautiful girls and take them to whatever campaign that needed comfort women. There were Koreans, Chinese, and even a few European type women taken in this manner. \nTo date, there has never been any retribution, only empty promises. Asian men did not marry the former comfort women; they had been violated.
542205
I will give you an eyewitness statement. First, I'm not from Texas (I'm a Tar Heel!!! - GO NC!!), second I'm not in the National Guard, I'm active duty. Now the account, I served with an active duty battalion that was assigned 2 National Guard companies - one was from Kansas and one was from Texas. They were truck companies, and both saw heavy action. On a side note, I found both units to be extremely professional in their duties. Neither shirked from any mission assigned to them and had an amazing "Can Do" attitude. If I had any negative comments about the Guard units I have served with - they are minor. I found they had a bit of a height/weight and PT shortcoming, but they more than made up for that with their Mission First attitude. My BC had a board in his office/tent with a collection of all the Guard patches of units we had run into over there. I don't recall a single state missing from his board - we even had a couple territory patches (Guam and PR). So whoever posted that on a Yahoo Board is simply giving into conspiracy BS and once again, as they almost always seem to be - are yapping away and have NEVER spent a day. Isn't it curious how the folks who seem to to come up with this crap have a mysterious lack of service to go along with their tripe?
388271
For the others who wrote asking for details:\n\nAnyone who remembers anything about World War II, or has studied anything about World War II, will understand and remember that during that war the Japanese developed a way to demoralize the American forces. The Japanese psychological warfare experts developed a message they felt would work.\n\nThey gave their psychological warfare script to their famous broadcaster, "Tokyo Rose," and every day she would broadcast their message packaged in different ways, hoping it would have a negative impact on American GI's morale.\n\nWhat was that demoralizing message?\nIt had three main points:\n   1.. Your President is lying to you.\n   2.. This war is illegal.\n   3.. You cannot win the war.\nDoes this sound familiar???  Is it because of:\n   a.. Tokyo Hillary,\n   Tokyo Harry,\n   Tokyo Teddy\n   Tokyo Nancy,\n   Tokyo Durbin,\n   Tokyo Kerry, who have all learned from the former enemies of our country, and have picked up the same message and are broadcasting it on:\n\n   b..  Tokyo CNN,\n    Tokyo ABC,\n    Tokyo CBS,\n    Tokyo NBC?\n\nThe only difference is that they claim to support our troops...before they demoralize them.  Come to think of it...Tokyo Rose told the American Troops she was on their side, also!
534148
A country stations troops in foreign countries for many reasons. The biggest single reason is to protect their interests. Protecting their interests can be protecting natural resources such as oil or it can be protecting their military interests. \n\nThe United States has troops in Europe because they have been called on twice in the last century to defend Europe. It is easier to defend an ally when you have troops stationed in their country than it is to start from scratch. Just maintaining a logistics base can be critical in a time of need. \n\nTroops stationed in most places don’t threaten the local government. In fact, in most cases the troops’ presence in a country can go relatively unnoticed, but can be very effective in a time of need.
45992
Just look at the past wars we didn't start.  We'd be part of Japan now if we didn't fight so hard in WWII, or worse, under NAZI Germany.  And right now, if we gave in to Terrorists and didn't fight back we'd have never ending demands made on us.  No, Freedom is nothing like Free, but the alternative is to live like other countries do and who'd want to do that?  Some things seem better until you actually go there and spend some time.  And if it were better there'd be less of them moving here and more of us moving there.
644993
Well Japan in itself is done with war.  It is in their law of war now. They will never be the offensive in a war, only support and defend.  As far as the WW3 thing, we are on the verge of it.  North Korea and China only leave Japan alone because we have bases there, if we left....  And as it is you know China, Russia, and N. Korea would join.  And then we would be back to the original Allies for us.  Except this time it would have Japan with us.  They can be ruthless, as we know.  And in the long run, the next WW, will be earthly disasterous!!  Nuculear weapons, and the number of ground troups required for that kind of war again would be insane!  The outcome would be the end of seperated countries, someone will battle for dominance. But end the world as we know it.
97062
Well, I think that my own observations and conversations with Japanese people for over 15 years is reliable so here goes...\n\nThe younger generations of Japan have grown up in a democratic and basically free society. Amongst these generations, you'll find two things:\n\n1. People that love the way things are.\n2. People that look back and, having forgotton the attrocities of WWII, wish for things to go back to the old ways. These people are very very much in the minority.\n\nAmongst the very older generations, it is not hard to find resentment, especially amongst males. I have spoken with several and they told me stories of their schools teaching them anti American/Western 'morals' that were coupled with horror stories of how westerners are. Amongst older women, many are greatful for the freedom they found with the occupation.\n\n-TGW-
240780
As a Former Marine, I think you should check your facts!When Pearl Harbor was attacked, we were watching what the Germans were doing to the rest of the world. We were caught off guard when the Japs hit us at Pearl. I Have many Japanese freinds that understand why we did  what we had to do. I think your book will not be read. Because there are still to many that have not forgotten! Pearl Harbor. Who were the ones that were left behind? "Falling from grace" Makes no sense.
192920
The Germans made a deal with the Japanese that if they attacked America then they (the Germans) would help the Japanese fight against the U.S. This did not happen.The Germans wanted the Japanese to keep the U.S. busy while the Germans did there thing. America had a deal with Great Britain that the U.S. would send equipment and supplies to help in the war. It was called "lend and lease". This would help the war effort and keep the Americans from the fighting. This was working to some point until the raid on Pearl harbor. There is speculation that the Brits knew of the attack on pearl but didn't say anything because they wanted the U.S. to join the war. There were a few stipulations G.B. had to agree to for the U.S. to officially join in the war effort. The most important was that G.B.(great Britain) would have to remove it's self from ALL of it's colonies. such as India and others.
364965
Did not see the video, but it doesn't surprise me.  I glanced at a CNN's special on some of the troops over in Iraq.  One talked about why they joined the military after the war began.  He made his choice based on something his mother said,  " he had more of a chance of being killed in the area of US where he lived, than in Iraq", so he chose Iraq.  This got me thinking about the difference between WWII troops vs. more modern day troops serving in Vietnam/Afghanistan/Iraq,etc.  In hind site, those who volunteered in WWll did so with a sense of chivalry /integrity /responsiblity /a purpose to save the world from countries like Germany/Italy & Japan who wished to take over the world...eventually.  Todays armies are made out of a lot of people who have no choice or recourse to escape their livelihood circumstance of poverty & violence within a free & democratic country.  They bring their learned experinces & limited knowledge of resolutions to emotional problems (emotional baggage) to a war situation outside of a structured democratic country, that has  a deep history of sectarian violence, which pushes the boundries of descensy & tolerance.  Not to say that troops of WWII were not pushed to such despicable acts towards those they were there to help, which did happen, it's just that todays soldier has no emotional reason to "fight the good fight" as they say in todays wars.  They are considered professional soldiers, no matter their intellectual abilities, so destructive acts such as described in your question occur more & due to global news outlets, the public see's it more.  The troops of today fight for no cause other than their governments partisan cause, & are caught in the middle.\nSo I'm not surprised this occurred, & I do believe it did occur, but I don't put all the blame on the individuals who are caught doing such disrespectful acts to civilians, as they are a product of their own environment also.  But they must understand there is consequences to their actions, esp. when they as individuals are representing everyone from their country & the values their country stands for in the first place.
136746
In theory I agree but in fact the Marines fight where the Navy is ordered to deploy. The bulk of our Navy was based in the Pacific. After Pearl Harbor the Navy and Marine commanders knew and decided that Japan would have to maintain air superiority and keep their fleets supplied. In addition the island hopping campaign to the Japan home islands. The bulk of  marine divisions ship stationed, the amphibious attacks could not occurred and the war might been lost.
573000
they will send some "front men" to enlist so they can get the uniforms and replenish the supply for the village people...\n\nother than that..we might as well write off the bay area from the rest of the country .......\n\n\ni love a person like PM ....the military exists to make it so you can say what you just said without being hung ......
408583
First of all, when you talk about a nation you mostly refer to people, so please be very careful if this is the right question you wanted to ask!\n\nConsidering the present conditions, USA is the most powerful nation in the world not only because of the economical, military or political status, but also because it has the power to influence other nations.\n\nThink about all the political issues in the world. You'll see that the USA is involved in all major political issues (and has the main word to say in most of them).\n\nFrom the economic and scientific point of view, Japan tends to become the world leader (if isn't already). I see that they sit back, relax, mostly prefer not to state their political opinions and continue to advance on almost every open market.
325380
They should go back to Japan. The US gave Japan their islands back after WW2
365278
they do it because most of the people here in the states think that anything that has to do with the military is true. as a Sgt in the Army, i laugh at this. its funny, people think they know a lot about the military....they barely scratch the surface. but an excellent question and i hope i helped out. if not, hey, i tried right? good luck with everything!
459694
THANK YOU SIR AND YOU ARE WELCOME and I consider you my Brother, My Friend , and one of MY ALLIES ! I would proudly pick up a rifle and  stand with you ! People here in the U.S.A don't realize that driving out a corrupt Government is not easy by yourself and they forget that the French helped us to drive out the British. They forget we can voice our opinion about our leaders,weather it be good,bad or indifferent. Where as you or your family could get your head cut off for doing the same way. YES, Terrorism must be wiped out and ALL THE WORLD NEEDS TO STAND WITH YOU AND YOUR FELLOW COUNTRYMEN  and let us all rid this world of those cowards! SOME WHO HAVE REPLIED TO YOU THAT WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN PROBLEMS FIRST MUST REALIZE THAT YOUR PROBLEMS TODAY ARE OUR PROBLEMS TOMORROW!!!!! It is as if they forgot September 11, 2001 we were attacked on our own soil. At least the Japanese only bombed military military installations. Maybe yo could contact our CIA and supply some information