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.

[Johnny_Cipher]

Is it any surprise, with soldiers dieing all the time, and knowing that any day could be their last, that they want sex, and will take it if possible?

Yes, it would come as a tremendous surprise to me. Being in combat does not entitle one to rape, and rapists (even those in uniform) should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

[mrs tiggywinkle]

**Is it any surprise, with soldiers dieing all the time, and knowing that any day could be their last, that they want sex, and will take it if possible? **

*IF* it did happen. It still wouldn't be right to force sex on a woman. Men with honor don't do this..even in a combat zone.

That said, a friend of ours is a JAG and yes indeed, there is a small percentage of the military population who would commit rape even in non-combat zones.

[BlackJack]

This is not good. Very sad.

[DMCA]

Isn't that the same logic that Islam uses to force women to cover up? You know, that men can not control themselves?

[jpsb]

Just wait until we are forced to use the draft. Young women will now be drafted too. Woman in the militray, orhter then as nurses, etc, is a very bad idea. Thanks Bill.

[Restorer]

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.

[Consort]

Check out the accusations. If there are problems, fix them. Next thread.

[independentmind]

Just wait until we are forced to use the draft. Young women will now be drafted too. Woman in the militray, orhter then as nurses, etc, is a very bad idea. Thanks Bill.

You are so right. Once women are put in combat zones, even if it's by their own choice, there is little rationale to exclude women from the draft. So if one goes, we all go.

It's not fair to give women the option of being in combat when we all know that if the US were ever in a major war, men would not be given that option.

[Cold Heat]

The horrors of females in the military.

Always a bad idea.

[montomike]

What's that wierd little animal on her shoulder?

[DMCA]

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?

[Bronco_Buster_FweetHyagh]

If the combat military was 100% male, how many rapes do you think there would be? Rape is not just about power, its also about sex. An integrated combat military means many more rapes than an all-male combat military. That fact alone shows that the whole "rape is about power" philosophy is retarted.

[Kozak]

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.

Yeah, well that is an old story. Because 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.

[independentmind]

What a line of reasoning!

Assertion #1:
We don't want to put our women in places where the chances of rape increase dramatically.

Assertion #2:
The Taliban protects its women from rape through oppression of women rather than teaching its young men the virtues of self-control.

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!

[KantianBurke]

3rded.

[Kozak]

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?

Yeah men should control themselves, but only idiots refuse to recognise that human nature is such that under extreme stress like combat some won't.This just one of many reasons women do not belong on the battlefield. Why do you think for the last 4,000 years of Western civilization armies have consisted of men pretty much exclusively?

[Cold Heat]

You know the men could try controlling themselves

A total fallacy!

Young men are genetically driven sex machines.

The reason they are such good fighters in battle is that those raging hormones are re-directed by training and self discipline.

That same self discipline has limits and when emotionally needy women are added to the equation, the answer is usually predetermined.

In other words, the result is certain.

Take away the factor and the answer is different.

Just plain ole common sense.

[leadpenny]

Nail on the head. If we were go to a draft, women should be drafted in numbers and MOSs proportional to the numbers and billets currently held. If we, as a country, are not willing to do that, women shouldn't be in the military in the first place.

[Ecliptic]

That's right!! These women are just going thru counseling for nothing..surely they all made up stories about being raped...Our GI's would never do that...</Sarcasm>

How dare anyone doubt a woman when she is raped...it could have been date rape when she was unarmed...

Yes, they should be out of the combat zone, but they also should not be raped...

And I am a male...