This is a great bill. There is no reason to reject the hard work these Senators have carried out in regard to restoring honor to a military in what would appear moral degradation.
Letter comes ahead (click here) of a showdown over the issue as Gillibrand set to offer plan as an amendment to annual defense policy bill
Associated Press in Washington
theguardia.com
Monday, 18 November 2013
...In a letter to Senate colleagues, 11 members of the Senate Armed Services Committee wrote that sexual assault in the military is an abomination and must be dealt with forcefully, but they rejected the solution offered by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a New York Democrat.
Gillibrand has the public support of nearly half the Senate for removing commanders from deciding whether serious crimes go to trial and giving that authority to seasoned trial lawyers who have prosecutorial experience and hold the rank of colonel or higher.
"We believe strongly that this would create a system that would actually be worse for victims and significantly undermine the military system of justice and discipline," the senators wrote. "It could lead to constitutional hurdles for military prosecutions; undermine the ability of prosecutors to execute plea bargains that can spare victims a difficult trial process."
The senators also said the plan would undercut the ability of commanders to threaten courts-martial and carry out non-judicial punishments....
The status of women in the military requires the leadership of the country and the military to act to protect their honor and in doing so will provide status in the needed respect they ask and need as superior officers.
Sexual assault is very damaging. It creates an understanding of victimization due to the very gender and/or stated sexual identity of a person. That can inhibit the growth of the strength of our military. We need men and women free of victimization to address their interest and leadership in the military.
If the USA is to have a volunteer military it will have to be an attractive opportunity for a career. This sort of problem will deter men and women to enter military service as well as make it a career. I don't know where any Senator gets the idea this is an option. It is not. It is outrageous to believe even the work these wonderful women Senators conducted is rejected. It seems to me to be more victimization of women that already exists within our military command.
Rejecting the work of these Senators is an extension of the idea the military answers to no one, not even our elected federal representatives. Like what?
This is not debatable. The research and testimony is ON THE RECORD supporting the decisions within this bill. To stand in opposition to FACTUAL RECORD is nothing but hubris and politics. So, the men and women of our military now know that putting political pressure on members of Congress maintains the status quo of the few when so many others are victims to that hubris and those politics.
I suggest everyone think twice before crossing the line of having this a deciding factor in their elections. For those that vote NO to improving the morality and morale that leads to a livable culture in our military to promote confidence in readiness will have problems when they run again for their Senate seat.
If the USA is to have a volunteer military it will have to be an attractive opportunity for a career. This sort of problem will deter men and women to enter military service as well as make it a career. I don't know where any Senator gets the idea this is an option. It is not. It is outrageous to believe even the work these wonderful women Senators conducted is rejected. It seems to me to be more victimization of women that already exists within our military command.
Rejecting the work of these Senators is an extension of the idea the military answers to no one, not even our elected federal representatives. Like what?
This is not debatable. The research and testimony is ON THE RECORD supporting the decisions within this bill. To stand in opposition to FACTUAL RECORD is nothing but hubris and politics. So, the men and women of our military now know that putting political pressure on members of Congress maintains the status quo of the few when so many others are victims to that hubris and those politics.
I suggest everyone think twice before crossing the line of having this a deciding factor in their elections. For those that vote NO to improving the morality and morale that leads to a livable culture in our military to promote confidence in readiness will have problems when they run again for their Senate seat.
