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.

[TigersEye]

Thanks for your reply. However, I was asking DMCA specifically to get his view. You tried to anticipate where I was going but you missed by a mile so your answer doesn't make much sense to me. Since you brought it up can you give any statistics on what percentage of enlisted service women want combat billets and how many don't?

[lepton]

But in the military, with mixed gender, there's almost zero male rape even hinted at much less reported.

On my post, while I was there, there were 12 reported rapes. 7 of them were homosexual in nature...though all but one of those were lesbian, so that really doesn't directly argue with your point. However, four people were involved in some manner in 10 of the cases.

[TigersEye]

Had I read your exchange with af_vet_1981 first I would have dropped the idea of posting to you again at all. You owe him an apology for your extremely insulting behavior. He's right; your points, whatever they are, aren't cogent.

FWIW I don't think women should be in combat either but not because it might make them more vulnerable to rape and not because "men are supposed to protect women."

[DMCA]

I thought I was very clear. But I do love they way you two keep using larger and larger words in your responses to me. I guess it helps you feel more intelligent.

I guess that since I an unwilling to give our solders a pass on POSSIBLE rapes that I am an idiot.

I am not the one that agrees with the Muslims that women should be covered up so as to not entice men.

I am not the one that tried to give a pass to possible rapes by saying the equivalent of "Boys will be boys"

I am not the one who implied that US fighting men and women where no better than street thugs.

I am not the one who assumed that I was talking about the entire population of the (Country/Planet/Universe) in a thread about the military.

I short, both of you are totally unwilling to change your points of view and stay on the topic of this thread.

I suggest that you read the entire exchange with what I have stated above in mind. This is almost as bad as debating with liberals on the parsing of what Al Gore said about inventing the Internet.

I am off to program now so I will leave you two be. But perhaps you should rethink they way you think women should be treated, as I am not sure you wish your daughters and/or wives to be treated in they ways that you suggest/defend.

[TigersEye]

Did you even read what I said? Obviously not.

[Democratshavenobrains]

The DUhers are actually using this thread to show how us "evil" conservatives are justifying rape. Helloooo morons? Noone is justifying it, but rape should not come as a surprise when women are on active hostile duty with men.

[God is good]

How about false accusations, what bullets stop false accusations.

Be careful who you are alone with.

[Mark17]

The Armed Forces try very hard not to accept the defective men and women who constantly try to join. Some slip through the cracks

I joined the USAF in 1967, just to keep from getting drafted into the Army or Marines. At that time, I can assure you, it was more than just a few who slipped through the cracks. Toward the end of my Air Force career, it had changed a lot. The quality of the new troops was much better than when I was a one striper.

[Restorer]

The point is that a rapist would be unlikely to use a top bunk when a bottom bunk was available. Less work and all. Making it far more likely that the "victim" climbed into the top bunk willingly.

I am as anxious as anybody to punish genuine rapists. However, as a male I am frightened by those who want to take any woman's word automatically over any man's.

Women do lie, about rape and other things, just as men do and children do.

In no other crime is the criminality of the actions utterly dependent on the attitude of the "victim." Exactly the same actions are perfectly legal if she is willing and criminal if she is not.

The only real parallel to this I can think of is abortion. The unborn baby is exactly that if the mother wants it, and just a mass of cells if she does not.

[DMCA]

Since you wished to make mail messages public I did it for you. I did take the liberty to remove the language that violates the FR TOS. And one you stop defending rape and agreeing with the Islamic way of treating women I will think about apologizing.

In the future a simple note saying you do not wish to be emailed would work. Also I have been on the net much longer than you and your threats mean nothing.

MY ORIGINAL MESSAGE FOLLOWS

What was i supposed to take from what you said? I just don't get this, you are defending a person that thinks the Muslim way of threating women is OK because men can not control themselves and a person who has called our military the equivalent of a bunch of street thugs. How can you defend that? Not that I expect a well thought out answer that responds to any of my points.

YOUR ORIGINAL RESPONSE TO ABOVE MESSAGE FOLLOWS. <>

First of all, if you ever private mail me something with this s**** tone again and I'll just post it in the thread we were on.

Secondly, he did not say what you claim and only a nincompoop could stretch what he said so far that it could be read into it. But you would seem to be a complete nincompoop since you seem to be trying to assert that there are zero rotten people in the military.

Don't FReepmail me again with a gripe unless you want it posted in public. Got it?

[TigersEye]

The DUhers are actually using this thread to show how us "evil" conservatives are ....(fill in the blank)...

That's OK with me because I don't care what they or any other braindead leftist thinks. No politician can run as a Democrat at the national level and win unless they are pro-abortion. I don't need to consider the moral convictions of people who rejoice in the murder of 43 MILLION Americans and counting. They have no morals, it's all relative to them, they are scum.

Every plank of the leftist agenda is antithetical to the Constitution and therefore liberty and they have the audacity to demagogue the Constitution, liberty, freedom and every other historical evidence and tradition of our unique American founding.

They're a disgrace to every man and woman who has ever worn a uniform, including the one's who have themselves worn one, and I deeply regret now that I never did.

[TigersEye]

And one you stop defending rape and agreeing with the Islamic way of treating women I will think about apologizing.

OK, a$$hole. It's time for you to put up or shutup. Repost what I said that in any way shape or form defends rape or agrees with the "Islamic" way of treating women. I have never once hit abuse on a FReeper. I have never once pinged a moderator to solve a problem for me but if you don't either post what I said that shows the above or give me an unconditional apology I sure as heck will.

Don't take to long.

[TigersEye]

For all: here's DMCA's last FReepmail to me -

Don't go to the trouble of making the email public as I already have.

Don't FReepmail me again.

[DMCA]

Since you asked so nicely. Now please go back to defending those that think the Muslem way of treating women is OK and I will pray that your daughters do not marry a man who will treat them that way.

[TigersEye]

Moderator, would you please take a look at this posters posts on this thread. They seem entirely inappropriate and unnecessarily contentious and insulting.

[DMCA]

DMCA #24 Isn't that the same logic that Islam uses to force women to cover up? You know, that men can not control themselves?
DMCA #31 You know the men could try controlling themselves. Or do you agree with Islam that men can not control themselves so women should be kept covered-up?

1981 #124 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 ?

DMCA #127 Because we are a civilized people?

1981 #129 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.

DMCA #131 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.

1981 #149 Where did you distinguish yourself in college ?

[jimfree]

Conclusion:

Anyone who has concerns about putting women in harm's way must have the same motivation as the Taliban. In fact, maybe they are the Taliban!

Okay Independent, what remedy do you seek? What can make this better? Be honest about the possible solutions before you insult a large segment of the males monitoring this channel. I'll listen. I won't be called names.

[TigersEye]

Since you can't back up what you are saying and continue to cast false aspersions I'll let the moderator's decide how to handle it. How 'bout that?

[DMCA]

I would also like it to be know that I tried to move this discussion to FRmail but when I did I was cussed out and told not to FRmail TigersEye anymore.

If my behavior is incorrect please let me know.

If he is willing to let the subject drop than so am I. I will not furthur post on this topic and I will try to not respond to TigersEye's post in the future.

[DMCA]

You are the one that wished to continue this discussion in public. But as I said in the previous post I will not respond to your posts in the future.