The U.S. Military’s ‘Rape Epidemic’

The Week reports:

This week, 17 veterans and active-duty service members filed a landmark lawsuit accusing the Pentagon of looking the other way despite frequent reports of rape and other abuse against women in the armed forces. The suit singles out Defense Secretary Robert Gates and his predecessor, Donald Rumsfeld, accusing them of running an institution in which violence against women is tolerated. A Pentagon spokesman said “sexual assault is a wider societal problem” and the military is trying to prevent it, just as civilian leaders are. What might the lawsuit accomplish?

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