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.

[sauropod]

Well if that's the case, I'm glad I've made the list!

[Soaring Feather]

Anybody get Freepmail from her. I did.



Yes, I did.

[.cnI redruM]

They have no life. I could care less who posts on DU.

[LibWhacker]

Don't tell me you like it.

[metesky]

Yeah, that's what I got.

Oh, the next eight months are gonna be fun!

[Constitution Day]

..."most hated FReeper" thread...

Cool! I reckon I must be one of those now too.

[weegee]

Lo should also consider that antisemites are Racists too.

And don't try bringing up the old "arabs are semites so arabs can't be antisemites". All (s)he needs to do is look up the first usage of the word "antisemite" to realize that it was used exclusively against the Jews.

[bogdanPolska12]

Re: Female GIs reporting rapes by U.S. soldiers
From lolita l | 02/26/2004 11:01:27 AM PST new

There you have it. Not only is this a forum for anti-Arab, anti-Palestinian racists, for people who like gay-bashing, lying and defending the Bush administration without respect for arguments and not even scientific facts, you even support rape!

Ok enough is enough. You are starting to test my patience. From your email looks like you are muslim decent. Let me tell you something and let me tell you straight forward as it is; sent me on more freep email and I promise you I will sent you a letter you wish you have never receive. Second of all, stop being so stupid and arrogant, if you cannot take a logical conversation then don't do it. Third scientific facts are here and well documented you have people here in this forum that has more knowledge about engineering and life than your stupid comments. I want to warn you send me one more of this trash, and yes I am new to this forum, but I promise you something don't piss me off whoever you are for I have better things to do then read your stupid emails got it!

[boxerblues]

lol Im still trying to figure out why. Im not sure I even posted on this thread.

[EGPWS]

These/this troll(s) for the past 2 weeks is/are starting to become an annoyance.

If only they were capable of intelligent dialog, it could be kinda' fun.

[dirtboy]

..is it a school holiday or is lolita truant?

Given the extremely limited intellectual capacity that lolita has displayed so far, I would say her liberal college dumbing down has been completed and she's working for the only market segment willing to hire someone like her, namely government.

[sauropod]

Welcome to FR.

[Stu Cohen]

Quit being silly and get women out of the military.

[Grampa Dave]

Below are the Freep Mails I have received for the honor of being a targeted Freeper for these maggot troll for just today:

Read Re: Female GIs reporting rapes by U.S. soldiers
From lolita l received 02/26/2004 11:01:34 AM PST

Read Re: Breaking News> Rumsfeld in Afghanistan: photos
From betsy b received 02/26/2004 9:54:23 AM PST

Read Re: GOTTA SEE THIS-WarEndur.Freedom 2/26/04-Al-Yaychi,Baghdad,Samawa
From amely received 02/26/2004 9:13:39 AM PST

Read Re: GOTTA SEE THIS-WarEndur.Freedom 2/26/04-Al-Yaychi,Baghdad,Samawa
From venus w received 02/26/2004 8:32:59 AM PST

It is obvious that GW, the Passion, the anti gay marriage movements, the success of our war in Iraq and Baby Killer Kerry's plummet in the polls are driving the lunatic trolls even more into insanity.

I have recycled one of my favorite taglines just for these Troll Stalkers.

[sauropod]

It would be fun i agree. Kinda like shooting fish in a barrel, but that does hold some degree of amusement.

[Poohbah]

Someone said that DirtyUnderwear has a "most hated FReeper" thread but I couldn't find it with Google. I don't know if the SPAM list was created from that thread or just someone's personal vendetta list. I must be doing something right to get them so worked up.

I'm on her personal vendetta list. I outed her as a troll when she posted a "Jews are evil, Palestinians are saints" article. (It's not a real ZOT! thread until I send my "SKYBIRD" Emergency Action Message--ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTES!)

[sauropod]

I refer to him as RED Kerry.

[.cnI redruM]

Did it send you freepmail too. Lolita 1 impresses me with her Internet savvy! Not.

[LibWhacker]

I don't want to wait until November. Perhaps it would be possible not to grant Freepmail privileges to newbies until they proved their metal with good conservative postings for a probationary period of, say, three months?

[My2Cents]

It's way past time to rethink the wisdom (or foolishness) of women in the military.