Well Que…the reason why you hear crickets chirping on this article is because it’s a positive story about the goings on in Iraq. If it were something we did wrong there would be over 100+ comments. Personnally, I find it inspiring and with more things like this taking place and Iraqi’s taking a personal stake in their country means my fellow soldiers,etc can come home sooner.

I read this article with quite a bit of interest only to see the same story rehashed from previous coverage. The story and the incidents unfortunately are not new…. Understand that I don’t for one minute condone the behavior of any military member behaving in a manner deemed “conduct unbecoming” as we call it…not for one moment. I can’t defend that type of behavior under any circumstance especially since I myself currently serve, am female and a 16 yr vet. I simply wanted to respond to some comments posted here. To Lily…patriarchal - yes, the military is and has been a male dominated field, but no where else do you have the almost unequaled and fair opportunity for advancement. Advancement is less a who you know and more merit. I do take exception with the Neanderthal comment. Is that the perpetrators of the crime or the military as a whole? It is a matter of fact that the military is made up of a cross section of society…a sampling if you will of some of the best and worst we have to offer. What does that say about us overall? Frank…I respect your passion and opinion, but…as a 16 yr vet, I can tell you the military can’t prosecute or protect if their is no complaint. This applies to the general population as well as military. There is a significant difference between the two though. I can also tell you that there are cases that don’t make the news where the perpetrator has been punished to the full extent of the law. I can also tell you…at least in my particular branch of the service…there is intensive, yearly, MANDATORY training, on sexual assualt, harrassment and violence…something not done in the civilian sector. It is not something that is taken lightly and there are many avenues available that a woman can take in looking for support or justice. Little has been written in the news about what we’re getting right and how we are educating young men about their behaviors toward women. That would be a welcome change if there were. Fear not citizens…for the most part all of us vets are very respectful, law abiding citizens. And because I myself am a woman and in a supervisory position, like most women in my position of authority…we make sure to look out for each other and those coming behind us.