Women have a right to their personal safety standards and it does not need the approval of Carl Levin. Carl ran out his 'political capital' with this one. He should resign and soon.
I want to know whom in the Top Brass has something to fear. If they can't adapt to new rules and the idea that Commanders aren't the angels of female virtue, then they need leave as well. They are not effective leaders and keepers of the peace. If the Joint Chiefs themselves threatened to resign over this, they can be replaced and should be. They have no respect from the country with this demand to diminish the law that will bring women to prominence concern within the military complex. They may not be used to it and in realizing that now means they don't get respect. Just that simple.
The current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs flew a drone into Iraq. He can leave and no one will regret it.
The current Commanders can't solve the Green on Blue attacks and they continue, they need to leave as well. Now, I have to wonder what the Green on Blue attacks are all about considering THE FACT they can't find respect for women within their own ranks. If they can't find respect for women in their own ranks I am quite confident they can't find respect for women in Afghanistan.
They should leave as soon as possible. There are women waiting to be officers to fill their boots.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) (click here) plans to replace a measure from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and others that would take prosecution of sexual assault out of the military chain of command with an alternative provision, a step that represents a death knell for the New York Democrat's bill.
Gillibrand declined to comment Tuesday on Levin's plan. But Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) who joined the New York Democrat to consponsor the bill creating a separate convening authority for sexual assault, blasted Levin's move.
"I am stunned that when it comes to prosecuting these crimes the committee is largely embracing the status quo by allowing commanders to not only decide whether a case goes forward, but even to handpick the jury that will render the verdict," Boxer said in a statement.
Boxer said the U.S. should "emulate our allies in Israel, Great Britain, Australia and Canada" who review sexual assault outside the chain of command.
Levin, a Michigan Democrat, told reporters he will offer an alternative measure that requires automatic review of any general’s decision not to prosecute sexual assault at the next level of command during the committee’s markup of an annual defense authorization bill Wednesday.
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