Having a daughter in the Army, this story is important to me. The confirmed number of assaults is sufficient to warrant treating this as the emergency an inverted flag indicates. The number of false reports does not justify not treating this as a crime deserving of harsh punishment for violations of trust, duty to fellow soldiers, and abuse of power. Sexual assaults on females AND males predate last year’s permission for women to apply for combat positions. I have not heard of any women who have passed the physical requirements though a few have come close. But women were being sexually assaulted in WW2, a point made in the John Wayne movie, In Harm’s Way.Failure to address these crimes flies in the face of Conservative religious and moral values as well as Liberal humanitarian treatment values.Respectfully,C.tree hugger
@onguard: You said “The Dem Libs experiment of putting women in front line positions is a resounding Failure” as if the rapes and other sexual assaults are specifically related to women serving in combat positions – except the statistics being discussed occurred BEFORE combat status was opened to women.
Also, what about the women assaulted by their drill sergeants at Lackland AFB and other men and women assaulted here in their own country.
Why should rape be condoned for men in the military and not for veterans who have left the military? Or for police who get similar training?
For once I do not totally disagree with your position, at least in regards to the military deliberately placing women into combat situations. That is not to say that throughout the history of the US, women have not already been in combat situations as this has happened in the past frequently in the wars that the US has fought over the last couple of centuries or so. And my reasons for this have nothing to do with the possible competency of women in combat, I am certain that women can indeed do well there.
My own point is simply that war itself is the most degrading and horrifying of all human endeavors, and should only be resorted to as a very last resort in human affairs. It is bad enough to subject men to such conditions, so subjecting the mothers and wives who will be having and raising the future generations of men as children is unconscionable to me at least. And, as you feel that I am a liberal (which I am not, what I am is a relatively moderate technocrat, although I must admit when compared to the likes of such as Rush Limbaugh, then I must appear as a liberal), then I would like to state that this policy is not one that I endorse. And I have even been castigated by the more ultra conservative here for such a position!
I don’t think you care that much about this issue as you are interested in insulting about half or the nations citizens. Yes Clinton did wrong, but so did the GOP that won in Carolina. That was a long time ago. It’s hard to believe you would bring up “death panels” because there are NOT any and never were any.
The all-volunteer army would be dead without women joining. There simply are not enough strong, smart men who want to be in it to do all the work the neo-cons are committing us to. And as for your obscene statement blaming women soldiers when they are victims for rape — you’re not worthy of the protection they are giving you. Rape is a crime. You are a conservative slime-bag.
chazandru almost 11 years ago
Having a daughter in the Army, this story is important to me. The confirmed number of assaults is sufficient to warrant treating this as the emergency an inverted flag indicates. The number of false reports does not justify not treating this as a crime deserving of harsh punishment for violations of trust, duty to fellow soldiers, and abuse of power. Sexual assaults on females AND males predate last year’s permission for women to apply for combat positions. I have not heard of any women who have passed the physical requirements though a few have come close. But women were being sexually assaulted in WW2, a point made in the John Wayne movie, In Harm’s Way.Failure to address these crimes flies in the face of Conservative religious and moral values as well as Liberal humanitarian treatment values.Respectfully,C.tree hugger
Jason Allen almost 11 years ago
The origins of the IRS date back to Lincoln and a Republican Congress. But then you’ve never really let facts get in the way of your opinions.
banderpal almost 11 years ago
@onguard: You said “The Dem Libs experiment of putting women in front line positions is a resounding Failure” as if the rapes and other sexual assaults are specifically related to women serving in combat positions – except the statistics being discussed occurred BEFORE combat status was opened to women.
Also, what about the women assaulted by their drill sergeants at Lackland AFB and other men and women assaulted here in their own country.
Why should rape be condoned for men in the military and not for veterans who have left the military? Or for police who get similar training?
frodo1008 almost 11 years ago
For once I do not totally disagree with your position, at least in regards to the military deliberately placing women into combat situations. That is not to say that throughout the history of the US, women have not already been in combat situations as this has happened in the past frequently in the wars that the US has fought over the last couple of centuries or so. And my reasons for this have nothing to do with the possible competency of women in combat, I am certain that women can indeed do well there.
My own point is simply that war itself is the most degrading and horrifying of all human endeavors, and should only be resorted to as a very last resort in human affairs. It is bad enough to subject men to such conditions, so subjecting the mothers and wives who will be having and raising the future generations of men as children is unconscionable to me at least. And, as you feel that I am a liberal (which I am not, what I am is a relatively moderate technocrat, although I must admit when compared to the likes of such as Rush Limbaugh, then I must appear as a liberal), then I would like to state that this policy is not one that I endorse. And I have even been castigated by the more ultra conservative here for such a position!
pam Miner almost 11 years ago
I don’t think you care that much about this issue as you are interested in insulting about half or the nations citizens. Yes Clinton did wrong, but so did the GOP that won in Carolina. That was a long time ago. It’s hard to believe you would bring up “death panels” because there are NOT any and never were any.
ARodney almost 11 years ago
The all-volunteer army would be dead without women joining. There simply are not enough strong, smart men who want to be in it to do all the work the neo-cons are committing us to. And as for your obscene statement blaming women soldiers when they are victims for rape — you’re not worthy of the protection they are giving you. Rape is a crime. You are a conservative slime-bag.