[Peace-discuss] fox released in chicken coop

[Dlind49 at aol.com]

The investigation should be done by group outside of  Air Force and DoD.
**
 Air Force Team Continues Rape Probe
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

 
Filed at 8:33 p.m. ET

DENVER (AP) -- Air Force investigators returned to Colorado Springs on Monday 
to speak with officials from a crisis center where 22 female Air Force 
Academy cadets sought help after they said they were raped.

Members of the 17-person team were scheduled to meet Monday evening with 
representatives of TESSA, the region's main civilian rape crisis center.

``We'll share with them what we have without any names, without violating any 
confidentiality,'' TESSA executive director Cari Davis said.

A separate team of investigators from the Air Force inspector general's 
office will arrive later this week to look at individual cases, Lt. Col. 
Dewey Ford said.

The Air Force team had left town after an earlier 10-day investigation 
without consulting with TESSA officials, prompting complaints from U.S. Sen. 
Wayne Allard and others who said it further illustrated the need for an 
independent investigation.

Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado last week called for the removal of the 
academy's top commanders, saying he doesn't believe they can change the 
culture that led to the rape allegations.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said Monday that President Bush is 
concerned about the allegations but is ``confident that the department of the 
Air Force is handling this properly.''

The Air Force says it has investigated 54 reports of sexual assault since the 
academy began admitting women in 1976. Many alleged victims have said they 
were afraid to report the attacks because they feared they would be 
reprimanded.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper and Air Force Secretary James Roche 
have visited the academy in the past month, saying female cadets should feel 
safe and that rapists have no place in the military.