No one knows exactly how many female veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been sexually assaulted while on duty. That's because it is estimated that half of all sexual assaults go unreported.
As it is, 15% of female veterans have screened positive for Military Sexual Trauma. At a jaw-dropping estimate of 1 in 3, the rate of sexual assault victims in the military is twice that of the civilian population, an eerie echo of the doubled rate of suicide among veterans compared to civilians. We've already called attention to the factors threatening our troops that don't come from battling with the enemy, factors like electrocution in showers to exposure to contaminated water. But imagine if the biggest threat you've encountered came from a fellow military member, someone living in close quarters with you, someone you worked with, ate with, and interacted with on a daily basis.
And imagine if the agency responsible for caring for your well-being refused to address this issue. Said Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn:
Years of inaction at the DOD continue to speak volumes about senior leadership's commitment to our service members and civil servants. When it comes to sexual assault in the military, the DOD has absolutely no credibility.
Four years ago, the DOD was Congressionally mandated to establish a special task force on the issue of sexual assault in the military. In four years, this task force has yet to convene once. Not once.
Now the Pentagon has ordered Kaye Whitley, the director of the Department's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO), to ignore a Congressional subpoena for a hearing on sexual assault in the military.
As if the refusal of SAPRO to name the 15-member civilian task force in 4 years didn't speak volumes about the DOD's guilt in the matter. But their absolute refusal to be probed whatsoever in their activities to prevent and respond to sexual assault confirms that the DOD is, for some reason, dragging its feet on addressing the issue. “It's the Pentagon's job to ensure our troops are protected, and they are failing miserably here,” said Paul Reikhoff, Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran and founder of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
We hear a lot from the Bush administration and Washington in general about standing up for our troops. But with one in three women in the military being sexually assaulted and the Pentagon ignoring the problem (as well as the law and Congress), where is the outrage? You can help us apply a little pressure right now by signing a petition to Kaye Whitley. Tell her to do her job by convening the task force, investigating the problem, coming up with real solutions, and fighting to protect the brave women in our military.
in vietnam we setup brothels to help curb the troops sexual needs. then this was considered a waste of our tax dollars and morally wrong. And the brothels were closed after awhile. And others opened and quietly run. and our troops also went there.
Was there sexual abuse inside our fighting force then? Guess why it was alot less? possibly...
with tour duty's sopposedly set at 12 to 15 mo.. I don't understand why anyone would have a desire for sex so bad they would rape someone who is a husband or wife to someone at home.
Why are these studies concentrated on sexual assault or rape with women.
Men are also raped, harassed, hit on what have you. Maybe less inclined to come forward, since a man being raped. Is usually laughed at. I know. I have been raped. When i tell some people about it, they do laugh, and say .. oh come on you know you enjoyd it... It's an entirely diffrent feeling when you want to have sex with someone, then when you are having sex with someone because they forced it upon you.
If your a single girl in iraq, and a single guy is harassing you. and desires sex. consider that this is a war zone. things are crazy. And inhumane. Having sex with this guy or girl would be the most considerate and humane thing you could do. It does depend on how they approach you with this desire tho. Rape or forcing sex on anyone is not humane. Its animalistic. And seriously damaging. Having to kill people, and being in the 130+ desert is bad enough. And probably associated with the mental degradation, and deminished capacity to determine what it right and wrong. People who would not normally do these things, do them. Also the feeling of little consuquences has a heavy role in this as well. There needs to be some form of punishment for being so inconsiderate to another human being. Even if its handled only by the person who is in charge of that unit. And is something like scrubbing the toilets or not going on a mission. And above all, it must not be made public. Unless those who are involved say they want it to be. Another reason DOD doesn't wanna touch it.
Why is the DOD ignoreing the abuses.. consider the punishments for military personell who are proven guilty of the crime.
Most likely dishonorable discharge...but this is a war time. And we sopposedly need every man and woman available to fight this war... So any crime comitted is ignored until which time it is conveinent for them to prosecute. Which in a rape case, unless the evidence is gathered within 3 days i think. i could be wrong. Then there is no evidence that it happend. other then hair etc that may be washed away.
Also consider that the patriot act. Excuses any military person or contractor from any kind of war crime. Or unlawful behavior. While they serve in iraq or afganistan. Or any mission deemed an action towards spreading democracy...The wording i read seemed to cover anything period outside the US.
I read this from an article on the internet. And have yet to actually see the physical documentation published. Its very much protected and censored. Some versions are blacked out.
Only what they want you to know isn't blacked out. which is very little. sometimes 3 or 4 words a paragraph.
If you want to grasp the scope of the bush admins power. Obtain a copy of this patriot act. The offical document is probably some series of numbers and letters. you may have to contact a senator or congressman. But good luck. Personally I've been laughed at and told that it doesn't exist if i even got a reply. But I know there is a reason why the people are having less and less say in what happens in government since i've had knowledge of this document. And a few police officers also have knowledge of certain parts of this document, given to them in training. I've even discussed what could be considered a terroist act. And under the patriot acts wide range of wording and where its implemented. Pretty much anything, can be turned into a terroist act. Protests and rally's included.. I could go on forever about this. But i would be getting off topic.. I feel that this patiot act has an influence in haliburton and this rape case not going anywhere. also consider that there are civilians or journalists who have lost their jobs, or who have been or are still are in jail. because they didn't do what DOD or homeland defense or whatever group asked them to do. Or they decided to reveal the truth.
