"Rape is effective weapon of war, senators told"
So runs the AP headline.
It is a very sad state of affairs when I assume, on seeing that headline, that the article will detail yet another apologist argument in favor of US war crimes.
But no! in fact, these rapes are occurring in the Congo, are not being perpetrated by US armed forces or CIA, and are bad, not good! whew!
Melanne Verveer, the State Department's ambassador-at-large for global women's issues, said 1,100 rapes are reported every month in the Congo battle area, "which is 36 women and girls raped each day." Many are maimed by their attackers as well, she said.
"Rape is employed as a weapon because it is effective," Verveer said. "It destroys the fabric of society from within and does so more efficiently than do guns or bombs."
Hmm...maybe we should consider it after all. Cheaper than guns or bombs! and less fatal too, I assume.
Of course, I'm not serious--just trying to cope with my outrage via a little ironic hyperbole. After all, can you imagine the U.S. condoning such behavior as it's condoned in the Congo?
To make matters worse, she said, she quoted a report by the Human Rights Integrated Office in Congo that spoke of "a marked lack of seriousness" by law officers and magistrates toward raped females.
"Men accused of rape are often granted bail or given light sentences," Verveer said. "Few cases are reported to the police, and fewer still are in prosecution."
Verveer said that of the 14,000 rape cases registered in the Congo's provincial health centers in between 2005 and 2007, only 287 were taken to trial.
Only 287! Think of it!
Remind me, how many US personnel and contractors and officials have been brought to trial for torture and murder of detainees? not to mention for rape, which is after all also a useful tool in the ol' detainee wrangler toolkit!
This testimony was given before the Senate on the very same day that people are justifying torture before that very same body, because it's "effective". This testimony was given by the same administration that doesn't wish to "look backwards" by prosecuting the torture masterminds.