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A high-profile documentary about rape in the US military has helped move the secretary of defence, Leon Panetta, to change a much-maligned policy which critics say helps to protect attackers.
is not due to arrive in cinemas elsewhere in the US until Friday 22 June. Even so, the film-makers have embarked on a determined effort to screen the movie for members of Congress and staff at the department of defence and the Pentagon.
For men, combat experience is the leading cause of PTSD. For women, it's sexual assault. This is the real 'war on women'
The Service Women's Action Network notes that rape is always under-reported, and that a military context offers additional hurdles to rape victims
The DoD estimates that in 2010 alone, over 19,000 sexual assaults occurred in the military.
"Prosecution rates for sexual predators are astoundingly low," they note. In 2011, "officials received 3,192 sexual assault reports. But only 1,518 of those reports led to referrals for possible disciplinary action, and only 191 military members were convicted at courts martial."
The Department of Defense, they further record, does not keep any kind of military sex offender registry that could potentially alert soldiers
Many of these stories involved a culture of male soldiers attacking women in the desert by ganging up at an outhouse with other men, or by assaulting a woman when she had stepped into the field to relieve herself. The fact that so many women veterans independently described these dangers suggests how systemic, and also how necessarily well-known to commanders, such risks must have become.
Originally posted by KnawLick
reply to post by ModernAcademia
Rape is deplorable and there is ZERO excuse for it.... But.....
Why anybody thinks its a good idea to put women in a position around young, testosterone fueled men is beyond me..
Women shouldn't be servicing in the military outside of nursing. (although I do respect those that are)
Originally posted by KnawLick
I'd say you sir are the sexist one. Willing to send our beautiful young women off to war.... for what?!
That's really sexist and wrong. You are blaming the women for being around testosterone filled men for being raped?
That's a huge cop out and you should be ashamed of having those beliefs. There's no reason women can't perform just as well, if not better than men in the military and they should be given the same ammount of respect and dignity as those men in the military.
As for the topic, thank god these women are suing the government and made this documentary to help the thousands of other women in the military who have these problems.
With a suicide a day now for military service men/women and this rape issue, it's no wonder our troops are loosing their minds at home and abroad.
~Tenth
Originally posted by KnawLick
reply to post by tothetenthpower
Who made you the purveyor of morality?
I think women are societies biggest asset. The loss of 1 mother to war is unacceptable. Men on the other hand were made for war. It's in our blood.
I'd say you sir are the sexist one. Willing to send our beautiful young women off to war.... for what?!
You notion of political correctness?!
Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic
reply to post by ModernAcademia
My first star and flag for you in, like.... EVER! (Just kidding).
It's great that this is being exposed and talked about. I hope it does some good.
reply to post by KnawLick
Originally posted by KnawLick
I'd say you sir are the sexist one. Willing to send our beautiful young women off to war.... for what?!
What gives men the authority to decide that women shouldn't be free to serve their country? Shouldn't that be up to the women?
Originally posted by KnawLick
reply to post by ModernAcademia
Rape is deplorable and there is ZERO excuse for it.... But.....
Why anybody thinks its a good idea to put women in a position around young, testosterone fueled men is beyond me..
Women shouldn't be servicing in the military outside of nursing. (although I do respect those that are)
Originally posted by KnawLick
reply to post by tothetenthpower
So a women can carry a 100 pound pack, navigate courses, carry heavy weaponry and see people blown up in front of them just as well as men?
I hope to never meet the women you associate with sir...
Who made you the purveyor of morality?
I think women are societies biggest asset. The loss of 1 mother to war is unacceptable. Men on the other hand were made for war. It's in our blood.
I'd say you sir are the sexist one. Willing to send our beautiful young women off to war.... for what?!
You notion of political correctness?!
Originally posted by seeker1963
reply to post by KnawLick
Who made you the purveyor of morality?
I think women are societies biggest asset. The loss of 1 mother to war is unacceptable. Men on the other hand were made for war. It's in our blood.
I'd say you sir are the sexist one. Willing to send our beautiful young women off to war.... for what?!
You notion of political correctness?!
Ummmm, the women are WANTING to go and serve their country!! No one is forcing them! They are volunteering, so why don't you ask them why they want to serve their country????
Sounds to me like you are making excuses for the criminals that can't be a real men, and decide that the women are there for their sexual pleasure?
And they have ever right to do so. I never said purge the military of women... I said I PERSONALLY don't believe women should be serving but in select roles. I'm not king though, they can do whatever they want...
And because I don't agree with your position you accuse me of sticking up for rapists?! lol. How quickly we fall into name calling.... How about you actually read what I wrote rather than accuse me of disgusting things....