Posts Tagged ‘Afghanistan War’

The topic of rape in the military, rape of female military members by male military members, has been discussed here somewhat frequently. What I find astonishing is that after years of war, it is only NOW hitting mainline media as an acceptable topic.

I have concluded that the media is useless. They literally “don’t ask” about anything they know the Administration doesn’t want to hear about at all. Everyone knew the Bush Administration didn ‘t give a shit about military rape. After all, if it is American on American, it causes no diplomatic furor, right? It isn’t as if those horn-dogs are attacking young Iraqi girls, right? Oh, wait, they did that TOO? And such thoughtful young troops, they were, too: killed the families to try to avoid an ‘incident’ that would embarrass the folks back home. Right.

American women in uniform have quite possibly died because of fear of sexual assault. After all, in an environment where it is 120 degrees, not drinking enough water predisposes one to heat stroke. But nobody will ever be charged for those “non-combat” deaths. Why did they not drink? Drinking plenty of water means you might have to use the latrine after dark. Using the latrine after dark means you might have to take one for the team because your “battle buddy” wants to be more than friends at work.

I have had an Iraqi War vet tell me they posted guards on the women’s tent in their unit. And gave the women knives or side arms when possible. Why? Because the contractor goons would drive up in their black SUVs and just “commandeer” women for a party—pretty much regardless what the women thought about it. So, it isn’t just military members willing to rape American service women.

Apparently, women are a kind of flesh and blood “two-fer” in Iraq and Afghanistan. They get their military jobs done by day, and by night they serve other services seen as vital — sex toys! Because if they tell, their career is over. They are shipped out of unit to “protect” them, they are not given confidentiality or any other small comfort afforded civilian rape victims. They are viewed as trouble-makers.

Many years ago, when I was a military member, a male co-worker walked up as I stretched to reach something over my head. He slapped me on the ass, telling me it was too tempting to resist—it was “there”. I told him to get out of my sight by a count of three. He stood there laughing, right up until I threw a typewriter at him. Then, aggrieved, he told me he had ‘time in grade’ on me, thus outranked and and that I was out of line. Right. He filed a complaint for my ‘violence and assault’ against him.

He was complacent enough about his familiar act to admit he had slapped me on the ass. He got a rude awakening, since then my action was in my own defense. He was never allowed near me again. Unfortunately, the rapists on Iraq and Afghanistan KNOW they are doing wrong, and do it in darkness and solitude. But one attitude hasn’t changed a bit: the women they abuse are “there”…..apparently seen as for service on several levels.

I seriously advocate knives. Let those rapists explain why they need stitches. They might be as shut-mouthed about it as the soldier whose foot I once broke. He crept up behind me and seized me around the waist. I put my military heel into his instep with great force. He limped for weeks, but kept his mouth shut and kept away from me.

If the military doesn’t really want to ask, they can not ask about the wounds of men who don’t deserve the name!
Yes, I am advocating violence and bloodshed. Self-defense when the system is not defending you and penalizes you for being the victim is a sensible last resort. After all, the military loves to posit Christian ideals, right? Sexual purity is such an ideal, correct?
Guard that jewel between your legs, ladies—even if it means removing the jewels between HIS!

The picture heading this post is my personal favorite knife—hard to make me drop it with my fingers laced in those holes. And good for slashing.

Again, that time of the month, the fourth Saturday, when I remind readers that war kills not only through bombs, bullets, accidents and illness; but also through despair and depression and PTSD. Give a thought to those suffering darkness of mind and spirit!

The Army released suicide data for the month of January. Among active-duty soldiers, there were 12 potential suicides: one has been confirmed as suicide, and 11 remain under investigation. For December, the Army reported ten potential suicides among active-duty soldiers. Since the release of that report, three have been confirmed as suicides, and seven remain under investigation.

During January 2010, among reserve component soldiers who were not on active duty, there were 15 potential suicides. For December, among that same group, there were seven total suicides. Of those, five were confirmed as suicides and two are pending determination of the manner of death.

Another week, the moon is a sweet crescent in the clear winter sky. It is the sort of shape ancient cultures interpreted as the boat that carried the souls of the dead away to an afterlife. I hope all the families and friends of the fallen troops on this list can find some comfort in a belief of a welcoming better place. Soon, it will be warm enough to put the 6200 counting beads back on the monument. And sadly, soon, it will be time to add another strand of 220 more.

Kingsman Sean Dawson, 19, of Manchester, England, died in Afghanistan when he was shot to death during an ambush on February 14.

Rifleman Mark Marshall, 29, of Exeter, England, was killed in Afghanistan by an IED detonation on February 14.

Sapper Guy Mellors, 20, of Coventry, England, was in killed in Afghanistan on February 15 when an IED exploded as he worked in explosive ordinance removal in Afghanistan.

US Marine PFC Jason H. Estopinal, 21, of Dallas, Ga., died Feb. 15 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

US Marine Lance Cpl. Noah M. Pier, 25, of Charlotte, N.C., died Feb. 16 while supporting combat operations in Afghanistan.

The following three US Army men died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device Feb. 13 in Afghanistan:

Staff Sgt. John A. Reiners, 24, of Lakeland, Fla.;
Sgt. Jeremiah T. Wittman, 26, of Darby, Mont.; and
Spc. Bobby J. Pagan, 23, of Austin, Texas.

US Marine Lance Cpl. Alejandro J. Yazzie, 23, of Rock Point, Ariz., died Feb. 16 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

US Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Sean L. Caughman, 43, of Fort Worth, Texas, died Feb. 16, while supporting operations in Kuwait in support of the war in Afghanistan.

US Marine PFC. Eric D. Currier, 21, of Londonderry, N.H., died Feb. 17 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

US Army Pfc. Charles A. Williams, 29, of Fair Oaks, Calif., died Feb. 7 in Afghanistan, of injuries sustained while supporting combat operations. (No idea of why there was such a delay on the release of the name.)

US Marine Pfc. Kyle J. Coutu, 20, of Providence, R.I., died Feb. 18 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

US Marine Lance Cpl. Larry M. Johnson, 19, of Scranton, Pa., died Feb. 18 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

US Marine Lance Cpl. Kielin T. Dunn, 19, of Chesapeake, Va., died Feb. 18 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

US Marine Sgt. Jeremy R. McQueary, 27, of Columbus, Ind., died Feb. 18 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan

US Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua H. Birchfield, 24, of Westville, Ind., died Feb. 19 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

US Marine Cpl. Gregory S. Stultz, 22, of Brazil, Ind., died Feb. 19 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

US Marine Staff Sgt. Christopher W. Eckard, 30, of Hickory, N.C., died Feb. 20 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

US Marine Lance Cpl. Adam D. Peak, 25, of Florence, Ky., died Feb. 21 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

US Marine Lance Cpl. Matthias N. Hanson, 20, of Buffalo, Ky., died Feb. 21 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

US Marine Lance Cpl. Eric L. Ward, 19, of Redmond, Wash., died Feb. 21 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

US Army PFC. JR Salvacion, 27, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, died Feb. 21 in Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

The following US Army pilots died when their helicopter crashed in Iraq on February 21:
Capt. Marcus R. Alford, 28, of Knoxville, Tenn.

Chief Warrant Officer Billie J. Grinder, 25, of Gallatin, Tenn.

US Army Sgt. Marcos Gorra, 22, of North Bergen, N.J., died Feb. 21 in Afghanistan, of wounds sustained while supporting combat operations.

The moon is half filled, the caskets are more full yet. My condolences to families, friends, and comrades.

US Army Staff Sgt. Anton R. Phillips, 31, of Inglewood, Calif., died Dec. 31, 2009, at Forward Operating Base Methar Lam, Afghanistan. Circumstances of his death are under investigation. (I don’t know why this name was so long being released; perhaps it took this long to find family for notification.)

Rifleman Luke Farmer, 25, of Pontefract, England, and
Cpl Lee Brownson, 30, of Bishop Auckland, England died on January 15 in Afghanistan, as a result of the explosion of an IED near their patrol.

Sgt John Faught, 44, of Ontario, Canada, died on 15 January in Afghanistan when an IED exploded as he patroled.

US Army Spc. Robert Donevski, 19, of Sun City Arizona, died in Afghanistan on January 16 when his unit was attacked with small arms fire.

US Air Force Tech. Sgt. Adam K. Ginett, 29, of Knightdale, N.C., died Jan. 19 in Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device.

US Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael P. Shannon, 52, of Canadensis, Pa., died Jan. 17, in Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.

US Army Capt. Paul Pena, 27, of San Marcos, Texas, died Jan. 19 in Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

US Army Staff Sgt. Thaddeus S. Montgomery, 29, of West Yellowstone, Mont., died Jan. 20 in Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.

US Army Pfc. Gifford E. Hurt, 19, of Yonkers, N.Y., died Jan. 20, in , Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related accident.

US Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Xin Qi, 25, of Cordova, Tenn., died Jan. 23, while supporting combat operations in Afghanistan.

It is also the appointed day, “Suicide Saturday” when it is time to announce the monthly statistics for the December suicides and attempts. The following is quoted from the monthly Dept of Defense letter:

+++ The Army released suicide data today for the month of December. Among active-duty soldiers, there were ten potential suicides: one has been confirmed as suicide, and nine remain under investigation. For November, the Army reported 11 potential suicides among active-duty soldiers. Since the release of that report, three have been confirmed as suicides, and eight remain under investigation.

There were 160 reported active-duty Army suicides during 2009. Of these, 114 have been confirmed, and 46 are pending determination of manner of death. During 2008, there were 140 suicides among active-duty soldiers.

During December 2009, among reserve component soldiers who were not on active duty, there were six potential suicides. For the year 2009, among that same group, there were 78 total suicides. Of those, 49 were confirmed as suicides and 29 are pending determination of the manner of death. For 2008, there were 57 suicides among reserve soldiers who were not on active duty.+++

For the names I may never see, for their grief-stricken loved ones and comrades, my sincere sympathies.

Nightline broke the story of the US military supplier who makes gunsights and puts code for little New Testament verses on each piece. They call them Jesus rifles. And yet, we are told this is not a Crusader mentality?

And the man who jubilantly proclaims that the makers of these scopes ARE Christian and that any non-Christians can just “get over it”?? (Right about 3:55 into video in hyperlink) WTF is wrong with you? Do you never think that these rifles might have something to do with Iraqi and Afghani allies who suddenly turn on US soldiers and shoot them? If all those Crusader-minded sorts want to martyr themselves for Christ, fine, good for them; but frankly, I am not interested in them making martyrs of members of the US Armed Forces by such tactics as these!

There is a rule against religious proselytizing. This company being paid with a billion in tax dollars is violating that rule. It needs to change. And LTC Hensley? You need to retire your commission and go home to a church; you are no soldier worthy of the name.

And in the news for which this blog exists for—an American soldier, Bow Bergdahl, missing since June has been shown on video, in Taliban captivity and reading a statement describing American actions in Afghanistan in negative terms.

Obviously the prisoner is under duress. Obviously, this film will demoralize and depress his family and his military comrades; I hope it also angers them. I hope it spurs efforts for someone finding and rescuing him.

This is not my holy day, but it was for many decades and I understand this release date is calculated for the most bitter effect. My heart is wrung for those worrying about and loving this man, far from home and in Taliban captivity. For other pagans and/or magical practitioners like myself, I urge you to take magical action to protect this man at risk. To those of you who celebrate Christmas? I urge you to pray for this young man and the family that must be worried sick over him. I fear if his use as a propaganda prop is exhausted, he will be murdered.

And if that is not enough, a young Nigerian seems to have been recruited by Al Queda to attempt to blow up a jetliner bound for Detroit. He had powdered explosives taped to his leg, and used a syringe to inject a liquid that was meant to activate the explosion. It didn’t work quite that way, his leg caught fire and passengers and staff of the jet put out the fire with extinguishers and water.

Well, it had to come, right? The attack Dick Cheney and his friends kept prophesying? My personal bet is, they are only sad it didn’t work so they could blame the Democrats. And interestingly, although the man was on a terror watch list for a couple years, and his own FATHER reported him to the US Embassy as a religious extremist half a year ago; Homeland InSecurity did NOT have him on the no-fly list. Yeah, but we all know THAT list is reserved for people whose political views the former Administration disliked, right? It isn’t about actually keeping us safe! For that, we have to rely on brave passengers.

Dear Mr. President,

If you give a speech to your unhappy, stressed countrymen saying that yes, you are sending 30,000 more Americans into harm’s way in Afghanistan…and to let you try for EIGHTEEN MONTHS; then your Secretary of Defense should NOT be saying we will be there TWO to FOUR YEARS.

Get RID of this remnant of the Bush Administration, Mr. Obama. Lots of Americans are out of work, let Mr. Gates join them! Or send HIM to Afghanistan for two to four years.

I don’t celebrate Thanksgiving. Don’t get me wrong, I am very thankful indeed for a host of things —-I just don’t “do” it on a Thursday in November.

But reading the headlines today; I do find some things that render thoughts of thankLESSness.

On the topic of a Catholic bishop telling Rep. Kennedy he isn’t fit for communion? Yeah…the last time we let religion rule civic life this way, it WAS called the “Dark Ages” and for good reason. It is over-the-top irrational to expect Rep. Kennedy to vote the Catholic line on isues like abortion—it amounts to “establishment of a religion” by forcing ALL his constituents to live by the precepts OF his religion. But then, perhaps the Catholic Church has just decided to quietly step aboard the Dominionist Bandwagon? I don’t know what it is about America; the wall between Church and State is under pretty continuous attack, yet most folks don’t notice till their personal toes are trod upon. Wake UP! Iran and Afghanistan didn’t wake up one morning and find the mullahs in control….it began with small things. I am NOT thankful to see this trend in American religion.

And then, the headline about rains in Mecca in the season of the Haj just made my inner Snark lick her lips. “Raining on their parade” she said. Don’t worry, I slapped her. I am more worried about the massive crowds providing a vector for deadly flu strains this year; and I dont’ think rain will help. I am not thankful that people are cold and shivering in the Arabian desert on the most important religious occasion of their lives.

And the headlines scream that Obama is going to explain why he is not getting our asses OUT of Afghanistan on December 1st. Merry Freaking Christmas, Barry?

We already know you are committing more troops. Great, are you giving in to generals possibly under the sway of people who do things like paint medieval Crusader knights on F-16s, or let the Bagram chaplain drive around in a vehicle with a huge glowing cross onboard? Because committing more men to a combat zone where superiors proselytize and threaten anyone not “Christian enough” is insult to the injury of sending them where the natives want them dead!
Not the “change” I voted for, Mr. President! No, I am not thankful for this decision.

And finally? Our elections have been dirty; some of the counting has been suspect. But we don’t know jack about “dirt” and elections….until you try to literally bury the competition with a back hoe. Definitely not thankful for savagery of this sort!

Today I went to a fund-raising brunch for Mike Weinstein, the founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.I had eagerly looked forward to this, I had been a regular monthly contributor to the cause; not a big check, but faithfully written every month. I knew military members were exposed to constant pressure to take part in Christian elements of worship. This disgusted and angered me; enough Constitutional rights of military members are somewhat necessarily abrogated in the name of effective military discipline and training that this last refuge—religious freedom should not join that list.

The sad truth is that rather right wingnut religious types have seized control of the military chaplaincy program and have begun an unashamed outward “Crusading” attitude in the military. Commanders routinely tell their subordinates to “accept Christ”. Jewish members find themselves beaten up by fired up uber-Christian members. Non-compliant members find themselves walking point on dangerous warzone patrols—-literally most likely to die. Frantic letters and emails to Mike’s foundation suggest that ordinary military members, ordinary Christians are feeling such exceptional pressure (like a mother at her son’s FUNERAL hearing a military chaplain say her son was not a GOOD ENOUGH Christian..and that he was burning in Hell), that the hostile religious atmosphere is possibly contributing to military suicide numbers.

When American military vehicles have painted upon them, in Arabic and in red paint “Jesus Killed Mohammed”….do you think it makes them attract more or less fire going down Iraqi streets? When F-16’s have as a unit image, a picture of a medieval knight with cross and sword and the name “Crusaders” emblazoned on the jets, is it any wonder IEDs appear overnight on military runways?

This is the kind of insanity Mike Weinstein is called or emailed about daily. More than 16,000 active military members have ongoing aid requests with his nearly broke foundation. Right wing religious groups have mounted the same hostile prayer campaign they have against Obama…quoting Old Testament bits that call for both to have a “short life” and their fatherless children starving in the streets! Mike has had so many death threats he has to hire security, his home is a fortress and he is uninsurable.

I have watched with sinking heart, for over 10 years…seeing the same deadly constrictor grip of religious fundamentalism winding its way into American life. It is the same process that took Iran backwards in time just before the Carter Administration. It is the same process that let the Taliban seize Afghanistan in the wake of Russia’s withdrawal. It is the same process that let militant Shintoists take control of Japan and begin WWII. It is the same process that let the Nazis take demoralized and economically embattled Weimar Germany into the whirlwind of anti-Semitic, misogynistic, nationalistic frenzy that killed millions of Jews, Romany, and others across Europe. It is not going to end with the military; but it is beginning there now!

I told myself, before today’s meeting, that I was letting my knowledge of history and paranoia overwhelm me. I told myself, “It’s not that bad…we can turn this wave of silliness.” It is that bad. It is worse. In the pressure cooker of military service, where your life hangs on the whim of a superior—-young officers are being taught in the military academies that the way to get ahead is to be one of Christ’s soldiers. They are being told that in this lifetime, they can bring back Christ and the Rapture.

This is not “Sparta,” folks, but it IS insanity. I am unutterably depressed. It may take me a while to muster my resistance. I will be dropping a couple other beloved charities. I will be sending the Military Religious Freedom Foundation as much as I can this month and next, to try to keep that guttering candle alight. Yes, a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize is nice ….but it isn’t paying the bills right now. It is a nomination….not a check.

If any of you ever wanted to give me anything, ever…. I beg you: Give the price of a couple coffees to Mike and do it now. Please. There is a box there to the upper left …the moving picture of religious signs of the world that says “Military Religious Freedom”….please click it and give him the price of a movie ticket…something to stop the rising tide of militant Dominionist Christianity that is getting our military sons and daughters KILLED.

A young American woman, Amanda Knox, is on trial in Italy. She is accused of the gruesome murder of her college friend and room-mate, Meredith Kercher. This case has made the local news for sometime, since the accused is a student at the local University of Washington.

I have no opinion of whether Ms. Knox and her boyfriend are guilty. But I fear for her all the same; I fear she may go to a life sentence in Italy not for what she has or has not done, but for what Americans have done elsewhere.

Italy is home to some American military bases, including those located at Aviano and Vicenza. Some years ago, America took a probably well-deserved drubbing in the Italian press when a fighter pilot took down a skycar full of people when he clipped the cable with his jet. It was contended that this illegal maneuver was a common sport amongst American pilots. It is easy to see where Italians might think we are a nation of careless cowboys.

And then, the wars began. Italy has lost a fair number of people, including an Italian intelligence agent, Nicola Calipari who died protecting a rescued female journalist, Giuliana Sgrena, as they made a dash to freedom thru an American checkpoint. This incident caused enough bad feelings that the soldier involved in the shooting, Specialist Mario Lozano, was tried in absentia for homicide in Italy.

The wars have long been unpopular in Italy and although the average Italians like Americans, they think our government policies are questionable at best. At least 55 Italians have died in Iraq and Afghanistan; and some contend that more died at home from illness caused by depleted uranium present in ammunition.

So, I wonder, as the Italian jury goes to deliberate the guilt of this young woman—what plays in their minds? What or whom is really on trial in the darkness of war-haunted hearts? Is Amanda Knox going to bear the price of American warmaking? Have jury members lost friends or family in the wars we started? Do they see Amanda Knox, when they look at her? Or do they see a more monolithic entity in her place.

If she is innocent, I rather wish there were guardian angels to protect her. She is a face that could evoke more than drunken college revels in a place haunted by those dead for our purposes.