Visiting U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expressed her deepest regrets to Japan on Wednesday over the alleged Feb. 10 rape of a 14-year-old Okinawa girl by a U.S. Marine.
"I earlier had had a chance to express the regret to the prime minister on behalf of President (George W.) Bush, on behalf of myself and the people of the United States for the terrible incident that happened in Okinawa," Rice said at a joint news conference held after she spoke with Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura. "We are concerned for the well-being of the young girl and her family."
The incident was quickly followed by other criminal allegations involving U.S. servicemen in Okinawa that fueled anger and resentment over the heavy U.S. military presence there.
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