USA Today: Doubts cloud handling of military sex assaults: Your Say
USA Today reports:
Capitalizing on positions of power to extort sexual favors is an abuse that must be dealt with outside the military chain of command. All branches, Army, Navy and Air Force, have been implicated with such scandals.
The U.S. military is much like the Roman Catholic Church and other denominations that attempt to protect the institution at the expense of the individual. The judgment in Army Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair’s case, a $20,000 fine and no jail time, is nowhere near a penalty commensurate with the alleged crime.
Sinclair is a criminal. He pleaded guilty to adultery, a crime in the military. He violated his military oath, diminished the integrity of his command and shamed the Army. Violating trust must involve more severe penalties. He should be mustered out with a dishonorable discharge and no pension.
