Letter To Japan: Let Navy Lt Go

Jailed US Navy Lt isn’t a female WNBA star yet he griner’s away in Japanese jail for killing 2 citizens with wife & kids in car while suffering seizure? US State Dept selectively toothless again? A supposed ally wants help vs China?

As the WSJ editorial noted, unforgiving Japanese law’s “harsh punishment after a tragic accident needs a bilateral solution.” Not that President Biden’s bureaucrats have been able to do anything about this injustice being perpetrated on another American citizen as if he (or she) were a grape needing to be crushed to mollify local anger. You’ll recall Lt. Ridge Alkonis, “assigned to the guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold in Yokosuka, was driving his family back from a trip to Mt Fuji in May 2021 when he fell unconscious [apparently from the sudden drop in heights & air pressure] … Two Japanese nationals died in the resulting wreck … No one alleges drugs or alcohol were involved” & the Mormon doesn’t drink. Doctors confirm Lt Alkonis had suffered acute mountain sickness.

Still, “the tragedy has cascaded into a larger fiasco.” Lt Alkonis was arrested & held in solitary for more than 3 weeks & wasn’t given a medical exam that might have exonerated him. Then, in hopes of getting a suspended sentence, he pleaded guilty to a “negligent driving” charge, which opened him to a show no mercy to American servicemen characteristic in Japanese law & that nation’s treaty with the US, ergo a 3-yr sentence. No matter the Lt had served 2 years as a missionary teaching Japanese children English. Or, that he paid $1.6 million in restitution to the victims’ families. Nor did a letter to Mr. Biden from 30 Congressmen asking for mercy. Yet, Japan begs the US help in deterring the Commies nearby?

Davd Soul