Why do soldiers find it acceptable and appropriate to rape women during times of war?

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woznotwoz	My word there's some silly answers here to a very difficult question. I'm afraid the term Rape and Pillage has been around for hundreds and hundreds of years but goes back alot further. I'm sure that when these young men start out in their military careers they have no intention what so ever to commit these sort of heinous crimes. Perhaps something changes in a few of them due to the environment they are working in abroad etc etc. Historically large armies in times gone by have always had a number of women providing their services not far behind. In Iraq there is 130 -140 odd thousand US troops, roughly 7,000 UK troops in what is a hostile environment. Occasionally what would normally be a fairly ordinary bloke, something happens inside they get caught up in a moment of madness and they 'lose it' They don't think of the consequences or if they do, the animal instinct takes over and they don't stop. I don't know why it happens, but it has always happened. Some armies are alot more disciplined than others so the incidents should hopefully be less. But I can't ever really see it being stopped and no law will ever stop it from happening even the death penalty. This is all guess work on my part, but I thought I'd give the question a go. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

allen555	Rape has been a weapon of war as long as man has waged war. The Russians turned it into a real terror weapon in 1944 and 1945. Read 'Berlin by Anthony Beaver'. That'll wake you to the true nature of rape as a weapon. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

frankturk50	Soldiers do not find this acceptable and as one Us marine says here and I been an ex service man agree if I found another soldier raping a women he would be dead.I am aways amused by the strong opinions voiced by those that have not served and know the least. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

sarah c	There was a study done on male university students, they were asked 'if you could be sure of getting away with it, would you rape someone' and the majority said 'yes'. (The questionnaire was in confidence.) I've been trying to find a link to post. These were nor 'low calibre' people, or unintelligent. They were university students. It was simply a matter of opportunity to grab power over another. rape is about power, anger, or sadism; not sexual desire. Read about the Stanford Experiment if you really can't comprehend it. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

gabrielbell	Uhh because as some people have forgotten war is not a policing action. War is the complete destruction of an opposing socitey, this is also why it should be the last resort. and not that this is any kind of bragging point but throughout the history of nations conqers and armies of all nations, have quite frequently raped women, i'm afraid on this one no nation is without sin. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

DS	It's part of humiliating the other side. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Boston Bluefish	Rape is one of those things that leaves victims scarred long after the actual event. They begin to second guess themselves...Did they encourage it, did they somehow ask for it? Did they actually enjoy it? Was it rape or actually a date? Why couldn't they have seen what was coming and so on? There is no cure, only acceptance and understanding that you were a victim... after what can be a long long time. I once had a patient who was so guilty because she remembered her own orgasm's, while her father raped her as a child at 11-17. She thought she wanted it!!! Not true of course! What causes men to rape? It is a multifaceted answer, but essentially it starts with resentment toward women, and ends up being a control thing. Showing they are superior, that they can make their victim do anything they want..and so on. It gives the rapist, a sense of power, but the cost to both sides, is enormous on an emotional level. Men who are repeatedly raped in prison, often are never able to accept their masculinity again, and often commit suicide, or other acts of self mutilation. Get counselling fast, it won't solve the problem overnight, but it is the only viable solution. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

JW Dread	Its war , what do you think its all about , what rules are there to follow in killing, it all goes hand in hand . Always has done and always will do . Please do not think that I condone this outrage, facts are facts. Yours JW Dread Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

rowdy	They don't find it acceptable at all. In fact it's highly illegal. Who are these soldiers you're on about? Have you got their names and addresses? Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

waspy772004	For a start your question is insulting in its generality. If I asked the question "Why do mothers find it acceptable and appropriate to beat and abuse their children" I would be kicked out of the forum. Millions of soldiers have gone to war, the massive majority have not raped anyone, nor would find it acceptable. In an attempt to answer the question I think you meant to ask. War dehumanises. It has to, that is how soldiers can shoot, stab, maim and kill each other. For some people the line between what is acceptable and what is wrong becomes blurred, as they see different consequences for the actions to that experienced within normal society. Sometimes it is hard to see the distinction between enemy, and local civilian population. In the worst cases rape has been used as a systematic attempt to exert control through fear over a civilian occupied population. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

mowhokman	where are your facts about it happening in iraq. as far as ww2 was concerned most sideds thought of the other as sub human and evil so they didnt care eg germans raping soviets and vice versa when the soviets entered Germany. i dare say the others did it but the soviets and germans were the worst. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

namesarenotallowedx	What makes you think they wouldn't do this at home? This is something screwed up individuals do, not 'soldiers'. It blows my mind that you got so many 'stars' with this question. Are all of you so naive to think that every single soldier is perfect? Or every single preacher is perfect? Or every single fireman is perfect? Et cetera. I've seen one of those "extremist you sympathize with" (from your question, http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ArP7nM.L6cAs7Q25PdXsgfMgBgx.?qid=20070123025839AA2BOQN) practicing beastiality. Does that mean they all do it? Dopy Dora: Men "in mass" probably got you every single freedom you enjoy. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

James M	Yeah, missing link, im happy your not american too. Who cares that its soldiers, rape happens in every country and has happened since the dawn of time. This just got more publicity because of the situation in iraq. If you are going to plea for the iraqi girl who was raped, you should stand for all women who were raped by men (no matter their nationality). Rape has no political views, its a crime and a sick one, it has no place in this world. So stand up for all women, not just because she was raped by a soldier. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Mark P	I second Ms. Thompson's assessment of your premise that these people would not commit these acts on their home soil, in peace-time. What is your support for this theory? Given the prevalence of this crime, I think you argument is on shaky ground. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

wayne A	Only a very limited minority commit war crimes ! For starters for some that do its part of the environment they grew up in their conditioned to fight, steal, attack just to get by. These are again only a very limited minority, to serve, well here anyway, stringent psychological and aptitude testing for several weeks is conducted prior to enlistment, than comes the training regime and the breaking of a man to be rebuilt, my experience is limited to some but more than many, service & training that is not rape - thankyou ! Some are just wired wrongly and cover this up well prior to any release from ongoing high intensity combat and training situations. To the victor go the spoils, in ancient times this was common place, doesn't make in right just means that particular psyche has existed with men in combat situations for thousands of years. These days usually only those for whom military service somehow saved from a life in prison are really succeptable to this behaviour. The same can be or was once seen in many end of season football trips away - where the saying was what happenes on tour stays on tour ! Shocking as that may be it happens everywhere every year with every football code ! Not just as the spoils of war, as tragic as that may be ! Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

CLIVE H	Rape is a crime in war or peace. A US Army sargeant has just been given a one hundred year sentence for rape in Iraq. He is now 21 - no hope ever of getting out of prison. No possibility of parole. He is a rapist of the worst sort who raped an under-age girl, I think she was 13. This rapist is an utter disgrace to the US Army. I trust that his sentence will remind all soldiers, not just those of the US Army, that they have a duty of care to protect the civil population and not harm them. Soldiers kill soldiers, not civilians and they do not rape. I hope the 100 year sentence for rape by any soldier becomes mandatory. No options, no remission, no hope ever of parole. Rapist soldiers and others stay in prison until death. Only the American Justices seem able to do the right thing. I do not trust the British Justice system. Far too lenient with criminals. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Lori K	Why do rapists EVER find it acceptable to rape women EVER? A rapist is a rapist....just because they make it in the army doesn't mean they suddenly become a "good guy". They rape on the street. They rape at the university. They rape in the workplace. They rape at home. That's what a rapist does----Rapes! The propensity and opportunity was there and they acted on it--just like they would have if they were on the street anywhere else. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Lionhrt	Because people in the Military are a representation of society. Although Men and Women in the Military are suppose to be held to a higher standard, rape just as other crimes in society, will creep into the Military. Murder, drugs, etc. Unfortunate but true. On the positive side, the Court Martial system is faster than the regular justice system so the Military is able to punish offenders faster and get them out of the Military. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Michelle W	Why always ask about the negative? Sure, there are a small number of military men and women that go out and do this, but what about the ones that deliver food, clothing and toys to families in the war zones? Why don't they get mentioned? There's more good guys out there then bad. On another note, the men and women overseas are attacked and threatened by men, women and children. It never crossed your mind to ask, why are they handing 10 year olds weapons to shoot at our troops? By no means am I saying its acceptable or appropriate for anyone to be raped. I'm just asking that you consider the whole picture, for every one act of immorality, there's a hundred more acts of humanity. While the 100 acts of kindness doesn't rule act the one injustice, the one injustice, doesn't give anyone here or elsewhere the right to label my husband, family or friends as a rapist. Yes, there are rapist in the military. But there are also sexual predators in our school systems, banks, grocery stores and even as guards in our prison systems. Some make it through the cracks, but ultimately they are found out and they will have to answer for there wrongdoings. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

taffv	SWilliams shame on you! see how you have opened up a torrent of both extreme and naive views. Ask this question of either gender because it is not just one gender that commits such a despicable crime. Humankind is known to commit dreadful acts upon its own both within and outside of so called educated and "civilised" society. Many reasons are given for these acts but none can be justified, testosterone levels,drink, drugs mental instability all have been used but none are reason enough. The act is unreasonable in itself and as a former soldier (Commando)I have seen loutish displays by so called elite, disciplined people but then have seen similar unreasonable loutish displays by pumped up civilians on every sporting field you can mention. Intolerance, bigotry and political correctness the world over is endemic and when this type of question is asked on a forum like this you open up the proverbial can. Rape is a VIOLATION and your question is ill thought out and provocative, but then maybe this is what you wanted! Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

the Animal	They are faced with death every second of the day. Normal people cant deal with that so they start to get a bit crazy. After a while they start to loose touch with reality and act on instinct and sometimes that instinct, anger or whatever else they feel leads them astray and they do these terrible things. Im not saying its temporary insanity as a defense, they are still wrong and should be punished but it took a lot of exposure to the nastiness of fighting insurgents and watching friends die to transform them into the individuals that they are to perform that hideous act. There are thousands of soldiers over there, dont judge them by the actions of a few. And just so you feel better, one of the soldiers responsible for the raping and killing of that iraqi girl was sentenced to 100 years in a military prison. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Andy M Thompson	How do you know, 'These soldiers wouldn't normally rape women whilst at home out of uniform'? and what on earth does, 'mainly (on) innocent young women' mean? Are you implying that young women who are not innocent deserve to get raped? That it is ok to rape someone who is threatening you? Why pick on these particular conflicts too? Are you saying that other armies don't rape people in the countries that they are fighting with? What the heck are you trying to provoke asking a question like this? Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

david g	It is not acceptable, and those found guilty face the same charges as those in civi life. Its abhorent Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

bayouborn81	Not; under the most extreme conditions(and war is the most extreme) would I ever condone rape.I was in the Marines and if I found a fellow Marine raping someone,I would kill them and have no regrets.I am ashamed for the ones that commited those acts. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

harmonicaband	The ones that do, are fakes and misrepresent our country... They should be ashamed to wear the uniform. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

C J	Criminal acts have been a fact in any war, not just modern day. The tendency is to place blame on the whole military, rather than where the blame belongs, on a few deviant offenders. War is a terrible occupation, and cruel things come out of it. There is no way to sanitize warfare, even though the world thinks it should be. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Frank R	Rapes occur in wartime as they do in times of peace.Including Bosnia does not further your point for that was an ethnic conflict based on race, religion and ancient animosities not a true war. As a former soldier I know that it isn't acceptable or appropriate and I never met anyone that advocated raping anyone. What you have in cases of wartime rape are people that more than likley were inclined to rape if they were a soldier or not. So, do not attempt to lump all soldiers together it is not fair or accurate. Also, considering the large number of participants involved in wars rapes are not very common. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

hayles	Can i just say noy ALL soldiers do things like this, i come from a family of militry my husband is also militry, so i take great offense to you labelling ALL soldiers the same. Most of them are doing a great job, and your on here slating them. There is rapists all over the place, as they are sick and need locking up, that goes for people in every job, not just soldiers. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

Minxy	Where has it been said that 'SOLDIERS' find it acceptable and appropriate to rape woman during war? They may give many excuses like - being away from home, frustrated, etc. The TRUTH is a RAPIST JUST HAPPENS TO BE A SOLDIER!! What makes you say they wouldn,t normally rape a woman out of uniform. Do their bodily functions stop when they are wearing a different outfit? I think you have asked an awful question that brings shame on all the brave men that have fought for us and still are fighting and risking their lives for us. Put your thinking cap on again before you ask another question!!! Rapists are Rapists Full Stop. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

pageys	It isn't the 'norm' for soldiers to do this, just the odd, sick individuals.The ordinary soldier will be just as much sickened by these actions as you or I.Please do not think most soldiers are like this, because they aren't.There is NO excuse for it either. Some of these answers sound like they are condoning such behaviour! Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No

gordc238	It is not acceptable. Officially any way. Any soldier in any army maybe held accountable for rape. Yet it does happen all to frequently. And its pervasiveness is deeply rooted. To understand this issue it is necessary to stand back from its disgusting features. Many of the soldiers who commit rape in war would not even consider such behavior in another context. War is a collage and collection of violent emotions. Killing and violence are the norm. This effects thinking and emotions. Historically the military rape goes back to the origins of human kind and the first conflicts. Indeed it may go back to the origins of animals. Many species have one male vanquishing another male and takes control of the territory and the females controlled by that other adult male. It is in short the prize of conquest. Mammalian females in many species are considered highly prized since it is they who hold the keys to reproduction. Males fight for the right of conquest. The prize of conquest is to breed with the females of the vanquished tribe. Indeed this behavior may have genetic foundation since the cultural dimension to tribal life is that to prevent the deleterious effects of inbreeding the development of war may have been not only for territory but for the simple health of the species. Genetically it is smart to broaden the gene pool. One method is rape. Psychologically, males maybe consumed by the need to have power over another individual. In soldiers their will is often controlled by the application of discipline that when there is a moment in time after a violent episode in combat where the rape emotion trigger occurs. In the modern world, in the modern society violent behavior so dominant in the past is no longer necessary to maintain the variety in the gene pool. But one must recognize that in a violent conflict where emotions dominate a hormone driven act like rape will emerge. The surprising thing about this kind of rape is that provided the rapist is not threatened the victim is likely to survive physically. And this is the key. The most important thing is to provide training for the soldier in the hopes that this training overcomes any emergence of the irrational emotional need for rape. The reason for light punishment for soldier is to actually reduce the need for murder. Without the threat of too severe a punishment for rape actually saves lives. No one wants the rape victim murdered. Rape is such an out of control behavior exercised mostly by males and rarely by females. Almost always human rape behavior less a sexual behavior but more of a power control over another regardless of the status of the victim. A rape can be considered a statement of power over the vanquished. Sexual need is only a minor consideration. Rightly or wrongly evaluated in our modern world one must realize that until very recently women were not considered persons but as property and possessions. There lies the subtext and a rape occurs because the conqueror is finally taking control of a prize for themselves. It is wrapped up and twisted into the built up sexual thirst of a young soldier involved in a combat. The abusive behavior of the guards at Abu Graib over the Iraqis prisoners may be considered a type of rape. Much of the abuse by male and female guards exercised on their imprisoned charges sprang from the same source. Much of the humiliation of the prisoners contained the subtext of sexual domination by the captors. It is like a hunter standing on the corpse of a deer and screaming victory. That event of rape and hunting stem from the same root to exercise a power control as a statement of conquest of possession. It is not acceptable. But like many bad things, it is a terrible reality. Was this answer helpful to you? Yes / No