I don't know who "khristina" is, but its argument sounds more like self-serving justification by KBR than a reasoned opinion by any woman. I would expect that MANY more of these cases will crawl out from under the woodwork once Congress shows that it is serious about digging out the facts and dealing out some justice. Some people - like this current "administration" - just seem to believe that a war zone means a "no-rules" zone where anyone having "authority" can do what he wants without consequences. The whole war is an example of that thinking, as are all of GW's infamous "signing statements" and other lawless trash. Congress needs to take the admin apart from the bottom up - starting with chief Dick.

Khristina is generally on the right track.
Sure it would be nice if these guys would control themselves, but the fact remains these women should not be in this dangerous environment if they can't handle the risks....for the same reasons it's not a bright idea for an unarmed citizen to confront an armed bank robber. Fortunately, people are usually not that stupid.

...but they won't let gay men or lesbians serve in the military. WHAT A COUNTRY.

I have never seen such repugnant and stupid conclusions. As a rape survivor (won't call myself a victim)- to those of you playing the blame the victim line- grow up and get a clue- there is and never will be a justification for rape. Just because they're in a war zone as a CIVILIAN CONTRACTOR does not make defensible in any way, shape or form. Does anyone remember Sarajevo? Rape,in a war zone, is now a war crime punishable by death. Shall we blame the thousands of women in Darfur that are raped systematically that it's justified because they're in a war zone- you people that think this way disgust me.

Wow. I think a previous poster had it right. I guess us women should never go to sports events either. Or sports bars for that matter. I guess, just because we have hoo hoos (sorry - had to Disney that up) we deserve to get raped in any manly situation. I'm sorry but this attitude towards women needs to stop. In a round about way you placing all the blame on women and deflecting it from men. A person has a job to do whether they are male or female, and they have to do that job. I don't give a crap if it takes them to Iraq or the moon for that matter. The last thing on earth you should have to worry about is rape from your co-workers/people you know. The only advice I can give the ladies is learn self defense. Gouge the eyes, punch the throat, knee the groin. Since, obviously, no more rape cases should be accepted, then you have to protect yourself. It would be a nice change. Men charging women for bodily damage, humiliation, suffering, etc...

State Department appointees, Bush, Halliburton KBR--- they are birds of a feather. Of course they have arranged loopholes in the laws so that they beat their political/economic enemies over their heads with the "law", but themselves enjoy impunity.

It is very naive to expect this government and their contractees/good ole boys, to accord their behavior with the laws of civilization.

war is immoral so let's not act surprised when amoral individuals who make the CHOICE to go to a war for the money.
and let's not act surprised when some of them are criminals.
and it's not a ballgame.

Military service in a war zone does not make men rapists.

Working as civilian contractors in a war zone does not make men rapists.

Rape in war zones is carried out by men who were rapists in the first place.

Rapists are rapists, pure and simple.

Now, now, Eagle Man-
No need to insult- we all know the President does not need any help to look bad- give him some credit please, he can do that all by himself.

I dont understand these people talking about men in the military being unable to control themselves? The Military men are supposed to be the most disaplined in the world.
Even though these are not military personnel the simply fact of the matter is; We are all responsible for our own actions. Built up hormones or not.

Think about it this way; many serial killers use the defense that they just couldn't control themselves. It was an impulse (like sexual urges).

A woman should not expect to be raped just because she is around men in a secluded area ;just like a person doesnt expected to be murdered.
(sorry about my spelling and punctuation my keyboard is busted)

Ok, let's use this case to set a standard for these types of cases. Let's get Congress involved and USE these horrible crimes as an excuse to hold MAJOR hearings about how these contractors get immunity where they work. Lets use this to enrage the American people, to create such a deafening public out cry, that our leaders in Congress will fall all over themselves to support it. These people need to be subject to the rule of law, and this is how we get the political capital to bring them under that law.

Hey Eagle Man, how exactly does this make the president look bad? Your sentiments towards the alleged victim make it sound like you'd be more at home in Saudi Arabia. Or is that where you are from? By the way, that Duke thing was more about an over zealous prosecutor than anything else, but we've got no shortage of those.

Looks like you all missed the point -- which is that there is no recourse to criminal justice against civilian contractors in Iraq. These cases are similar to the one involving Blackwater shooting at Iraqi civilians in that square in Baghdad. At that time it came out that the civilian contractors are not subject to Iraqi criminal law, U.S. criminal law, or U.S. military justice.

This would seem to be the only situation (besides perhaps diplomats) where an American can commit a felony against an American with impunity from any criminal justice system.

That is the situation. It's not about rape, it's about unpunishable felonies. Consider whether that seems like a good idea.

If these These women are just trying to make the President look bad then why the cover up. What is it with you people, are you sick too. In a real world this case would go into the court system and maybe, just maybe justice will be served.

Garrigus- You're right, actually; but it is still about rape.
It is about legal and ethical vacuum in which these contractors exist, with unlimited power and no accountability. And the complicity of the US government in their crimes. Anyone trained in sexual assault intervention will tell you that rape is an act of power, domination, and entitlement. And usually,statistically speaking, there is no accountability.

It is hard to imagine an situation more suited to this specific kind of violence. A woman is raped in the U.S. every 3 minutes. But rape is also a specific weapon of war. If these men were raping American women who theoretically could eventually access help, god only knows what they did to Iraqi women. Men's violence against women is real. It's absolutely epidemic. Let's not ignore it. No matter in what context it occurs.

Hell, I thought Bush went to Iraq to put money in the hands of his contractor friends and raise the price of oil. I would have been against the war if I had know he was doing it just so his contractor friends could have a good time without fear of the law.

With a stroke of his pen President Bush could exempt the crime of rape against Americans from the immunity that contractors in Iraq enjoy.

Clear message: if you are loyal to President Bush, you can rape American girls he will protect you.

That is an ugly thing to say, but if you think it's not accurate tell me why President Bush will not allow these crimes to be prosecuted.

khristina: Very noble of you, but you might want to pay a little bit better attention to the article -- these women aren't in the military. They are civilian contractors working for a civilian company.

Unfortunately there is nothing "new" about any of these allegations...it's just a continuation of military behavior by a bunch of hyped-up mercenaries, most of whom are ex-military, where sexual assault reports are given little more investigation than a wink and a nod. The defense industry as well as the military may pretend to have taken serious steps to protect women, but I can tell you from my own personal experiences in the Army that the only person who suffers when sexual assaults are reported are the victims unless she is smart enough to outsmart the great military/industrial machine or finds a sympathetic and experienced care giver, which clearly these women have NOT. I do not regret having served my country, but I do wish the only blood, sweat and tears involved had been directly related to my duties.

Keep the Ladies at Home? It's a war zone and men can't help themselves - Wth is wrong with you people? Alright, if that is going to be some of the remarks made here - how about all women should carry guns and shoot men who "seem" to be a threat to them - aim for the balls ladies - get em where they live! You know what they say about women hysteria - if the men can use the excuse of war and hormones to rape - the women can get away with shooting a man's #### off because we were hysterical - its only fair! Oh, and the president makes himself look bad - he does not need any help!