Posted on Sep 8, 2015
"Colonel: Soldiers Should Not 'Impose' On All Afghan Customs, Including Child Rape"
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From: Breitbart
United States soldiers should tolerate all Afghan customs, even if they go against American moral values, suggested Col. Steve Johnson, referring to a decorated Green Beret who has been reprimanded by the U.S. Army for “striking” a child rapist in Afghanistan back in September 2011.
“You cannot try to impose American values and American norms onto the Afghan culture because they’re completely different… We can report and we can encourage them,” Col. Johnson told The News Tribune. “We do not have any power or the ability to use our hands to compel them to be what we see as morally better.”
The practice of influential men using underage boys as their sexual patterns, known as “Bacha Bazi,” is an illegal but common custom in Afghanistan.
Sgt. First Class (SFC) Charles Martland, the Green Beret, is expected to be kicked out of the Army by November 1.
Johnson’s comments drew the ire of Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) who, along with severRep. Al Green (D-TX) Beret veterans, argues that the Army should not discharge Martland for standing up to the alleged rapist, identified as Afghan local police (ALP) commander Abdul Rahman.
The incident took place in Afghanistan’s Kunduz province.
Hunter, a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, declared that the Army’s decision to dismiss Sgt. Martland shows the “moral decay” currently afflicting military leadership. Rep. Hunter told Breitbart News:
Martland’s experience shows the type of moral decay among certain aspects of military leadership—starting at the top. In fact, had he not intervened in my opinion, that should have been grounds for removal. At what point will Army leadership stand up for Martland for doing the right thing? Instead, they continue to hide behind a process that seems to makes most sense, in the case specifically, to an Afghan rapist who was happy to see Martland pulled from duty.
Rep. Hunter, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, has written three letters to Defense Secretary Ashton Carter asking him to intervene in the Army’s case against the Green Beret, for the purpose of granting him his wish to continue serving in the U.S. Army.
Sgt. Martland admitted “striking” the alleged rapist accused of kidnapping, chaining, and raping a 12-year-old boy and then beating his mother for pleading for help. The local police commander reportedly laughed about committing the crimes.
Rep. Duncan Hunter disagrees with Col. Johnson’s comments about U.S. soldiers having to tolerate all Afghan customs even if they go against American moral values.
“It is, in fact, a fundamental duty for our military to project American power, strength, and values,”wrote the congressman in the most recent letter addressed to Sec. Carter, dated September 1. “The ALP commander’s action was a human rights violations—and SFC Martland was right to step in and attempt to protect the child from further harm.”
Duncan also noted that Col. Johnson, in talking to The News Tribune, claimed the alleged rapist was “an inch from his death” after he was assaulted by Sgt. Martland and Quinn.
A cultural adviser and linguist who witnessed the incident contradicted those allegations, telling the office of Rep. Hunter, on condition of anonymity, that the rapist exaggerated the nature of his wounds, adding that the provincial police chief “strongly condemned” the alleged rapist and suggested that “he should be dismissed, arrested and put away.”
The police chief commended Sgt. Martland for confronting the Afghan police commander who allegedly laughed when approached by Martland.
Prior to the September 2011 incident, Col. Steve Johnson commanded Sgt. Charles Martland when he was the commander in the Army’s 1st Special Forces Group.
Johnson was in Afghanistan when Martland and Capt. Daniel Quinn, his Green Beret team leader, approached Rahman for allegedly kidnapping, chaining, and raping a 12-year-old boy and then beating his mother for reaching out to the Green Berets for help.
The Army reprimanded Martland and Quinn, relieving them from their duties in Afghanistan’s Kunduz province where the incident took place back in 2011.
Quinn has since taken a private sector job in New York. Sgt. Martland is fighting to stay in the military.
Sgt. Martland is now facing involuntary discharge from the Army.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Army and the public affairs office for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, citing the Privacy Act, told Breitbart News that the Army was unable to confirm whether or not the September 2011 incident is linked to its decision to remove Martland.
When Breitbart News asked for a comment on accusations that the Army had chosen to side with the rapist instead of Sgt. Martland, the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, said, “The Privacy Act prevents us from releasing any additional information about the administrative action taken regarding this topic.”
When the 2011 incident occurred, Sgt. Martland was serving with an elite Joint Base Lewis-McChord unit.
http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2015/09/02/colonel-u-s-soldiers-should-not-impose-on-all-afghan-customs-including-child-rape/
United States soldiers should tolerate all Afghan customs, even if they go against American moral values, suggested Col. Steve Johnson, referring to a decorated Green Beret who has been reprimanded by the U.S. Army for “striking” a child rapist in Afghanistan back in September 2011.
“You cannot try to impose American values and American norms onto the Afghan culture because they’re completely different… We can report and we can encourage them,” Col. Johnson told The News Tribune. “We do not have any power or the ability to use our hands to compel them to be what we see as morally better.”
The practice of influential men using underage boys as their sexual patterns, known as “Bacha Bazi,” is an illegal but common custom in Afghanistan.
Sgt. First Class (SFC) Charles Martland, the Green Beret, is expected to be kicked out of the Army by November 1.
Johnson’s comments drew the ire of Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) who, along with severRep. Al Green (D-TX) Beret veterans, argues that the Army should not discharge Martland for standing up to the alleged rapist, identified as Afghan local police (ALP) commander Abdul Rahman.
The incident took place in Afghanistan’s Kunduz province.
Hunter, a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, declared that the Army’s decision to dismiss Sgt. Martland shows the “moral decay” currently afflicting military leadership. Rep. Hunter told Breitbart News:
Martland’s experience shows the type of moral decay among certain aspects of military leadership—starting at the top. In fact, had he not intervened in my opinion, that should have been grounds for removal. At what point will Army leadership stand up for Martland for doing the right thing? Instead, they continue to hide behind a process that seems to makes most sense, in the case specifically, to an Afghan rapist who was happy to see Martland pulled from duty.
Rep. Hunter, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, has written three letters to Defense Secretary Ashton Carter asking him to intervene in the Army’s case against the Green Beret, for the purpose of granting him his wish to continue serving in the U.S. Army.
Sgt. Martland admitted “striking” the alleged rapist accused of kidnapping, chaining, and raping a 12-year-old boy and then beating his mother for pleading for help. The local police commander reportedly laughed about committing the crimes.
Rep. Duncan Hunter disagrees with Col. Johnson’s comments about U.S. soldiers having to tolerate all Afghan customs even if they go against American moral values.
“It is, in fact, a fundamental duty for our military to project American power, strength, and values,”wrote the congressman in the most recent letter addressed to Sec. Carter, dated September 1. “The ALP commander’s action was a human rights violations—and SFC Martland was right to step in and attempt to protect the child from further harm.”
Duncan also noted that Col. Johnson, in talking to The News Tribune, claimed the alleged rapist was “an inch from his death” after he was assaulted by Sgt. Martland and Quinn.
A cultural adviser and linguist who witnessed the incident contradicted those allegations, telling the office of Rep. Hunter, on condition of anonymity, that the rapist exaggerated the nature of his wounds, adding that the provincial police chief “strongly condemned” the alleged rapist and suggested that “he should be dismissed, arrested and put away.”
The police chief commended Sgt. Martland for confronting the Afghan police commander who allegedly laughed when approached by Martland.
Prior to the September 2011 incident, Col. Steve Johnson commanded Sgt. Charles Martland when he was the commander in the Army’s 1st Special Forces Group.
Johnson was in Afghanistan when Martland and Capt. Daniel Quinn, his Green Beret team leader, approached Rahman for allegedly kidnapping, chaining, and raping a 12-year-old boy and then beating his mother for reaching out to the Green Berets for help.
The Army reprimanded Martland and Quinn, relieving them from their duties in Afghanistan’s Kunduz province where the incident took place back in 2011.
Quinn has since taken a private sector job in New York. Sgt. Martland is fighting to stay in the military.
Sgt. Martland is now facing involuntary discharge from the Army.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Army and the public affairs office for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, citing the Privacy Act, told Breitbart News that the Army was unable to confirm whether or not the September 2011 incident is linked to its decision to remove Martland.
When Breitbart News asked for a comment on accusations that the Army had chosen to side with the rapist instead of Sgt. Martland, the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, said, “The Privacy Act prevents us from releasing any additional information about the administrative action taken regarding this topic.”
When the 2011 incident occurred, Sgt. Martland was serving with an elite Joint Base Lewis-McChord unit.
http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2015/09/02/colonel-u-s-soldiers-should-not-impose-on-all-afghan-customs-including-child-rape/
Army
Afghanistan
Customs and Courtesies
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 151
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Were we not supposed to have imposed on Nazi customs, or Japanese customs? Where would the world be today if we had treated the Nazi's and the Japanese military extremists as our quirky neighbors, instead of a scourge against all decent human beings? Sgt. First Class (SFC) Charles Martland should be decorated and promoted for defending an individuals HUMAN RIGHTS.
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RallyPoint Shared Content
So fucking glad I have my DD214 and retired ID card and don't have to deal with bullshit like this anymore!
SGT Martland is a hero and should be treated as such!
So fucking glad I have my DD214 and retired ID card and don't have to deal with bullshit like this anymore!
SGT Martland is a hero and should be treated as such!
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So when the muslims finally get their way in America, and their laws become our laws, which is only a matter of time before that happens, we should let them murder and rape women and children, simply because it is their culture? I think not..
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In the case presented I would argue that such behavior is far removed from the global culture homogeneity. This would suggest that the behavior is abnormal or dysfunctional and is deviating from the global norm. Globalization and cultural diversity will always lead to cultural decay of the dysfunctional - like the practice of human sacrifices or the gassing millions of Jews - most often by force. I think its rather simple - If a behavior is suspect of having a negative consequences and is removed at the local level yet both the local and global cultures are better off then the behavior needs to be at minimum examined for possible remodeling if not removal.
SFC Charles Martland, did the right thing in my book. I might of had an accidental discharge to his privates.
SFC Charles Martland, did the right thing in my book. I might of had an accidental discharge to his privates.
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With a nod to Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS, I think he is onto something. My own take:
I think we are seeing the confluence of conflicting moral and political considerations. Morally, it has always been US ROE to intervene on behalf of non-combatants subjected to risk of life, limb, eyesight or subjected to war crimes. This is drilled into us in our upbringing, and reinforced in mandatory human rights classes we have to take.
The question is, is this a war crime? Nearly always, the US would legally delineate this as a war crime, and direct US personnel to detain violators and turn them over to Afghan authorities. I believe that is current policy as well. Soldiers taking it upon themselves to pummel a pederast get points in my book, but they are not right.
Enter the political considerations. Think upon who these people are. These are the individuals that we are turning over security to. How does it look when we are highlighting their abhorrent behavior? So it gets swept under the rug.
Punishment to service members who stand up for what is morally right is a message to others that might be contemplating the same thing - shut up. Nothing can jeopardize our withdrawal timeline.
I think we are seeing the confluence of conflicting moral and political considerations. Morally, it has always been US ROE to intervene on behalf of non-combatants subjected to risk of life, limb, eyesight or subjected to war crimes. This is drilled into us in our upbringing, and reinforced in mandatory human rights classes we have to take.
The question is, is this a war crime? Nearly always, the US would legally delineate this as a war crime, and direct US personnel to detain violators and turn them over to Afghan authorities. I believe that is current policy as well. Soldiers taking it upon themselves to pummel a pederast get points in my book, but they are not right.
Enter the political considerations. Think upon who these people are. These are the individuals that we are turning over security to. How does it look when we are highlighting their abhorrent behavior? So it gets swept under the rug.
Punishment to service members who stand up for what is morally right is a message to others that might be contemplating the same thing - shut up. Nothing can jeopardize our withdrawal timeline.
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1LT William Clardy
1SG (Join to see), the concept of war crimes applies to wars between states and it has only limited application to a government suppressing an insurgency. In the case of an insurgency, the Hague conventions basically limit themselves to requiring that the government abide by its own laws and provide a consistent legal process for handling insurgent combatants. This does not even rise to that level -- the most that could be done is to try to prosecute the perpetrators as criminals under Afghan law, which I suspect is highly unlikely given the identities and connections of the offenders. U.S. troops have about as much authority to intervene as, say, German soldiers visiting the United States who take it upon themselves to arrest a local cop they see arresting random black men.
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When I was in Afghanistan, the prevailing practice was to press a "Kuni" (literally, 'receiver' in Dari) into service periodically from within their own ranks. This must've been judged too dangerous and they've moved on to village boys.
It is widespread, and in my opinion is an offshoot of the Afghans' repression of their women. Their sexual desires need an outlet, and behavior towards girls like this would garner retaliation (at least when it isn't part of a child marriage... and those will cost you a bride-price) from the girls' families. So you get this.
Collecting a harem is not something I have observed, though. Accumulating boys as a status symbol is a depravity that will probably get worse with the passage of time. I fear that Afghan society has been so damaged and traumatized by decades of war and brutality that it will be a long time before it looks civilized again.
It is widespread, and in my opinion is an offshoot of the Afghans' repression of their women. Their sexual desires need an outlet, and behavior towards girls like this would garner retaliation (at least when it isn't part of a child marriage... and those will cost you a bride-price) from the girls' families. So you get this.
Collecting a harem is not something I have observed, though. Accumulating boys as a status symbol is a depravity that will probably get worse with the passage of time. I fear that Afghan society has been so damaged and traumatized by decades of war and brutality that it will be a long time before it looks civilized again.
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It's cultural among the Pashtuns. Read "caravans" by James Michiner or "The Kite Runner" it's descriptive of the culture.
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1LT William Clardy
Quite honestly, SFC William Farrell, I'm not particularly well-read on the Afghan cultures (yes, there are several besides the Pashtun, at least a couple of which are more appealing to modern Western sensibilities). Probably a disproportionate amount of my knowledge came from reading Ahmed Rashid's "Taliban".
My point is not that we should turn our backs -- it's that we should look at the real costs of deciding to rule others, and think more carefully about what outrages are worth spilling how much of whose blood over.
My point is not that we should turn our backs -- it's that we should look at the real costs of deciding to rule others, and think more carefully about what outrages are worth spilling how much of whose blood over.
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I agree with you this is an outrage. I am sorry that I started a separate discussion when I saw the article. The DOD requires reporting of human trafficking so how does this get tolerated. I do not want our own country to cause PTSD within our soldiers by making them feel guilty by association and helpless to do something about this brutality
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CPO Andy Carrillo, MS
It would be indescribably hard to befriend these youngsters one day, hear them being raped the next, then have your superior officers tell you to ignore it because this human rights violation is part of their culture. Imagine the nightmares...
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