U.S. airman arrested for alleged drunk driving on Okinawa
KYODO NEWS VIA AP / SEPT. 2001
Flags of U.S. and Japan flutter in U.S. Kadena Air Base on the southern island of Okinawa in Japan.
TOKYO » Japanese police have arrested an American serviceman for alleged drunken driving on Okinawa days after the lifting of an off-base drinking ban imposed after the arrest of a former Marine in a high-profile murder case.
Police arrested Tech Sgt. Christopher Platte, 27, stationed at Kadena Air Base on the southern island of Okinawa on Monday after a police officer spotted him driving erratically. Police said a breath test showed his blood-alcohol level exceeding the legal limit.
Japan’s government protested to the U.S. Embassy over the arrest. The U.S. military lifted the drinking ban on June 28.
The murder and rape of a local woman and a number of subsequent drunken driving arrests involving U.S. personnel have angered Okinawans who have long complained about the heavy U.S. military presence and crime linked to Americans.
14 responses to “U.S. airman arrested for alleged drunk driving on Okinawa”
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Have a problem with American bases? Take it up with Imperial Japan. Tell them that bombing Pearl Harbor was a bad idea.
Pinocchio owns the new transgender military!!!
That was over 70 years ago long before most of us were born.
I’m confused…so drunk driving is ok? So when that 12 year old was raped was that in response to bombing of Pearl Harbor too?
You realize there is no more Imperial Japan to give your dimwitted message to?
What a dim witted post by eros***
Most people feel that two wrongs make a right. Monkey see monkey do. All it takes is one bad role model to spoil the whole bunch. But Roosevelt had a message on his desk that the Japanese fleet was 400 miles north of Hawaii on the day before the attack. Just like 9/11 had whistle blowers too.
Brainless comment
So why did they lift the ban?
Although it would be a benefit for everyone, they can’t ban drinking forever.
A more important question is why was the ban imposed. The former marine who was arrested for the murder of an Okinawan woman was not a member of the US military community. He is a civilian, a legal resident of Japan, who was living on Okinawa with his Okinawan wife. His only connection to the military is that he was hired by a civilian contractor that provides services on US military installations. Such contractors routinely hire former service members, third country nationals and many Japanese. Thus, his status on Okinawa was no different than the Japanese working for the same contractor. All were subject entirely to the laws of Japan and were not covered by the US Status of Forces Agreement as are members of the US military community. However, because the perp is an American, the Japanese are taking out their anger on the US military in Okinawa. In a knee-jerk reaction, the top brass on Okinawa responded as though the perp was a member of the US military community and imposed the drinking ban on all members of the military community.
Don’t these GI’s ever learn? Damn, they make us all look bad…
A vexing problem for both countries! A love hate relationship with the Japanese getting the raw end of the deal as it is the local women that are getting raped and local authorities having to arrest military personnel for violating local laws. The military build-up by the US on Okinawa is for the mutual benefit of both nations with the growing expansionist action taken by the big bully China in the surrounding area.
Jojef, there has been no build-up of U.S. forces on Okinawa. Since the occupation of the main Japanese islands in 1952 and the reversion of Okinawa to Japanese control in 1971, there has been a steady closing and consolidation of US bases throughout Japan including Okinawa, but the draw-down has been slower on Okinawa. Most bases in the southern part of the main island have been returned to Japan. A small sliver of a pier in Naha is still used by the US. And in 2006, 18-hole Awase Meadows Golf Course was returned to the Japanese and will be or is Okinawa’s largest shopping center.