Tancredo says AFA top brass must go

[Terri]

Tancredo says AFA top brass must go

By P. Solomon Banda,
Associated Press
Rocky Mountain News
March 6, 2003

U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo called Wednesday for the removal of the top commanders at the Air Force Academy, saying he has lost confidence in their ability to change a culture that has led to at least 25 alleged rapes of female cadets.

Tancredo, R-Colo., also called for courts-martial of pilots and other servicemen in the Air Force who attended the academy and are accused of rape.

"If there are rapists serving on active duty, like the one accused of raping my constituent, I find that reprehensible," Tancredo said in a letter to Air Force Secretary James G. Roche.

Academy spokeswoman Pam Ancker had not seen the letter and would not comment.

Full Story (http://www.insidedenver.com /drmn/state/article/0,1299,DRMN_21_17915 87,00.html)

Actually, Senator Allard broke this story a week or so ago. The Air Force sent an investigative team to the Academy but they didn't bother to interview any victims.

[Granite River]

I agree that something has to be done and done now.

I would give all of the accusers polygraphs and every one that passes should have their attacker arrested immediately.

[Der Alte]

I agree that the upper management of the Academy hasn't done a very good job, however, all of the allegations were investigated by the Office of Special Investigations and were found to be lacking in sufficient evidence for any action to be taken. I'm not part of the old boy club, but after my years with the OSI, I know that they take these allegations very seriously and would have conducted a very through investigation. Based on the Points of Law, you must meet certain requirements to prove the allegation. All investigations are passed to the Judge Advocate who will determine whether the facts warrant an Article 32 board (Grand Jury equivalent) and the board will then reccomend a Courts Martial or to drop the case due to lack of evidence. If there was any cover up, it would have been by some high ranking officers, not the investigators. The investigators of the OSI report to the Inspector General of the Air Force and can not be influnenced by any local commander. As far as the polygraph is concerned, GR, it is not allowed into a court proceeding as evidence and has been found to be unreliable to the point that it should not be used to determine guilt or innocence.

Got to stick up for my old outfit because I know they are the best investigative agency in the federal government and will offer a fair and unbiased investigation and cannot be intimidated by anyone.

[Terri]

Der Alte, here's some more info for you.

Scandal by the numbers (http://www.rockymountainnew s.com/drmn/state/article/0,1299,DRMN_21_17944 37,00.html)

General accused of derailing rape case (http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E27375% 257E1226892,00.html? search=filter)

Number of AFA sex cases up to 54 * (http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E23827% 257E1226895,00.html? search=filter)

I tend to believe this because of Senator Allard's reaction. He is just about as steady and calm a man as I've ever seen. I've never seen him as angry as he is over this situation. He says it's worse than the tailhook scandle and he intends to see heads roll.

[Der Alte]

Terri, I have no doubt that some of the reports are very true and I would bet that some high ranking officers have tried to downplay the problems. My reply to the thread was to inform the average individual that the Office of Special Investigations would conduct a through and unbiased investigation. During my time with OSI, I conducted many rape and sexual assault cases and I can assure you that the victims allegations were always taken very seriously. The problem is that many times the victim doesn't come forward until much later, when it is to late to gather evidence. I had one such case in Germany - the victim comes forward three days after the alleged attack, had washed all her clothes and bathed several times. It then became her word against the alleged attacker. It is imperitive that the victim notify the authorities immediately so a hospital exam can be done immediately to gather evidence such as semen and pubic hair from the attacker. 99% of the time there is no witness to the attack. In the case of the girl that was drunk, she is not going to get much sympathy from the high ranking brass but I wiil state once again - if the case is referred to the OSI it will be investigated immediately and the evidence will be turned over to the Staff Judge Advocate. After that the OSI can only provide witnesses to what evidence was found and statements from the victim and the alleged attacker and any witnesses. My original response was to GR who wanted to give the victim a polygraph and then immediately arrest the attacker. Just don't work that way.

[Terri]

Der Alte, I realize that the woman should go to the authorities immediately or it may not be possible to prove their claim. I think that's very difficult for them to do when they realize that they are unlikely to be believed or taken seriously. Women who have been raped have always felt guilt for a myriad of reasons: being in the wrong place, talking to the wrong man, dating the wrong man, having one drink too many, being friendly, wearing the wrong blouse, having too short a skirt, not being strong enough to fight him off, or simply being female. *

This is a problem throughout all areas of life and not just the military. But it is intensified in the military.

Many, if not most, of the women have left the service. Perhaps they were unsuited to military life all along or maybe they were only unsuited to rape.

[Der Alte]

Terri, I'm in agreement with you, but if the women in question had gone immediately to the Security Police or the Office of Special Investigations they would have been taken very seriously. The Security Police are always available and would immediately refer the case to the OSI. Been there, done that for 24 years - put lots of people in prison and thats the main reason I carry a firearm (always), because some of them get out every now and then.

[Terri]

Der Alte, Senator Allard seems to think that at least one general at the AFA has deliberately discounted the rape stories. If that is true it wouldn't help if they reported right away. In fact, I think some of them did.

[Der Alte]

Terri, here we go again. I don't doubt that a general may have discounted the allegations. What I said was that if it were referred to the OSI, a through and unbiased investigation would have been conducted whether the general wanted one or not. If the investigation was conducted, the records would still be available. OSI works for the Inspector General and would not be deterred by any general. An OSI agent, conducting an interview, is one grade higher than the individual being interviewed and are only interested in "Getting the facts, mam". Those records could be used to force the general into retirement, or to have him courts martialed for obstruction of justice. That is, if there is any truth in the allegations.

[Terri]

Quote[/b] ] I don't doubt that a general may have discounted the allegations.

If there was suppression by a general it would be very difficult, if not impossible, for cadets to get a fair hearing. I'm sure any who tried could just kiss their AF career goodbye. This is not the way I want our military to function.

We have no way of knowing the merit of these individual cases but I'm glad that Allard and Tancredo are on this. The very fact that they both seem to feel something is very wrong is good enough for me at this point.

They are both supporters of our military so they carry a little more weight with me than the average politician does.