[Peace-discuss] Air Froce Academy rapes

[Dlind49 at aol.com]

This has been an ongoing problem for many years. It is the ultimate in 
woman's rights issues. Today any internal Air Froce investigation or any 
Department of Defense investigation will just continue the cover up and 
result in continued rapes and cover ups.  We see once more how DOD actions 
result in horrible consequences and there is absolutely no accountability. 

doug 


Air Force Avoids Scapegoats Over Scandal
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

 
Filed at 7:11 a.m. ET

DENVER (AP) -- Top-ranking Air Force officials say they won't make anyone a 
scapegoat over allegations that female cadets were raped at the Air Force 
Academy.

Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., accused the academy's top commanders of 
mishandling rape allegations and said they should be removed. But a spokesman 
for Air Force Secretary James G. Roche and Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper 
issued a statement refusing to blame the academy's top brass.

``We believe this regrettable situation has resulted from a climate at the 
academy that has evolved over time,'' Lt. Col. Chester Curtis said. ``We will 
not make a scapegoat of anyone nor offer pre-emptive judgments on any issue, 
but will ensure justice is served on all levels.''

Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., has said 25 female cadets told him they were 
raped at the academy. Some said they were ostracized, punished for minor 
infractions or even forced to leave the academy if they reported the attacks 
to military authorities.

An internal Air Force investigation is under way. Curtis said initial 
findings and recommendations are expected this month.

Tancredo said he has lost confidence in the ability of the academy's top 
generals to fix the problems. In a letter to Roche, he said academy 
Superintendent Lt. Gen. John Dallagher and Brig. Gen. Sylvanus Taco Gilbert, 
who oversees the cadets, should be retired.

In an e-mail to The Associated Press Wednesday, Dallagher echoed Curtis' 
statement that the problems stem from a long-developing climate at the 
academy.

Tancredo said he asked Roche for an investigation in November after hearing 
from female cadets who said they were raped, including one who lives in his 
district.

Cadets told him four assaults occurred during a one-week span in October, 
Tancredo spokeswoman Lara Kennedy said. She would not say if the assaults 
were related.

Tancredo's letter to Roche said active-duty servicemen accused of rape while 
attending the academy should be court-martialed.

Allard and two other senators have called for an outside investigation.

Allard criticized Air Force investigators for leaving Colorado without 
talking with 10 current cadets who have said they were raped. He also said he 
was unhappy the investigators did not consult a civilian rape crisis center 
whose counselors say they have heard from 22 cadets in the past 15 years who 
reported being assaulted.

After Allard took his criticism to Roche, the Air Force said the 
investigators would return to speak to the counselors.