Female GIs reporting rapes by U.S. soldiers

Denver Post ^ | 1/24/2004 | MILES MOFFEIT AND AMY HERDY

[JohnGalt]

Female GIs reporting rapes by U.S. soldiers Women say response lacking within military, some even threatened MILES MOFFEIT AND AMY HERDY Denver Post Posted on Sat, Jan. 24, 2004

Female troops serving in Iraq are reporting an insidious enemy in their own camps: fellow American soldiers who sexually assault them.

At least 37 female service members have sought sexual-trauma counseling and other assistance from civilian rape-crisis organizations after returning from war duty in Iraq, Kuwait and other overseas stations, women's assistance and advocacy organizations say.

"We have significant concerns about the military's response to sexual assault in the combat zone," said Christine Hansen, executive director of the Connecticut-based Miles Foundation, which says it has assisted 31 women.

The women, ranging from enlisted soldiers to officers, have reported poor medical treatment, lack of counseling and incomplete criminal investigations by military officials. Some say they were threatened with punishment after reporting assaults.

The Pentagon did not respond to repeated requests for information about the number of sexual assault reports during the conflict. Defense officials would say only that they will not tolerate sexual assault in their ranks.

"Commanders at every level have a duty to take appropriate steps to prevent it, protect victims, and hold those who commit them accountable," a written statement from the Pentagon said.

Members of Congress said they are alarmed by the assault reports, confirming that they have learned of incidents as well. Colorado Sen. Wayne Allard said he intends to raise the issue with the Senate Armed Services Committee. Two Pennsylvania members of Congress, Rep. Joseph Pitts and Sen. Arlen Specter, intervened last month on one rape victim's behalf to bring her home.

Senate leaders pledged last year to investigate the military's handling of rape and domestic-violence cases after media reports of problems including flawed investigations, inadequate victim services and unusual leniency for soldier sex offenders. Congressional hearings were recommended, but none has been scheduled.

[dcwusmc]

Their desire to be combat pilots or what-have-you has no weight?

Absolutely correct. NO WEIGHT whatsoever. It is only the feminist/careerist types who want the combat roles because they perceive that they cannot advance the same as male combat vets into certain command billets. That they should not HAVE such billets is beside the point to them. And the enlisted women, for the most part, are not thrilled with the idea that THEY get to pay the price for the ambitions of a few officers.

[dcwusmc]

Their desire to be combat pilots or what-have-you has no weight?

Absolutely correct. NO WEIGHT whatsoever. It is only the feminist/careerist types who want the combat roles because they perceive that they cannot advance the same as male combat vets into certain command billets. That they should not HAVE such billets is beside the point to them. And the enlisted women, for the most part, are not thrilled with the idea that THEY get to pay the price for the ambitions of a few officers.

None of which excuses rape, by any stretch of anyone's imagination, needless to say... my point was your post.

[HangThemHigh]

Amen BTTT

[af_vet_1981]

Or do you agree with Islam that men can not control themselves so women should be kept covered-up?

Many men do not control themselves. The perps should get a fair trial and fast hanging. It would be safer for everyone if women wore clothes and if those clothes were modest. Why wave red meat in front of a tiger ?

[af_vet_1981]

A long time ago I read about a soldier who was acquitted of rape because the court agreed that nobody ever dragged a woman into an upper bunk to rape her. Makes sense if you think about it.

That is patently false. A perp can intimidate a victim and manipulate compliance through fear. I wish all victims were brave enough to fight and die but that is not the case. They want to live.

[af_vet_1981]

How often do men rape other men when they have the ability to rape women instead?

The answer is a factor of how evil the men are and who they want to intimidate, control, and damage.

Just like Sodom and Gomorrah

[DMCA]

Because we are a civilized people?

[mamelukesabre]

That's right. women wanted in. now women are in. now they can shut up and take it like a man. or they can get out.

before you start thinking i'm a sexist, you'd better understand that there are plenty of women in the military that see it the same way that i just layed it out. you are property of the us government and you may just die doing what you are told to do. that's the job. not every woman is cut out for it and not every man is either. the cold facts are that there are many many fewer women cut out for this kind of life than men are. so what? affirmative action doesn't apply to life or death situations. the sooner you get that through your stupid thick head, the better.

P.S. "you" doesn't mean you, it means people in general.

[af_vet_1981]

Because we are a civilized people?

No, you and I may be civilized people but you could not walk safely in hundreds of American cities if you were naked and unguarded.

[johnb838]

It's idiocy to say rape isn't about sex, but it *is* about violence in that it is usually a crime of sexual anger. Like "You won't give it to me so by god I'm just going to take it anyway." Sometimes the perp has generalized his anger toward certain women (even his mother) so that it turns into anger and hatred for all women. You can see some of that right here on this thread. It is also connected to that horrible male emotion of "if I can't have you nobody else will either".

I think that the new feminist definition of rape that includes deciding the next day that she really didn't want it is going to backfire big time one day. They won't be able to claim it's a rape unless there are four witnesses to the insertion.

Women need to be removed from the front lines and hazardous duty. They are too much of a distraction, sexual and otherwise though, as Ann Coulter put it, some women are more of a distraction than others.

[DMCA]

So you are comparing the people that make up the Armed Forces of the United States to the drug dealers and thugs that inhabit our inner cities.

[Mark17]

NOW the definition of rape has been expanded to include withdrawl of permission AT ANY POINT during intercourse. She can say yes, strip, get in bed, etc etc and if she says STOP at ANY point, and the male doesn't, voila, its RAPE.

I wonder if it ever happens, where she withdraws permission 3 days after the sex?

[TexKat]

One of my employees is a former rape counselor. She has often cited that rape is not about sex. Sex is used as a weapon of control.

I wonder if your employee was taken into consideration that the rapist could possibly be stranded on an island or in the desert fighting a war for a year or so.

Please don't think that I am making excuses for the actions of some. But without knowing all info I don't understand how anyone can be an expert or state what is really going on.

[sweetliberty]

"We have significant concerns about the military's response to sexual assault in the combat zone,"

Another reason women shouln't BE in combat zones!

[TruthNtegrity]

Gee, you think?

[johnb838]

Assuming no homosexual men, a Rapist will attack the woman. The Dirksig boy was violated by men who had females available, they chose a boy.

No. In this situation the boy is the homosexual. Also, you forget that our enemy are Arabs. They often prefer an m to an f. Don't kid yourself that those 72 virgins are girls.

[sandbar]

>I wonder if it ever happens, where she withdraws >permission 3 days after the sex?

I think that happens quite frequently. I watched a documentary on rape one time and a woman got drunk in a bar, went home with two men and woke up the next day realizing she had sex with both. She went to a rape crisis center claiming "they must of raped me, because I wouldn't have done anything like that". She couldn't remember details but knew she'd been with both. The counselor said she had no case for rape. The woman sat there crying saying "what do you mean? I didn't want them to do that??" The counselor (female BTW) stated flatly that there was a big difference between rape and regret. I think that applies in alot of cases.

[Kozak]

I wonder if it ever happens, where she withdraws permission 3 days after the sex?

I have in fact seen patients alledging rape several days after the event after sobering up. These are always of the "date rape" variety.

[sheltonmac]

...NOTHING excuses women on the battlefied. Get them off it!

And, while we're at it, off our ships and submarines.

[mrs tiggywinkle]

**If rape was just about violence, then men would just beat women. Instead, during rape, men have sex with women. Thus rape is clearly about sex.**

I was raped. Bruised, bloodied, vaginal tears, broken heart and emotions. Sounds pretty violent, doesn't it?

You have NO idea what rape is about.