U.S. Soldiers Told to Ignore Afghan Allies’ Abuse of Boys . The American policy of nonintervention where bacha bazi or boy for play exists

2015-09-21T10:14:18-04:00

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us-soldiers-told-to-ignore-afghan-allies%e2%80%99-abuse-of-boys/ar-AAey2vA?li=AAa0dzB

U.S. Soldiers Told to Ignore Afghan Allies’ Abuse of Boys

The American military’s policy has been to look the other way on “boy play” by Afghan commanders. One Marine’s father believes it was a factor in his son’s death.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Sep 21 at 2015 10:30 AM

2015-09-21T10:30:37-04:00

Sickening.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2015 10:31 AM

2015-09-21T10:31:28-04:00

Here is a shining opportunity to show the populace that we are trying to do good. We can protect the kids & mothers from those that are perpetrating this. Instead, when a soldier tries to defend the mother & child, he is unceremoniously discharged.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2015 10:57 AM

2015-09-21T10:57:06-04:00

Where is the policy?

Response by SSG Keith Cashion made Sep 21 at 2015 11:13 AM

2015-09-21T11:13:30-04:00

I read this, this morning and the logic behind what the Soldiers were told to ignore, or not get involved in, is repulsive. Their culture or not, it makes it more difficult for Soldiers that see something wrong, and cannot do anything to correct. Report it and the punishment is a shame. Act on it, and you now become the bad guy. It's like, we want you to come and fight the Taliban for us, but don't get into our local criminal behavior. More disturbing is the chain of command saying look the other way.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Sep 21 at 2015 11:16 AM

2015-09-21T11:16:25-04:00

There is no "policy". You get briefed on some of their local customs and find out others later on. The ones you find out about later are those under the table taboo's that no one wants to speak on publicly.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2015 11:23 AM

2015-09-21T11:23:05-04:00

Sad ....but the statement about leaving Afghan problems to the Afghan(s) is basically true......I remember treating a little girl who had had boiling hot tea/water poured on her "accidentally" and basically being told it was pointless to report the injuries, but we were allowed to report them (it was just pointless because locals would not do anything about it, something about it being an acceptable form of punishment). Anyway the dynamics of that part of the world are something that we as a "1st World Nation" will never understand....hell I remember being told they used children to clear minefields because the were "disposable".....Anyway not much to say here.....but I will say horrible things happen in that part of the world everyday and our forces need to be focused on whatever the mission is at hand.......there is no way we will every fix everything that is "wrong" in that culture....

BTW to be clear....we were never told there was a policy that we had to ignore the problem....just that probably nothing would come of it if because it was an acceptable practice. ....anyway....glad I never have to go back to that place....and God bless and keep safe those that are still over there.

Response by CPT Sheilah Day, MS made Sep 21 at 2015 12:33 PM

2015-09-21T12:33:21-04:00

Still working on official policy but found State Department notes from Army Investigation Unit.

The report was done by the U.S. Army and is comprised of personal field notes dated May 15, 2009 by Human Terrain Team AF-6, which was assigned to the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Battalion and co-located with British forces in Lashkar Gah. It was requested to provide insight into Pashtun cultural traditions regarding male sexuality.

‘Women are for children, boys are for pleasure’

The 2009 Human Terrain Team report noted that “one of the country’s favorite sayings is ‘women are for children, boys are for pleasure.’”

Homosexuality is strictly prohibited in Islam. “To identify as such is to admit an enormous sin in Islam – one punishable by death under the Taliban and one that would result in severe tribal and familial ostracization today,” the report said.

However, “even men who practice homosexuality exclusively are not labeled by themselves or their counterparts as homosexual.” Therefore, “it appears to be the label, not the action or the preference, that poses the greatest problem.”

Homosexuality is defined – “narrowly and specifically” – as the love of another man, the HTT report said.

“Loving a man would therefore be unacceptable and a major sin within this cultural interpretation of Islam, but using another man for sexual gratification would be regarded as a foible – undesirable but far preferable to sex with an ineligible woman … which would likely result in issues of revenge and honor killings,” the Army’s report added.
US embassy cables: Afghan government asks US to quash 'dancing boys' scandal

Thursday 2 December 2010 16.30 EST
Last modified on Saturday 4 October 2014 10.31 EDT

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Wednesday, 24 June 2009, 11:37
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KABUL 001651
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SRAP, SCA/A, INL, EUR/RPM
STATE PASS TO NSC FOR WOOD
OSD FOR FLOURNOY
CENTCOM FOR CG CJTF-82, POLAD, JICENT
KABUL FOR COS USFOR-A
EO 12958 DECL: 06/23/2019
TAGS PREL, PGOV, MARR, MASS, AF
SUBJECT: 06/23/09 MEETING, ASSISTANT AMB MUSSOMELI AND MOI
MINISTER ATMAR: KUNDUZ DYNCORP PROBLEM, TRANSPORT FOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AND OTHER TOPICS
REF: KABUL 1480
Classified By: POLMIL COUNSELOR ROBERT CLARKE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND ( D)

1. (C) SUMMARY: Assistant Ambassador Mussomeli discussed a range of issues with Minister of Interior (MoI) Hanif Atmar on June 23. On the Kunduz Regional Training Center (RTC) DynCorp event of April 11 (reftel), Atmar reiterated his insistence that the U.S. try to quash any news article on the incident or circulation of a video connected with it. He continued to predict that publicity would "endanger lives." He disclosed that he has arrested two Afghan police and nine other Afghans as part of an MoI investigation into Afghans who facilitated this crime of "purchasing a service from a child." He pressed for CSTC-A to be given full control over the police training program, including contractors. Mussomeli counseled that an overreaction by the Afghan goverment (GIRoA) would only increase chances for the greater publicity the MoI is trying to forestall.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2015 3:33 PM

2015-09-21T15:33:55-04:00

CPT Sheilah Day,
This is, at first glance, very disturbing, ma'am. At further look it is saddening, especially if this is indeed why the young Marine was killed by the 17 yr. old Tea Boy. My question is; why were these boys allowed on the base? Was it a joint US/Afghan base? I have not seen the article myself, but if it was a joint service or coalition base, young boys were not allowed on the base at night at Camp Phoenix, BAF, KAF, Camp Eggers, etc. Were Marine bases such as FOB Delhi exceptions to the rule? Second question; why is MAJ Brezler being discharged for forwarding information about a local national working on the base that had already been kicked off another for the same thing among other charges, was it sent on NIPR, versus SIPR or CENTREX and what about it was classified to the point of discharge proceedings?

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Sep 21 at 2015 4:27 PM

2015-09-21T16:27:05-04:00

I am sad to inform that there is a truth here that needs to be addressed.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2015 10:05 PM

2015-09-21T22:05:43-04:00

It's sick and it's really happening. It's common in Islam everywhere in the world I have been with Muslim communities. I don't understand where the outrage is. It's very sad.