Comments for Iraq Rape Claims Push Senate Panel to Act »
Posted By TimALoftis 1 year, 6 months ago in NewsGovernment contractors with workers in war zones may have to provide better treatment to employees who allege rape or sexual assault, thanks to a new Senate measure. Dawn Leamon tells what happened after reporting she was drugged and gang-raped.
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walden31 year, 6 months ago
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Two things that I think would help would be-
#1 - Not allow arbitration agreements to be effective in sexual assault claims because as it stands now most of the large contractors force employees as a condition of employment to agree to arbitrate claims. Let's let employees who claim they were sexually assaulted sue the companies for big bucks. Money is the only thing the companies care about anyways.
#2 - Set up some system to allow American courts and law enforcement to oversee the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault overseas.
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abntv1 year, 6 months ago
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Not altogether bad ideas walden..
I see some issues with #2
sexual assault and crimes of a like nature are generaly considered crimes against the state. I would think there would have to be some sort of federal juristicion formed to handle the cases.
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donald511 year, 6 months ago
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...I understand that the Bush DOJ refused to even investigate the Jones case... like all the stonewalling of reported contractor fraud and abuse out of Iraq and Afghanistan. Contempt of Congress charges not pursued either... but great torture memos to get around the law from the Bush DOJ! And, great firings of prosecutors who applied the law equally (in spite of Gonzo saying they were released for cause)!
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silvera1 year, 6 months ago
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"The safety and security of all employees remains KBR's top priority," the company said. "Any allegation of sexual harassment or assault is taken seriously and investigated thoroughly."
Damn...these people must use Bush's public relations firm whose motto is, Veritus Escapeus or "Truth, we Don't Need no Steenking Truth".
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Charlson1 year, 6 months ago
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This is well and good for new victims but what of those three that testified? Are they to see any justice? If the allegations are true then the perpetrators should be identified and punished and the corporation made to pay a hefty fine to the individuals who were raped.
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joeblowe1 year, 6 months ago
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This is despicable. I'd like to know how the people committing these crimes are able to escape prison? Apparently our government - and the "new" government in Iraq are impotent. My strong advice - DO NOT WORK FOR THESE PEOPLE. If no one is willing to risk their own safety because of these incidents (which certainly seems reasonable in the case of females) pretty soon they will have a VERY difficult time filling those jobs. At ANY salary. THIS could well be their punishment: no more hefty government contracts because no one will work for them.
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Beau78901 year, 6 months ago
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They're able to escape prison because the contracts for the private companies in Iraq include a provision that the companies can't be sued or prosecuted for their actions or the actions of their employees. It's outrageous, and though the Iraqi government (for instance) wants Blackwater out and contracts changed, our government won't let them. (More proof that we're not really interested in setting up a sovereign government in Iraq, just a branch office of the U.S. government.)
And unfortunately, KBR, Blackwater, Halliburton and the like won't have any problem filling jobs there--most people don't pay attention to the news or to these stories.
Let's hope Congress gets its act together and pressures Bush and Cheney to change the terms of the contracts--it REALLY looks bad for the White House to condone gang rapes and disallow prosecution, and I can't imagine any way to spin it so it looks better. Maybe McCain will weigh in--anyone know how he voted on the bill?
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TimALoftis1 year, 6 months ago
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'Maybe McCain will weigh in--anyone know how he voted on the bill?'
Unfortunately with McCain what he did/said a few years or even a few months back means very little now. He has taken on the role as Washington's flip flopper in chief.
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donald511 year, 6 months ago
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sole source contracts with little or no review to buddies...tend to abuse the workers for same... such is life in a corrupt Repug world! Congress won't be able to correct this until after Dumya is gone and then we won't have to worry about a minority of Senate Repugs backing his vetos!
McCain would be just more of Dumya...look how the congressional repugs have stood by their failed leader for over 6 years with senate repugs are going for 8 years!
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donald511 year, 6 months ago
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This is a fine example of the difference between Repugs and anyone else... to repugs this is just more money for KBR (then under Halliburton) investors... while to two dozen raped young Amnerican females its ruined or near ruined lives! What the heck, 10 million poor kids in America were refused healthcare coverage too by the Repugs! There is a terrorist party in America!
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djrevelky1 year, 6 months ago
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This is sad. It seems that US companies in Iraq operate like they do in America. How many women who file rape/assault/sexual harassment charges against their employers do not face a uphill climb? Most lose their jobs.
How do we handle this though? How can we make US citizens in foreign countries obey US laws? If Iraqi laws were enforced, the women who were raped would be jailed.
It's a tough situation all around and I don't think its because of "repug" interest. It still happens in the US, seemingly always has.
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Beau78901 year, 6 months ago
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Well, the first thing we can do to private companies operating under government contract is to break the contract. I'm certain if there was a real threat of losing the business, the company would get serious about sexual assault. And they'd do it fast.
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saneman1 year, 6 months ago
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Part of me is outraged by this and part of me is amazed that any young woman would go to Iraq alone amongst predominately men where there are no laws in place to deter men from engaging in rape. It like HELLO! For the most part that's all men especially at that age are thinking about and then you toss a young woman into that mess. Come on!!! Quit pretending to be in lala land.
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saneman1 year, 6 months ago
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Unfortunately, we are part of the animal kingdom known as Homo Sapiens, and when given the opportunity, apparently, most Homo Sapiens would resort to animalistic behaviors. Look, I have a daughter, and regardless of her age, I would never allow my daughter to venture into a lion's den.
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flyonthewallzz1 year, 6 months ago
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I have daughter as well. This evening she is returning from a semester in Italy, and traveling thru Europe. I will breathe a great sigh of relief when I give her a welcome home hug. It won't be long before she will be old enough to drink. I could not deny her this adventure. If she is anything like I was she probably did some "bad" stuff and took some chances.
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Ciera-Marie1 year, 6 months ago
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saneman; I don't think most men would resort to animalistic behaviors in Iraq. That is selling a. the majority of servicemen short (if they know about their superiors or fellow soldiers raping fellow soldiers and don't do anything about it they're just as guilty.) b. the majority of US men short as well. Most men do not act like this.
I do not care what a woman wears, don't care if it's a bar, don't care if she's been drinking or using drugs, don't care if she's in Iraq (hello! FIRST 85G's are TAX FREE!?!? Don't care who you are you'd strongly consider it.), don't care if it's a combat zone, don't care if it's school, church, parking lot late at night or broad daylight, rape is rape. They need to punished.
BTW I also feel this applies to men and our sons as well.
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saneman1 year, 6 months ago
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Well, its only a crime when a law is broken. Had the rape occurred in the U.S., then yes, a law was broken, and since Iraqi laws don't apply, then there is no crime. As a result, yes it was extremely stupid to venture into a territory where one is free game.
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saneman1 year, 6 months ago
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No need to swear simply provide a website. I know that the military has juridiction over the military bases involving military personnel even in the U.S., but you are claiming that there is Federal Court Crinminal Jurisdiction in a foreign country. Wow.
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joey-evans1 year, 6 months ago
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Yeah, you are right Saneman....it's those damn women victims who are to blame! Damn it! Ifin them tramps not gone over there flashing their goodies at all those innocent men, there would be no rapes! Yeah...it's those women's fault. They were askin' for it!
JOEY EVANS
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Will13131 year, 6 months ago
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Will13131 year, 6 months ago
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she was drugged......only after going to the bath room and discovering blood from her anus.... she was repeatedly sodomized and forced to perform oral sex... did she begin to remember what had happened...
figures you would come here and defend the indefensible.. you're very good at it...
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TheRealizer1 year, 6 months ago
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I have been curious for quite some time about why no reports of civilian deaths in Iraq. A lady friend of mine went to Kuwait about 3 years ago, I have not heard from her since. I can assume only the worst has happened, rape would be preferable to death, however she was prepared emotionally for both...
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Endoscopy1 year, 6 months ago
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The major problem with rape stories is that some of them are bogus. The woman is really angry with the man and wants to punish him. This makes it hard to know the real facts. The Duke case is an example. When it really happens the attacker should be put under the jail.
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NoWayMan1 year, 6 months ago
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back in 2005 I heard a woman speak who had been in the military stationed in Iraq, inside the green zone. she told stories of how women wouldn't drink any liquids after a certain hour so they wouldn't have to use the bathroom after dark, since thats where most of the predators were lurking. or if they had to, they would go in groups with weapons ready.
she also talked about how one woman in her unit got raped and went to her CO, only to be told by the CO that nothing would be done since the guy who raped her was seen as a "hero" by most of the people in her unit.
really horrible stuff.
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