The U.S. Army is hiring up to 300,000 women. Statistically, every third of them, by the end of her two-year service, will be raped at least once. Not by enemy guerrillas, but colleagues from the army.
Lavena Johnson was 19 years old when, in July 2005, died in Balad base in Iraq. Her body was in an awful state: broken nose, broken teeth, traces of a violent rape, acid burnt genitals, burning fire marks through her head. From the deserted tent, where her body was found, a bloody streak stretched on the sand led all the way. Military prosecutors began an investigation, asked a few questions. Nobody saw nothing, no one heard anything. Case closed, the conclusion: suicide. Apparently Lavena Johnson, first beat and then raped herself, burnt, and finally pressed a gun to the base of skull and pulled the trigger. After all she crawled the ground into the tent....
At least dozen similar "suicides" happened in the U.S. Army in recent years.
"We swing, gentlemen".
The case of young Lavena is extremely brutal and absurd. It thus perfectly illustrates the attitude of the American military establishment to the problem of violence against women in the army: pretending that nothing stinks. Pretending at ANY price .
Sex carnage
Meanwhile, the smell of corruption long crooked politicians and commanders should put their face in a painful grimace. Statistics compiled by Department of Veterans Affairs are alarming: one in three American in the military are victims of rape and 90% are experiencing some form of harassment. Seven out of ten women soldiers, suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), carry within themselves the memories of shame or harassment by a comrade in arms. But this is only the beginning of a nightmare. Statistics indicate that if you have been raped in the army once it will happen again and again - told Loretta Sanchez (Army Affairs) providing news to BBC reporters.
About the sexual exploitation of women in the U.S. armed forces was completely absent in the public debate for years. Serious voices on this issue appeared only after the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. The burden of conducting two wars at once forced the Pentagon to open doors also to female recruits, who are becoming bigger numbers, encouraged by patriotic feelings, adventure's perspective, reasonable salary and the prospect of paid-up study after two years of service. Today, as a result, one in seven American soldier is a woman. Never before there's been so many of them stationing in army barracks in the U.S. and abroad. Never before so many of them were raped. This happens during the patrols, exercises, bathing, or on the way to the latrine where working generators noise drows out the call for help.
The subject had finally come to the surface. Some of the injured women dared to talk publicly about their experiences. Other stories have been traced by journalists. Cases of women soldiers fighting with primitive masculine impulse, sometimes transformed into the real struggle for life, as shown in the case of Lavena finally saw the daylight. There are quite few associations trying to help the victims and demanding changes in the army. As a result, in 2005 there were minor reforms introduced to ensure more privacy of American female soldiers: making effective use of medical and psychological help, without need to report the rape of their commanders as the only resort. organizations have introduced training in the prevention and self-defense during the sexual assault.
Unfortunately effects are mediocre. Last year, American women reported nearly 4,000 rapes carried out in military bases - the LARGEST in history. It is estimated however, that it is only a tenth of the true number of such crimes.
It is better to sit quietly
In 2006, Afghanistan Marti Ribeiro made a big mistake - put aside her rifle, which should not to be left, even in the base, and went for a cigarette. Then someone attacked her from behind, dragged behind working power generator and raped. When the commander has found out, she heard him saying that if any complaint will be brought she would stand before a court martial for leaving unattended weapons. As for rapist, he will deny everything, so that would be her word against his, and they had no intention to believe Marti Ribeiro - BBC was reporting.
Marti therefore has decided not to submit the petition.
Rape and attempt to rape are not even clearly defined in the American military law. As a result, military tribunals, offers sometimes very incomprehensible sentences. Aviator Cassandra Hernandez had been raped during the group play by her three colleagues. When, however, she refused to submit evidence against them before the court, the command staff have sued her for drinking alcohol before the age of 18th and "indecent behavior". She was threatened with years in prison, but ended up with the punishment and disciplinary record in the file. Suspected rapists did not carry any consequence in court.
Impunity of perpetrators is grotesque. Half of prosecutions for sexual violence in the army shall be remitted. Investigators do not like to trouble the good boys, "who serve the country", as one of the victims heard from their commander. Less than 11% of the investigations ended before the tribunal, but most detected offenders received only the sentences of suspension, reprimand or degradation. Many offenders will advance without major problems in the future. Very telling is the fact that even after the death convicted rapists receive a military funeral with all honors.
Inability or unwillingness of the American army to break the men's integrity can seriously impinge on its effectiveness. On the battlefield companions trust is essential. Only through it every soldier can effectively perform tasks requiring co-operation, from shooting operations to disarming mines Female soldier who feels threatened by their own countrymen, is a loosing/unfortunate part of the combat potential. Given the growing number of women in the military, it may be a big loss.
This is no small paradox that a country fighting for the "hearts and minds" of foreign nations, at its own request, retains in armed forces people who are able to rape their comrade women fellows. If they are able to do something like that, what will stop them from playing little games at the expense of Iraqi or Afghan women? They surely won't complain about them to the commander.
Light in the tunnel?
U.S. Congress regularly discusses the problem of rape in the military. The discussions, however, are out of use without a change in thinking. The attitude of leaders, who turn a blind eye to the excesses of charges or themselves take part in them, have to change. Dr. Keys Whitley, director of the Office for the Prevention and respond to sexual attacks (SAPRO) with the Secretary of Defense claim that more direct evidence of such matters land in the military tribunals.
And what can disgraced soldier do? Reasons to remain silent, are numerous, overlap and accumulation of despair are the only rescue in which many women closes in solitude. The equation is simple. If they keep quiet, they can save their career and save themselves other troubles.
Still, it is a strong argument in favor of making loud scream to this complaint. When the first American women in uniform have decided to talk about rape, the U.S. started talking about this problem. When joined by another women, people in authority had to make small changes. Once these voices become enough strong, they can resist even the toughest military concrete. It will benefit not just women soldiers.....
Lavena Johnson was 19 years old when, in July 2005, died in Balad base in Iraq. Her body was in an awful state: broken nose, broken teeth, traces of a violent rape, acid burnt genitals, burning fire marks through her head. From the deserted tent, where her body was found, a bloody streak stretched on the sand led all the way. Military prosecutors began an investigation, asked a few questions. Nobody saw nothing, no one heard anything. Case closed, the conclusion: suicide. Apparently Lavena Johnson, first beat and then raped herself, burnt, and finally pressed a gun to the base of skull and pulled the trigger. After all she crawled the ground into the tent....
At least dozen similar "suicides" happened in the U.S. Army in recent years.
"We swing, gentlemen".
The case of young Lavena is extremely brutal and absurd. It thus perfectly illustrates the attitude of the American military establishment to the problem of violence against women in the army: pretending that nothing stinks. Pretending at ANY price .
Sex carnage
Meanwhile, the smell of corruption long crooked politicians and commanders should put their face in a painful grimace. Statistics compiled by Department of Veterans Affairs are alarming: one in three American in the military are victims of rape and 90% are experiencing some form of harassment. Seven out of ten women soldiers, suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), carry within themselves the memories of shame or harassment by a comrade in arms. But this is only the beginning of a nightmare. Statistics indicate that if you have been raped in the army once it will happen again and again - told Loretta Sanchez (Army Affairs) providing news to BBC reporters.
About the sexual exploitation of women in the U.S. armed forces was completely absent in the public debate for years. Serious voices on this issue appeared only after the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. The burden of conducting two wars at once forced the Pentagon to open doors also to female recruits, who are becoming bigger numbers, encouraged by patriotic feelings, adventure's perspective, reasonable salary and the prospect of paid-up study after two years of service. Today, as a result, one in seven American soldier is a woman. Never before there's been so many of them stationing in army barracks in the U.S. and abroad. Never before so many of them were raped. This happens during the patrols, exercises, bathing, or on the way to the latrine where working generators noise drows out the call for help.
The subject had finally come to the surface. Some of the injured women dared to talk publicly about their experiences. Other stories have been traced by journalists. Cases of women soldiers fighting with primitive masculine impulse, sometimes transformed into the real struggle for life, as shown in the case of Lavena finally saw the daylight. There are quite few associations trying to help the victims and demanding changes in the army. As a result, in 2005 there were minor reforms introduced to ensure more privacy of American female soldiers: making effective use of medical and psychological help, without need to report the rape of their commanders as the only resort. organizations have introduced training in the prevention and self-defense during the sexual assault.
Unfortunately effects are mediocre. Last year, American women reported nearly 4,000 rapes carried out in military bases - the LARGEST in history. It is estimated however, that it is only a tenth of the true number of such crimes.
It is better to sit quietly
In 2006, Afghanistan Marti Ribeiro made a big mistake - put aside her rifle, which should not to be left, even in the base, and went for a cigarette. Then someone attacked her from behind, dragged behind working power generator and raped. When the commander has found out, she heard him saying that if any complaint will be brought she would stand before a court martial for leaving unattended weapons. As for rapist, he will deny everything, so that would be her word against his, and they had no intention to believe Marti Ribeiro - BBC was reporting.
Marti therefore has decided not to submit the petition.
Rape and attempt to rape are not even clearly defined in the American military law. As a result, military tribunals, offers sometimes very incomprehensible sentences. Aviator Cassandra Hernandez had been raped during the group play by her three colleagues. When, however, she refused to submit evidence against them before the court, the command staff have sued her for drinking alcohol before the age of 18th and "indecent behavior". She was threatened with years in prison, but ended up with the punishment and disciplinary record in the file. Suspected rapists did not carry any consequence in court.
Impunity of perpetrators is grotesque. Half of prosecutions for sexual violence in the army shall be remitted. Investigators do not like to trouble the good boys, "who serve the country", as one of the victims heard from their commander. Less than 11% of the investigations ended before the tribunal, but most detected offenders received only the sentences of suspension, reprimand or degradation. Many offenders will advance without major problems in the future. Very telling is the fact that even after the death convicted rapists receive a military funeral with all honors.
Inability or unwillingness of the American army to break the men's integrity can seriously impinge on its effectiveness. On the battlefield companions trust is essential. Only through it every soldier can effectively perform tasks requiring co-operation, from shooting operations to disarming mines Female soldier who feels threatened by their own countrymen, is a loosing/unfortunate part of the combat potential. Given the growing number of women in the military, it may be a big loss.
This is no small paradox that a country fighting for the "hearts and minds" of foreign nations, at its own request, retains in armed forces people who are able to rape their comrade women fellows. If they are able to do something like that, what will stop them from playing little games at the expense of Iraqi or Afghan women? They surely won't complain about them to the commander.
Light in the tunnel?
U.S. Congress regularly discusses the problem of rape in the military. The discussions, however, are out of use without a change in thinking. The attitude of leaders, who turn a blind eye to the excesses of charges or themselves take part in them, have to change. Dr. Keys Whitley, director of the Office for the Prevention and respond to sexual attacks (SAPRO) with the Secretary of Defense claim that more direct evidence of such matters land in the military tribunals.
And what can disgraced soldier do? Reasons to remain silent, are numerous, overlap and accumulation of despair are the only rescue in which many women closes in solitude. The equation is simple. If they keep quiet, they can save their career and save themselves other troubles.
Still, it is a strong argument in favor of making loud scream to this complaint. When the first American women in uniform have decided to talk about rape, the U.S. started talking about this problem. When joined by another women, people in authority had to make small changes. Once these voices become enough strong, they can resist even the toughest military concrete. It will benefit not just women soldiers.....
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