Washington Post Editorial: New sexual assault policies for the military may not go far enough

The Washington Post Editorial Board writes:

REFORMS SIGNED into law last week of how the military deals with sexual assault are eminently sensible and clearly overdue. Whether the changes go far enough in combating these pernicious crimes is another question. President Obama rightly appears skeptical: He delivered an ultimatum to military leaders to deliver results within a year or face even more change.
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Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), who is leading the effort for change, failed to get that measure included as part of the National Defense Authorization Act but is pressing for a stand-alone vote that could come as early as next month, when the Senate reconvenes. There are 53 senators, including Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and some Republicans, publicly supporting the bill, but they face an uphill battle to secure the needed 60 votes as well as a majority in the House.

Ms. Gillibrand is right to feel urgency about a problem that has persisted for decades despite high-level promises of zero tolerance. “I do not want to wait another year to enact the one reform survivors have asked for,” she said in a statement reacting to Mr. Obama’s comments. Tough action, not just tough talk, is what’s needed.

Read the full editorial.