Just kidding. Isn’t the UK powerful enough to pursue a divergent course of interest from the US, regardless of how much Americans look down on it?

Don’t get me wrong – I’m not an American. They look down on my country too. If you can tell the US where to go, and risk losing trading agreements and mutual defence, then give it a go.

Anyway, I’d venture out on a limb and say that current world order with America on top order isn’t too bad. Or maybe most everyone has just gotten used to it. If China was on top instead, I’m guessing that ‘harmony’ would be the key word.

But strange as it may seem, it’s actually the other way around. The US needs the Philippines more than the Philippines needs the US.

They need us for our strategic location, especially given the rise of China.

And speaking of China…there are other countries we can go to for aid, you know? The US’s power in the world is not what it once was.

While it seems counterintuitive, it’s true. I don’t think it’s proper to look down on us in this situation, given our strategic value to continuing American hegemony.

“but that’s just how things are.”

We know the way things are. We don’t have to accept it. So the question is “Why should members of US forces be shown preferential treatment?” Can they give any moral principle in support of it?

If being an “ally” of the US means we have to use kid gloves in dealing with their citizens who have committed crimes in our country, then maybe we have to seriously rethink our relationship.

So if you ask me, if the Japanese government is withholding documents, then it’s most probably because they’re going to let the servicemen off easy. And they’d rather not have any public outrage so they’re keeping it from public view. Although, yeah, it would probably be best to be transparent, but then again, I’m not too familiar with the situation.

And I can’t understand how anyone could possibly conclude that “the justice dispensed to foreigners will be so harsh…” based solely on a single very vague and ambiguous statement. It’s not too hard to imagine that “foreign countries” could refer to the U.S., they being the subject.

And lastly, I had the impression that U.S. forces were given the preferential treatment the world over, well definitely in countries that consider themselves American allies. And even if the country was not a US ally, the fact that the US is currently the foremost power in the geopolitical arena means that they have enough influence to make sure that their servicemen do get preferential treatment.

So the question shouldn’t be “Why should members of US forces be shown preferential treatment?”, but instead “Given the current status of the US in the global pecking order and it’s relations with Japan (or any other country), why wouldn’t U.S. servicemen get better treatment?”. For native people like me, I know it sucks, and is a bit depressing when foreigners get preferential treatment, but that’s just how things are.

As to being hard to please, I doubt the Japanese penal sysstemhas provision for a customer feedback system.

The question remains: Why should members of US forces be shown preferential treatment?

Of course, from the point of view of some Japanese, it’s preferential treatment for foreign criminals, so both sides have different, conflicting viewpoints on the issue.

Foreign civilians, however, do not (should not?) receive this privilege as they are in Japan of their own will (as opposed to being stationed here). I’ve never seen any research into the comparison of standards between foreign and national prisoners, so I can’t comment on that.

However, why should members of US forces be shown preferential treatment?

The Japanese jail system treats U.S. Armed Forces Personnel better than Japanese prisoners, and that’s what they’re hiding the information – The Japanese government is spending more tax money on prisoners who are in the U.S. military. (non-citizens)

Refer to the Status of Forces Agreement, article 17 clause 7B.
(http://www.niraikanai.wwma.net/pages/archive/sofa.html)

U.S. Forces personnel who become prisoners in Japan get special menus including steak supplied by the U.S. armed forces, while Japanese prisoners are not allowed food from the outside. U.S. personnel also get steam heaters in their cells, while Japanese prisoners are only allowed stoves outside of their cells. They also have a different daily schedule (when it’s time for lights out and such).

Included in the information is that that statement that “consideration should be given to food” of arrested American soldiers. One other notice from the director-general of the ministry’s Criminal Affairs Bureau says that even in case where Japan has primary jurisdiction, “extremely careful consideration must be paid” in carrying out procedures — implying that special concessions were being made for the United States.

この資料は７２年に法務省が作成した「合衆国軍隊構成員等に対する刑事裁判権関係実務資料」。米兵に対する刑事手続きの解説や、通達などがまとめられている。逮捕した米兵について「食事について配慮がなされるべき」との記述や、日本に第一次裁判権（捜査や裁判の優先権）があるケースについても「運用上極めて慎重な考慮を払わなければならない」（５３年の刑事局長通達）など、米国に配慮した内容が含まれている

http://mainichi.jp/select/jiken/news/20080822k0000m040080000c.html

It is notification to be lenient toward the American soldiers.

s this because even the public in Japan would disagree with the policy?

Exactly.

Further, the justice dispensed to foreigners will be so harsh that there are:

“fears that it could affect the relationship of trust with foreign countries, as well as investigations and public trials”

Further,

“the government doesn’t think the public has a right to see such material”

- is this because even the public in Japan would disagree with the policy?

(sry for the cock-up!)