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Leon Panetta's Memorial Comment Stirs Debate (Blames Sexual Assault in the Military)
NBC Bay Area ^ | Friday, Mar 8, 2013 | Kimberly Tere

Posted on 03/08/2013 8:16:00 PM PST by nickcarraway

During the funeral for two Santa Cruz Police Officers, Former Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta, did something unexpected.

He dove into the suspect’s background. “We do know that he had a history of sexual violence both in and out of the military, and for whatever reason, people somehow always look the other way,” Panetta said.

Jeremy Goulet was accused of raping two military officers in 2006, while in the army, but a plea bargain allowed him to walk away, with a less than honorable discharge. “At some point, somebody pays a price,” Panetta said.

While the former Secretary of Defense never said it outright, many believe Panetta implied that dismissed case, so many years ago, had a ripple effect that may have ultimately led to the death of the two Santa Cruz police officers last Tuesday.

The problem of sexual assault in the military has been well documented and was an issue Panetta spent much of his time as Defense Secretary addressing.

“I thought Secretary Panetta was responding from his heart as a human being in responding to a crisis and a tragedy really in terms of how well we’ve taken care of the problem of sexual assault in the military and how both the victims and the perpetrators of those crimes haven’t been managed appropriately in past years,” Beth Hillman, a professor of law at UC Hastings and the president of the National Institute for Military Justice said.

Experts estimate that as many as 19,000 military women and men are sexually assaulted every year, but only 13-percent ever report the attacks.

Many believe that is because the current system for prosecuting the cases gives too much power to commanding officers.

“I think it’s time to take this problem away from our military leaders and put it in the hands of independent prosecutors and investigators who can manage this without worrying about the impact or the reputation of the military," Hillman said.

Rep. Jackie Speier agrees. She released the following statement, “The commanding officer is the judge and the jury. The commanding officer when you report a rape can decide not to pursue it, not to have it investigated.”

The Congresswoman has introduced three bills in hopes of creating an environment that better protects the victim, and reduced what many call a “good ol’ boys” network that better protects the victim that, in some cases, protects predators.

“Rapes will continue in the military, sexual assaults, sexual harassment unless we take dramatic steps to change it,” Speier said.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: California
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1 posted on 03/08/2013 8:16:00 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

Panetta who made sexual assault in the military more likely?


2 posted on 03/08/2013 8:18:44 PM PST by Viennacon
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To: nickcarraway

“People look the other way” when a black Marxist Muslim gay illegal alien uses fraudulent documents to gain the office of POTUS, too.


3 posted on 03/08/2013 8:26:40 PM PST by Obama_Is_Sabotaging_America (PRISON AT BENGHAZI?????)
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To: nickcarraway
“I think it’s time to take this problem away from our military leaders and put it in the hands of independent prosecutors and investigators who can manage this without worrying about the impact or the reputation of the military," Hillman said.

Another "crisis" which, however, peripherally related, we must not let go to waste. This will ultimately also be the way the Second Amendment gets destroyed, just as American industrial capacity has: through "do-gooder" legislation which further empowers the Plaintiffs Bar.

4 posted on 03/08/2013 8:26:49 PM PST by FredZarguna (I ride around nights mostly...subways, buses...If I'm gonna do that I might as well get paid for it.)
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To: nickcarraway
“We do know that he had a history of sexual violence both in and out of the military, and for whatever reason, people somehow always look the other way,” Panetta said. “At some point, somebody pays a price,” Panetta said.

I hate to defend that fat sack of commie dog vomit but what part of what he said isn't true? He didn't single out the military he said "both in and out of the military" this Goulet scumbag was let off easy. Apparently true. Panetta said "somebody pays a price" which is also apparently true here too. This predator wasn't dealt with so he moved up from rape to murder.

5 posted on 03/08/2013 8:41:40 PM PST by TigersEye (The irresponsible should not be leading the responsible.)
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To: nickcarraway

Democratic Strategist’s Shocking Claim: Women Don’t Need Guns for Self-Defense, Just Tell Men ‘Not to Rape Women’
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/03/05/democratic-strategists-shocking-claim-women-dont-need-guns-for-self-defense-just-tell-men-not-to-rape-women/


6 posted on 03/08/2013 8:45:23 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (I'll raise $2million for Sarah Palin's presidential run. What'll you do?)
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To: nickcarraway

Maybe Panetta needs to propose a new poofter medal to proudly wear on your uniform chest:

A bronze bent over “V”, with tight buttocks; adorned by bronze flying toilet paper; hanging from a brown ribbon!


7 posted on 03/08/2013 9:49:52 PM PST by Noob1999 (Loose Lips, Sink Ships)
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To: TigersEye
I hate to defend that fat sack of commie dog vomit but what part of what he said isn't true? He didn't single out the military he said "both in and out of the military" this Goulet scumbag was let off easy. Apparently true. Panetta said "somebody pays a price" which is also apparently true here too. This predator wasn't dealt with so he moved up from rape to murder.

You are not defending him -you are defending delusional premise that supports leftist ideology. The perp plea bargained -no one looked the other way. As well the whole 'victim' and 'abuse' leftist ideology that gives as such things as hate crime, hate speech, violence against women laws and on and on is based upon false correlations. Just because one rapes does not mean they will murder -just because one verbally 'abuses' doe not mean one will physically abuse. Get it? The whole leftist victim protection racket is based upon lies. LIES that Panetta promotes.

8 posted on 03/09/2013 12:43:41 AM PST by DBeers (†)
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To: DBeers

“The perp plea bargained”

Which is precisely the point and the problem regarding implementation of the UCMJ. But hey its all a leftwing conspiracy right? - rolls eyes -


9 posted on 03/09/2013 5:18:36 AM PST by KantianBurke (Where was the Tea Party when Dubya was spending like a drunken sailor?)
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To: nickcarraway

Panetta is shooting off at the mouth.

I wonder if Panetta (or anyone else) bothered to look into the reason why the military was unable to go forward with prosecuting this guy with the sexual assault(s). They opted to give him a dishonorable discharge in exchange for dropping charges for some reason. They don’t take sexual assault lightly.


10 posted on 03/09/2013 6:11:05 AM PST by submarinerswife (Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, while expecting different results~Einstein)
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To: DBeers

There really is rape of men and women in the military. Porn and it’s humanist “ethics” are king in some circles. There really are people up the chain of command who do nothing about it because they like it - are perverted. That is not alright and has to be addressed. This is especially true now that the military have sexually released aggressive homos from the closet.

You are correct in your observation of what leftists will do with this problem. They will try and make heterosexual men into victims of gay mafia overlords. They will falsely accuse people who are uppity with their advancement and their sexual and radical cultural dictates - political correctness.


11 posted on 03/09/2013 8:34:46 AM PST by SaraJohnson
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To: DBeers

Tell me this, you friggin’ moron, how am I defending plea bargaining?


12 posted on 03/09/2013 12:04:42 PM PST by TigersEye (The irresponsible should not be leading the responsible.)
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To: TigersEye
Tell me this, you friggin’ moron, how am I defending plea bargaining?

You missed entirely the point I was attempting to convey.

13 posted on 03/09/2013 3:34:17 PM PST by DBeers (†)
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To: DBeers

No, I got your point. This guy was accused in multiple situations of rape and ended up murdering two cops but it was just a big coincidence. There was no connection. He was a nice guy until he was a murderer. He probably snapped because of those false rape allegations. He was just another Dorner who was oppressed by the system.


14 posted on 03/09/2013 3:38:02 PM PST by TigersEye (The irresponsible should not be leading the responsible.)
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To: KantianBurke
Which is precisely the point and the problem regarding implementation of the UCMJ. But hey its all a leftwing conspiracy right? - rolls eyes -

.and if he was punished to the full extent possible he would not have later murdered as Panetta suggests? How about as Panetta implies he was destined to be murderer because he was sexually .violent' and we should accept this 'fact. in how we write and apply laws? Punish people for future crimes?

You gettin it yet?

15 posted on 03/09/2013 3:39:45 PM PST by DBeers (†)
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To: TigersEye
No, I got your point. This guy was accused in multiple situations of rape and ended up murdering two cops but it was just a big coincidence. There was no connection. He was a nice guy until he was a murderer. He probably snapped because of those false rape allegations. He was just another Dorner who was oppressed by the system.

Big mommy government can not eliminate all risk and protect us. Those who give government the power to protect against all risk lose all freedom.

Panetta promotes mommy.

16 posted on 03/09/2013 3:43:59 PM PST by DBeers (†)
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To: DBeers

You’re an idiot.


17 posted on 03/09/2013 3:49:51 PM PST by TigersEye (The irresponsible should not be leading the responsible.)
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To: TigersEye
You’re an idiot.

-I made my point.

18 posted on 03/09/2013 4:18:59 PM PST by DBeers (†)
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To: DBeers

I correctly characterized it.


19 posted on 03/09/2013 4:21:23 PM PST by TigersEye (The irresponsible should not be leading the responsible.)
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To: DBeers

Bzzt. Wrong. Nice try at evasion. The issue that Panetta is raising is that UCMJ, as currently construed, can and does let rapists walk. Letting a convicted rapist walk usually is a bad idea. Just ask Dukakis.


20 posted on 03/10/2013 12:04:34 PM PDT by KantianBurke (Where was the Tea Party when Dubya was spending like a drunken sailor?)
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