Marine Corps - “Victims of sexual assault are entitled to our support”

By Suzia Van Swol - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service and Kayleigh Harvey - Talk Radio News

The House Armed Forces Subcommittee held a Military Personnel hearing, today, on “Sexual Assault in the Military: Prevention.”

The subcommittee heard testimony from Carolyn Collins, program manger of the Army’s Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) Program, Raymond Bruneau, manager of the Marine Corps’ Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program; Katherine Robertson, deputy manager of the Navy Installation Command’s Counseling, Advocacy and Prevention Program and Charlene Bradley, assistant deputy for the force management integration in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Prevention and Response Office.

This was one in a series of hearings that this subcommittee will conduct on the subject of sexual assault in the military, this year. The hearing today focused on Prevention Programs that are currently in place.

Chairwoman Susan Davis (D-CA) said: “Just as we have the responsibility to ensure that victims of a sexual assault receive all the support that can be provided following an attack, we also have an obligation to do all we can to prevent such attacks from ever taking place. The Department of Defense has made significant improvements in recent years, but the question we need to ask is, has enough been done?”

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) asked the witnesses whether and why the question “do women belong in the military” was still an issue and stated that this needed to be addressed. She said there needs to be a “change in cultural attitudes” towards woman in the military, and more “effective laws.”

The prevention and after-care systems that were identified by the panel seemed focused on the woman; offering counseling for victims. There was no evidence of rehabilitation programs in place for the men who commit this offense.

Mr. Bruneau said: “People are our most important resource. Marines have a long history of taking care of their own. Which means that we do not intentionally harm one another. Nor, do we leave a comrade behind. Victims of sexual assault are entitled to our support and care and deserve to be returned to the fight as fully functioning marines. The marines as always, are committed to caring for their own, as it’s the right thing to do.”

The subcommittee showed three videos by the witnesses that have been created by and for the military in an attempt to highlight the serious nature of sexually criminal behavior.

Mukasey discusses the global threat posed by international organized crime

Attorney General Michael Mukasey spoke before the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) about the challenges the US faces in combating the growing threat of international organized crime.

Mukasey’s speech focused on examining the many different types of threats the US faces, and what our government is doing to combat such threats. Mukasey noted that the enemy we face is constantly becoming more advanced, often using the internet and cyber technology to do things such as launder money and communicate with other criminal groups. He described international criminal organizations as “alive and well,” noting that organized crime groups deal with everything from smuggled cigarettes to manufacturing drugs.

The Attorney General emphasized that the government has been successful in foiling criminal plots in places such as New Jersey and Los Angeles, and talked about how our leaders have communicated with law enforcement agencies abroad to stop more crime from emerging around the world.

Mukasey said that by prioritizing the threats of criminal groups facing our nation (he suggested we worry about the greatest risks facing us first), and by having our governmental agencies share information about crime amongst one another, we can continue to succeed in keeping America safe.

FBI Director Confident Bureau is headed in the Right Direction

The House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies interrogated FBI Director Robert Mueller on a number of issues pertaining to the progress of his department. Issues covered during the hearing were the FBI’s fiscal year 2009 budget request, the progress the FBI has made in counterintelligence, counterterrorism, and cyber security, and the methods the department uses to carry out their wide-spanning activities.

Mueller’s comments were met with both criticism and support by the members of Congress making up the panel conducting the hearing. The hearing was chaired by Congressman Obey (D-WI) who was particularly critical of the methodology used by the FBI to interrogate alleged criminals, and of the expensive budget Mueller hopes to receive.

Mueller’s defense of the large budget requested by the FBI was that the bureau needs money to recruit and train new employees, as well as to efficiently protect America. Director Mueller mentioned that the FBI is trying to crackdown on “white collar crime” and maintained that his department conducts its business legally.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing on Afghanistan

The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee met today to discuss policy in Afghanistan. Chairman of the committee Joe Biden (D-DE) began by saying that he is skeptical of the Bush Administration's message that the U.S. is turning a corner in Afghanistan. He said that the U.S. should make a commitment invest greater funds towards development. He called Afghan security officials "corrupt" and "ineffectual" and said that he believes the war is winnable but that the U.S. is not winning.

Panelist and Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher talked about narcotics trafficking and other concerns in Afghanistan but his testimony mainly highlighted positive aspects of the situation. He foresaw a positive outcome to the conflict but advocated for increased troop levels to help train Afghan police and provide stronger security. He said that roads and infrastructure offer the greatest opportunity for Afghans and he mentioned a new $200 million budget to bring more electricity there.



Biden and the Republican leader of the committee Dick Lugar (Ind.) criticized Boucher's testimony for painting a rosy image of Afghanistan. Boucher said that situation in Afghanistan is better than it was during the 1990s. According to him, Afghanistan has transformed from a failed state under Taliban rule to a state with great potential today.