How is this allowed?

[geekette]

I think the "extraordinary implications" for these two soldiers is that it's wrong to beat up an Afghani commander who is supposedly an ally of the US forces. That's not to say that I think the pedophilia practiced by our allies is "okay" or that any of us is willing to ignore it.

Afghani (and Iraqi and others in countries around the world) women and children who report being raped are sometimes re-victimized by the authorities who - we expect - are supposed to be there to protect them. What if the US forces insist on being able to step in regardless of local laws, and our intervention leads to just such an outcome? How is that helpful?

Exactly. There is a good chance of victims being stoned to death for having been abused. Or worse.

Our military is not equipped to undo centuries of practices in foreign countries. It also is not our mission.

 

[ace2000]

I think the "extraordinary implications" for these two soldiers is that it's wrong to beat up an Afghani commander who is supposedly an ally of the US forces. That's not to say that I think the pedophilia practiced by our allies is "okay" or that any of us is willing to ignore it.

Afghani (and Iraqi and others in countries around the world) women and children who report being raped are sometimes re-victimized by the authorities who - we expect - are supposed to be there to protect them. What if the US forces insist on being able to step in regardless of local laws, and our intervention leads to just such an outcome? How is that helpful?

I'm going to reply with my previous reply below and I'm done for today. I feel we have the capability to do something here. We're not going to completely solve the problem, but we have the power to do something. We give them a tremendous amount of money and provide them protection. If the public pressure is high enough, there will be changes coming.

There's a couple of ways (at the least) to process the story the OP posted. You can shrug it off and say there's plenty of evil in the world and just move on, thinking war is hell, and it's going to happen.

Or perhaps since the activity is occurring on bases that we control and pay for, you might wonder if there is something more we can do. I believe there's more we can do.

 

[SueDonJ]

I'm going to reply with my previous reply below and I'm done for today. I feel we have the capability to do something here. We're not going to completely solve the problem, but we have the power to do something. We give them a tremendous amount of money and provide them protection. If the public pressure is high enough, there will be changes coming.

From all reports the practice was stopped when the former regime was in power. Maybe we should reinstall them?

 

[Brett]

From all reports the practice was stopped when the former regime was in power. Maybe we should reinstall them?

good idea, the Soviets know how to handle situations in Afghanistan. the US needs an "old school" way of handling problems.

I see one of my posts got deleted by a "moderator", maybe this one too!

But I'll say it again (in another way)

If you believe the military is saying or doing something wrong or the Army's repeated denials are wrong then tell your congressperson (like that soldier).

 

[SueDonJ]

good idea, the Soviets know how to handle situations in Afghanistan. the US needs an "old school" way of handling problems. ...

Actually I think it's a completely stupid idea but couldn't resist the cheap funny despite the topic's serious nature.

I see one of my posts got deleted by a "moderator", maybe this one too!

But I'll say it again (in another way)

If you believe the military is saying or doing something wrong or the Army's repeated denials are wrong then tell your congressperson (like that soldier).

Nothing wrong with that suggestion - here's the conduit.

 

[geekette]

...If you believe the military is saying or doing something wrong or the Army's repeated denials are wrong then tell your congressperson (like that soldier).

The problem is, how do I know? I'm not there. Were these reporters there? Are they eye witnesses? If 2 different news pieces say 2 different things, why should I think I know the truth? What fast track to the facts do any of us possess?

And what is Congress going to do, really? What can they do?

It's an ugly practice but I just don't see us having any power to stop it and I fear things change for the worse if we attempt to butt in.

 

[wilma]

Of course the US military has its own problems with sexual assaults within the ranks, so perhaps they could start by fixing that problem....