Sexual Assaults on Female Soldiers: Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Sexual Assaults on Female Soldiers: Don't Ask, Don't Tell

www.time.com

What does it tell us that female soldiers deployed overseas stop drinking water after 7 p.m. to reduce the odds of being raped if they have to use the bathroom at night? Or that a soldier who was assaulted when she went out for a cigarette was afraid to report it for fear she would be demoted — for having gone out without her weapon? Or that, as Representative Jane Harman puts it, "a female soldier in Iraq is more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than killed by enemy fire."

(visit the link for the full news article)

Well this is quite upsetting.

An interesting article from Time none the less.

These stats are simply mind blowing

The Pentagon's latest figures show that nearly 3,000 women were sexually assaulted in fiscal year 2008, up 9% from the year before; among women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, the number rose 25%. When you look at the entire universe of female veterans, close to a third say they were victims of rape or assault while they were serving — twice the rate in the civilian population.

DOUBLE the rate, yup you read that correctly. How are we ever suppose to move forward in our thinking, whether it be civic or military if we still have these problems that are obviously out of control?

~Keeper




www.time.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

Star And Flag!!!!!!

I can't believe TIME magazine is reporting this

Now what is scary is that these soldier rapists are being dropped in foreign countries with guns!
If they are capable of raping their own team members just imagine what they are doing to people of that country while being armed with little or no accountability.

I remember a while back while reading news articles, I think before I was a member here at ATS, about the war and deployments and some comments at the bottom of the article people were saying american troops are here raping our daughters and sisters, and americans respond what are you talking about you are spreading lies. Apparently perhaps not!

This is a very important topic, I hope everyone stars and flags this!

reply to post by ModernAcademia


I certainly hope so, it's a subject VERY dear to my heart. As far as I am concerned the military is suppose to be the American Ideal abroad. They are our PR reps really and it's them who give the overall face of America or any other country throughout the world.

~Keeper

This is just sickening. These guys (rapists) are animals. I don't know what else to say about it. If I were in the service, I'd have my weapon on me at all times. Even going pee in the night... Just disgusting!

About "time" publications brought more attention to this problem. A lot of my family members have served for quite some time now and I have heard some sickening stories about the things they have heard or witnessed.

A lot of females join up thinking they are going to honorably serve their country alongside fellow Americans only to find out not only are they the target of their male counterparts, but that they have to be wary of the allies as well as the enemies.

A lot of the soldiers try and justify this by saying the women "sleep around" anyway.
Even if that were true what would that have to do with a soldier drugging and/or forcibly raping them?

More women need to be made aware of this, the leaders need to be held accountable, and the Military should be shamed and humbled into doing something to stop these terrible assaults.

STOP BLAMING THE VICTIMS



- Lee

Originally posted by ModernAcademia

Now what is scary is that these soldier rapists are being dropped in foreign countries with guns!
If they are capable of raping their own team members just imagine what they are doing to people of that country while being armed with little or no accountability.

You want scary? Just imagine what these scum will do when they get out of the military and come back home to their wives and daughters as war heroes.

And we certainly cannot blame these rapes on how the soldiers are dressed.

What a shame the military is discouraging women from reporting.

Why is this happening? Is it something to do with training? Or is it the caliber of male the military has to accept anymore?

Thank you for posting this article.

Originally posted by ModernAcademia
Now what is scary is that these soldier rapists are being dropped in foreign countries with guns!
If they are capable of raping their own team members just imagine what they are doing to people of that country while being armed with little or no accountability.

Indeed.

There is the scary thought, and why we haven't won as many "hearts and minds" as our leaders want us to believe.

The truth is we end up allowing injustices committed against foreign citizens (especially through corporations) and because they have no voice or means to benefit from a level of justice their outrage festers. They take it out on themselves mostly, until some opportunistic group shows up at their door and tells them how to get back at the great Satan or whomever it permits to abuse them.

We keep creating enemies for us to fight.

Even though our leaders like to pretend they have no idea why we get attacked or our name is internationally besmirched, they know full well. It is the citizens that buy the rubbish about people hating our "freedoms", thanks to some well positioned talking-heads and a bucket of "freedom fries".

Consequently this is all just big business and a select few are getting very rich off the taxpayers while they tell them to focus their anger onto inconsequential leeches taking advantage of social programs.

Good morning, Ms. Direction.
How lovely to see you again today!

- Lee

[edit on 3-3-2010 by lee anoma]

Originally posted by hotbakedtater
Why is this happening? Is it something to do with training? Or is it the caliber of male the military has to accept anymore?

How do you get people to continue fighting an immoral war?

Answer: You hire immoral people!

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Army and Marine Corps let 861 convicted felons join their ranks in 2007, an 88 percent jump over the previous year that helped meet recruiting goals in wartime, according to data released on Monday.
The Marine Corps granted 350 waivers, up from 208 the year before.
www.reuters.com...

Men in the military are rapists and murderers. Fact of life. There is a VERY simple solution to this problem. DO NOT JOIN THE MILITARY, LADIES. So simple.

Oh, If anybody cares, I also have a cure for AIDS while I'm on the subject of solving the world's problems.

[edit on 3-3-2010 by Longtimegone]

reply to post by Longtimegone


Some men everywhere are rapists. sadly that's just the way it is

It shouldn't keep women from the military

The ruled Need to be changed so the women aren't afraid to report it .......

[edit on 3-3-2010 by AmericanDaughter]

reply to post by AmericanDaughter


Joining the military for a women is like walking down a dark alley at night by herself. Just don't do it. Why would someone want a profession that kills others anyway.

I think the high rate has alot to do with the fact that you are trained to be violent and then sent to a wartime situation that is very stressful and blurs the lines of morality in your own concious. It is hard to expect to train people to kill follow orders that they may find morally objectionable, but then maintain morality in other areas. This is not in any way an excuse or justification, I just think it may be a reason as to the staggering numbers.

Originally posted by Longtimegone
reply to post by AmericanDaughter

 

Joining the military for a women is like walking down a dark alley at night by herself. Just don't do it. Why would someone want a profession that kills others anyway.

That's not the only job in the military friend. There are THOUSANDS of positions that don't require you to EVER open fire.

Woman should have the right to join without needing to fear being raped. This should be addressed immidiately.

As it stands your saying it's the woman's fault.

~Keeper

It's no wonder the public doesnt know much of this; this really is a subject that most of us in uniform dont wish to discuss. Thats because we DO know how most civilians view us; we're the Good Guys. So while we may choose to keep our skeletons in the closet as much as possible, bear this in mind: When a sister soldier is raped she has so much going on in her mind, but it boils down to three options,

1. Official Report- charges will be filed; and guilty ones worthless life will be even further ruined.

2. Un official report - nothing happens, it stays confidential...usually to the chaplain.

3. she tells no one, and suffers in silence.

If it so happens that the "unnoficial" report is to a friend, and it doesnt stay confidential....well i'll refer to Murphey's Laws of Combat: Friendly Fire.....Isnt.

On a side note, my wife and I have often wondered if this alarming statistic isnt in someway due to general order #1, which bans among other things, ALL consensual sex and ALL forms of pornography while in the theater of operations (i.e. iraq and afghanistan)

[edit on 3-3-2010 by blood0fheroes]

reply to post by tothetenthpower


Yes it is the womens fault. LOL. I don't walk down a bad neighborhood and then get surprised if I get mugged. Some areas you just don't go. It is a sad fact of life. Don't be so naive. There is no reason why a women needs to join the military. Also they are all murderers. An army cook is a murderer for feeding the murderers.

And to clarify, it is the women's fault for putting herself in that situation. Not for the actual rape.

[edit on 3-3-2010 by Longtimegone]

[edit on 3-3-2010 by Longtimegone]

reply to post by Longtimegone


I beg to differ. I served for 5 years, and I can tell you for a fact that I am not a murderer. Do away with the military and see how long you live.

Click here for more information.

Originally posted by Longtimegone
reply to post by tothetenthpower

 

Yes it is the womens fault. LOL. I don't walk down a bad neighborhood and then get surprised if I get mugged. Some areas you just don't go. It is a sad fact of life. Don't be so naive. There is no reason why a women needs to join the military. Also they are all murderers. An army cook is a murderer for feeding the murderers.

And to clarify, it is the women's fault for putting herself in that situation. Not for the actual rape.

Well that's your opinion but it's not fact my friend.

Don't go around touting it as such.

And IMO you are wrong, woman don't have to go around constantly worrying about getting raped because a man makes the DECISION to rape her.

I agree that woman have the responsibility of being aware of their surroundings, however you can't blame an event when they did not instigate.

Secondly, the military is suppose to be an honorable job where comaraderie and pride of one's self is of the utmost importance. This is the men's fault, not hers and the military is just as guilty for not addressing the issue sooner.

~Keeper

reply to post by Longtimegone


Normally I would disagree, but if I met you face to face right now I might prove you right.