Mar 23 2009
The Enemy Within: Sexual Assault in the U.S. Military
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have exacted an enormous physical and psychological toll on those who wear the uniform of the U.S. Armed Forces. Serving long tours in godforsaken places around the globe and getting shot at by the local folk tends to take a lot out of people. Since 9/11, many service members have been exposed to the stresses and dangers that often accompany the profession of arms during wartime, but female service members have had to deal with the added burden of unwanted attention and sexual violence at the hands of their male comrades.
According to a story put out by CNN on Tuesday, “Reports of sexual assault among U.S. troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan rose 26 percent from the previous year, according to an annual Pentagon report presented to Congress on Tuesday.”
“Among all active duty U.S. military troops, the Pentagon showed an increase of about 8 percent in sexual assault reports from the previous year,” CNN adds.
In fiscal year 2008, which began on Oct. 1, 2007, 165 sexual assaults were reported in Iraq and Afghanistan. In fiscal year 2007, there were 131 sexual assault reports.
The U.S. military has 1.4 million members serving around the world.
Dr. Kaye Whitley, director of the Pentagon’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response office, says the increase is largely due to “improved reporting methods,” which make it possible for service members to report an assault without having to fear reprisals from superior officers and peers.
“The increase in reports means the department’s policy of encouraging victims to come forward is making a difference,” Whitley said.
According to Pentagon officials, despite the improved conditions that make is possible for service members to report cases, it is estimated that only 10 to 20 percent of all actual sexual assaults are reported.
This is inexcusable. Everyone who volunteers to wear the uniform and defend our way of life should be treated with dignity and respect. These so-called “improvements” put in place by the DoD are not adequate because even when a sexual assault is reported, the guilty party often receives little or no punishment.
As New York Times columnist Bob Herbert points out, the military could fix this problem and improve the quality of treatment accorded to servicewomen if it really wanted to. After all, we are talking about an organization that can draft millions of men and ship them off to far-flung places to put their lives on the line for that crazy Uncle Sam in a stunningly short amount of time.
Usually, service members who commit serious violations are severely dealt with. But when it comes to the heinous crime of sexual assault, the military tends to be AWOL.
Seems some of our troops have less discipline than we are led to believe. Power is a dangerous thing it is commonly abused but in the service such abuse should be dealt with very severely.
That’s why chicks shouldn’t be allowed in the military. Back in the good old days our boys would just rape the enemy. Now just think of how bad this will be if they let the gays in. Don’t drop the soap, boys! /sarcasm
http://obamacomics.today.com
But seriously folks, how can we expect to train men to go kill people and then be surprised when they display dehumanizing behavior?
Thanks for your comments guys. Bobo, you’re right that people in the military should be held to a higher standard.
btw, i swear to Dog that that girl in the picture looks like a child soldier.
First of I am old fashion in some ways and not in others but when it comes to woman in the military… where do i start. So unto the next…
Some men in the military forget with power comes responsibility. Sometimes the power does go to their head and they take advantage of it. Such high ranking individuals have made sexual comments of …… and their husband had no idea how to handle this seeing this was the highest of commands so you just sort of deal.
Surely a lot more goes unreported in the military, i wouldn’t be surprised if it was double than the civilian world.
On a different note when i was once groped by a soldier when my husband was deployed, I did report it. Many individuals had reported the same… The military was very quick to resolve the problem and the group responsible was severely punished.
On a different note the toll isn’t just those in uniform, the toll is also for those people that they leave behind… wives children. While they go to deal with the war… us woman have our own battles raging inside us. We long to be nurtured and cared for and we have to deny ourselves our human nature. The wisers ones deny all friendships with men just to protect and honor the marriage. You would be surprised how many random strangers just jump at you saying hey your husbands not around you must be a military wife you know I can help you with your loneliness. Yes this happens at grocery stores, walmart… and such. And no it’s not the way me or my friends are dressing. I assure you we aren’t dressed in tight close or intending to be skanky in any form or fashion. A law should be established that our Men shouldn’t be away for more than 3 month at a time and I assure you sexual harrasment charges would drop dramatically in the military. It’s one thing to go to war but a whole different thing to deny everyone involved no sexual action for a year minus rnr. That is just down right outrageous.
All around me wives are divorcing their husbands, others cheating, or establishing relationships that will lead to this.. oh why bother going their. The guys should have rnr every 3 month I assure you that is the solution minus ending the war
Great discussion guys. Dsent, quit being such a badass leftwinger! You’re beginning to make me think Oldfart is a pro-military conservative and that will make my mind implode. lol :0