The importance of the U.S.-Japan relationship argues for any gesture, no matter how apparently fruitless, to minimize any fallout over the sinking of the Japanese training vessel Ehime Maru by the submarine USS Greeneville.
Thus, at Tokyo’s request, the Coast Guard search for the nine missing crew members has been extended, even though the collision occurred more than a week ago. It’s a way of assuring the Japanese that we’re doing all we can.
And the Navy is reviewing its policy of allowing civilians to ride aboard its submarines. This is because the Japanese have been outraged by reports suggesting that somehow civilian visitors aboard the Greeneville might be responsible for the tragic accident.
Perhaps it’s wise, again out of considerations of Japanese feelings, to suspend this practice pending preliminary results of the Navy’s investigation. But it’s highly unlikely that the visitors had anything to do with the accident.
As Navy officials have observed from Day 1, the burning question is how the sub’s crew failed to detect the presence of the Ehime Maru on the surface above it. That’s a question that stands no matter who was riding in the sub below.
The Navy’s program of demonstrating its equipment, skills and professionalism to the civilians they serve serves a valuable purpose. Its continuation shouldn’t be threatened, at least not permanently, because of confusion over the cause of the Ehime Maru tragedy.
