US army investigates reports that soldiers raped dozens in Colombia

Started by drunkenshoe, May 27, 2015, 04:35:18 AM

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drunkenshoe

Has anyone seen this? I am curious when did all the mess in Iraq and Afghanistan will go out. Besides the whole thing I mean.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/07/us-army-colombia-rapes-investigation

QuoteUS soldiers or civilian defense contractors said to have sexually assaulted dozens in lengthy report on country’s decades-old internal conflict

The US army says it will look into claims that soldiers or civilian defence contractors sexually assaulted as many as 53 women and girls while stationed in Colombia between 2003 and 2007.

“After coordinating with Colombian authorities, we will initiate investigations into any credible allegations of sexual assault or any crime,” said Chris Grey, a spokesman for the US army criminal investigation command.


Colombia: is the end in sight to the world’s longest war?

The allegations resurfaced recently after they were included in a chapter of an 800-page report about the historical reasons behind Colombia’s 50-year-old internal conflict, commissioned by the Colombian government and leftist Farc rebels who are engaged in peace talks.

The author of the chapter on the role in the conflict of the United States â€" which has provided more than $9bn in mostly military aid to Colombia since 2000 â€" wrote that there was “abundant information about the sexual violence” by US servicemen and civilian contractors in towns near the Tolemaida military base in Tolima province. The alleged crimes have gone unpunished “thanks to bilateral agreements and diplomatic immunity granted to officials of the United States”, wrote Renán Vega, a professor of history.

“In one of the most publicized cases ... 53 minors were sexually abused by mercenaries who filmed them and sold the recordings as pornographic material,” Vega, of the National Pedagogical University in Bogotá, wrote.

At the time, the Bogotá daily El Tiempo said that it saw three of the videos, which portrayed men who looked like “foreigners” having sex with local women. In each, the women state their names and ages, ranging from 19 to 21, for the camera.

Grey said there was no previous record of allegations of the 53 cases but that the US army “takes the issue seriously”.

He added that investigators did look into a case involving a 12-year-old girl who alleged that she had been abducted and raped by a US sergeant and a civilian contractor in 2007. After a preliminary inquiry during which US military investigators unsuccessfully tried to interview the girl, the allegations were determined to be “unfounded”, Grey said in a phone interview.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/04/08/colombian-report-u-s-troops-raped-54-kids.html

Did U.S. Troops Rape Colombian Children?

Quote“There is abundant evidence of sexual violence and total impunity, thanks to bilateral agreements and diplomatic immunity of U.S. officials,” Vega continued, “part of sexist and discriminatory behavior known as ‘sexual imperialism’ similar to what happens in other places where U.S. military forces are stationed.”


http://time.com/3823044/colombia-us-soldiers-rape/

QuoteThe report denounces what it calls “sexual imperialism” and states that “there exists abundant information about sexual violence with absolute impunity thanks to bilateral agreements (that provide) diplomatic immunity to U.S. officials.”
"science is not about building a body of known 'facts'. ıt is a method for asking awkward questions and subjecting them to a reality-check, thus avoiding the human tendency to believe whatever makes us feel good." - tp

AllPurposeAtheist

Seems like I remember reading about this awhile back. It doesn't surprise me if it's all true, but what would surprise me is if anyone is actually prosecuted and sent to serve time in Colombian prisons. The U.S. has a way of shoving its dirty deeds under the rug. I'd expect anyone involved will have a gofundme page for legal representation claiming to be "authentic American heroes" fighting on the "front lines" in the WOD.
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Mike Cl

I had not heard of this before now.  I don't remember seeing the report in any news outlet I've visited.  But it does not surprise me.  And I very seriously doubt anything of substance will be done about it, if true.  This is beyond disgusting!
Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?<br />Then he is not omnipotent,<br />Is he able but not willing?<br />Then whence cometh evil?<br />Is he neither able or willing?<br />Then why call him god?

drunkenshoe

They should do something about it and fast. Otherwise, they are just pumping up the already heated hatred. It will just pile and pile.

"science is not about building a body of known 'facts'. ıt is a method for asking awkward questions and subjecting them to a reality-check, thus avoiding the human tendency to believe whatever makes us feel good." - tp

AllPurposeAtheist

All hail my new signature!

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drunkenshoe

Yeah well, apart from all that, they are making every kind of politics on islamic terrorist groups kidnapping young girls to rape.

What is the difference here? The difference is that isis needs to kidnap them and hold them hostage, American soldiers don't even need to do that.
"science is not about building a body of known 'facts'. ıt is a method for asking awkward questions and subjecting them to a reality-check, thus avoiding the human tendency to believe whatever makes us feel good." - tp

AllPurposeAtheist

Folgers coffee always says that the best part of waking up is soldiers in your cup..
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