In War Zone, Women Are Still Targets of Sexual Predators
This really isn't new, although the Pentagon would like to pretend it is. There has always been sexual harassment and rape of male recruits, who are usually targeted during basic training for being "weak" or effeminate. (I have a friend who's a VA counselor, which is how I know about it. Like me, you probably didn't know that VA hospitals offer support services for male rape survivors.)
I bring it up to show this isn't a problem caused by allowing women to serve in combat zones. More to the point, the military culture seems to condone violent sexual impulses by refusing to actively pursue the perpetuators:
A Pentagon-appointed task force, in a report released this month, pointedly criticized the military’s efforts to prevent sexual abuse, citing the “unique stresses” of deployments in places like Camp Taji. “Some military personnel indicated that predators may believe they will not be held accountable for their misconduct during deployment because commanders’ focus on the mission overshadows other concerns,” the report said.
That, among other reasons, is why sexual assault and harassment go unreported far more often than not. “You’re in the middle of a war zone,” Captain White said, reflecting a fear many military women describe of being seen, somehow, as harming the mission.
“So it’s kind of like that one little thing is nothing compared with ‘There is an I.E.D. that went off in this convoy today and three people were injured,’ ” she said, referring to an improvised explosive device.
By the Pentagon’s own estimate, as few as 10 percent of sexual assaults are reported, far lower than the percentage reported in the civilian world. Specialist Erica A. Beck, a mechanic and gunner who served in Diyala Province in Iraq this summer, recalled a sexual proposition she called “inappropriate” during her first tour in the country in 2006-7. “Not necessarily being vulgar, but he, you know, was asking for favors,” she said.
She did not report it, she said, because she feared that her commanders would have reacted harshly — toward her.
“It was harassment,” she said. “And because it was a warrant officer, I didn’t say anything. I was just a private.”
Sounds like a job perk.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
today's modern U.S. male is typically jacked up on GM Food, performance boosters, red bull, caffeine, sugar, steroids, crack, meth, beer and porn what do you expect?
Civilized "folks"?
where woman are referred to as bitches and ho's as if it's normal.
Milfs . . what have you. Totally sickening all sense of respect has gone down the toilet in this country.
Yes, nothing's going to show some effeminate male how gay they are than a good ass-f#@$%ing! TAKE THAT F@$$0%!!! That's how a manly man handles effiminacy!
As for raping women, or asking sexual favors, that's how a manly man handles manliness in a manly manner.
Why aren't there more serious consequences for this behavior? You know, like 25 to life at worst, dishonorable discharge with loss of ALL benefit's, at best?
What's wrong with us? Never mind. I can turn to FOX News, or listen to Rush or Glenn and answer that question.
Their just boys looking to have some fun and blow off a little steam after a hard day of blowing away our enemies.
I was never raped
I'm not sure whether to be relieved or insulted.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
take it as an insult ys. or a lack of taste on the part of your fellow soldiers.
perhaps tomorrow's army will be more inclusive,
If these people want to attack US soldiers in a combat zone, then they should be treated to the whirlwind of benefits that entails and be given the full range of services generally provided to enemy combatants.
It's a sad fact of life.
I applaud Sandra Lee for fighting back against the system. She's a courageous young woman.
I wish her well.
an amazing woman.
I've never seen change without a fire
And include training on how to defend yourself from assault using sidearms. Perhaps a shot in the crotch clause or something.
I'm sure the number of assaults would plummet.
but why would anyone expect women in a war zone to be less likely targets of sexual predators than outside a war zone? A brief review of war would suggest that they are more likely to be targets. The word "still" is unnecessary.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
30 United States Senators who voted againsts a woman's right to sue a government contractor if this is OK too. Any bets on the answer?
Could be worse...there could be gays in the military. God knows how bad it would be with...ummm...gay guys...shooting the enemy like a bunch of queers...translating Arabic like flaming homos...repairing broken equipment like a sissy....
*phew* dodged THAT particular bullet, eh?
I am glad that RT reported on this... a subject that American corporate media would never report on.
But these rapes have been going on for quite awhile. It is yet another reason to keep your child out of the military. Woman soldiers stationed in Iraq died and have experienced major health problems because they refused to go the bathroom at night, knowing that a woman walking alone to the bathroom is a perfect target for our heroic male soldiers.
Reporting the rape is problematic too since you cannot break the imbecilic chain-of-command, so if your rapist happens to be on the good side of the CO, or the CO himself, and you go above them you can go to jail.
The only solution here, of course, is to get all our soldiers out of the resource war zones our leaders are so convinced are worth sacrificing them for.
To those who make light of it...well, you should talk to some of these young women who have experienced this very American warcrime and have had their lives shattered by it.
Enough of the fodder for blogs and news sites. Why isn't this being investigated, and those ass holes being brought to justice???
I was a grunt in Vietnam, back in 1969. I know, at that time, we had a lot of buddies that were pretty ruthless thugs, and how they would EVER make it on the outside worried the hell out of me. Sad to say, but some of them lusted on that legalized murder and plunder. Enough is enough.
Justice should penetrate the military system as well as the civilian system...and in this day and age when it is difficult enough to get qualified volunteers in our military, WHY THE FUCK IS THIS NOT BEING DEALT WITH????
Probably because in order to avoid a draft, the military has lowered its standards to allow violent felons to enlist.
But that can't be the only reason. As pointed out, we've had rape in the military for a long time - and it wasn't prosecuted then, either.
A former award-winning journalist and lifelong class warrior, keeping a jaundiced eye on the Washington elite.
I don't believe that reduced recruiting standards are the problems with sexual assault in the military, although they have created a whole set of problems by themselves, like gangs in the military.
For the most part, today's service people are more intelligent, more highly motivated and have less problems than when you and I were in, hulk. You also have to consider that they have been forced to endure extreme hardships for the last 8 years that most have borne without complaint or problem.
There have been a problems with sexual assault in the military since women became full members. Just witness the problems with rape at the service academies, particularly the Air Force Academy. In the 80's and 90's, AFA had problems with sexual assaults. They simply refused to admit or investigate. (Now they're creating a whole new group of evangelical warriors, who of course wouldn't rape.)
Until upper management adopts a new attitude and instigates a zero tolerance policy with harsh punishments, this will continue to be a problem. Management is often more concerned about the appearance of a problem before they consider fixing it.
Surely you have heard it said that the generals and admirals would gladly give their lives for their country ... just not their careers.
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