America Can't Fight Terrorism By Sexually Terrorizing Women and Girls: Two Military Rapes Revealed

Posted by Lucinda Marshall, Feminist Peace Network at 5:41 AM on February 11, 2008.

Two items this morning regarding members of the U.S. military's fine efforts to fight terrorism by terrorizing women and girls. Middle-school age girls. This first case in particular bears watching-why do I have an uneasy feeling that he is more likely to be convicted of the stealing and being AWOL than the assaulting?

"An Air Force colonel is accused of rape, forcing himself on or sexually harassing two other women, stealing about $10,000 and other crimes -- all while he was a training commander at Sheppard Air Force Base.

The indecent assault charges stem from allegations that Lofton kissed two women against their will and forced them to touch him -- including the woman he is accused of raping in April. The unbecoming conduct charges stem from allegations that Lofton made lewd comments and tried to form a relationship with another woman at the base, according to documents."

And then there is this fine example from Okinawa of the U.S. military's ongoing efforts to be good citizens in Japan:

"A U.S. Marine was arrested on suspicion of raping a 14-year-old Japanese girl on the southern island of Okinawa, police said on Monday, triggering anger from an area where the U.S. military presence is widely resented.A spokesman for the Okinawa Prefecture police said 38-year-old Tyrone Hadnott, based at Camp Courtney on the island, was suspected of raping the schoolgirl when the two were in a car on Sunday. Further details were under investigation, he added."

Yes we know, no one has been convicted yet, but with the military's sorry record for prosecuting these cases, they bear watching. We need to insist that they be properly investigated and if true, that the crimes be punished appropriately, not by administrative action.

Lucinda Marshall is a feminist artist, writer and activist. She is the Founder of the Feminist Peace Network. Her work has been published in numerous publications in the U.S. and abroad including, Counterpunch, AlterNet, Dissident Voice, Off Our Backs, the Progressive, Countercurrents, Z Magazine, Common Dreams, In These Times and Information Clearinghouse. She also blogs at WIMN Online and writes a monthly column for the Louisville Eccentric Observer.