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Is it ok for the military to cover up what happens to rape victims?

*Mahogany Goddess of P.H.A.E.T 2012/04/10 01:28:46
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LaVena Johnson: Raped and Murdered on a Military Base in Iraq
Military authorities claimed she committed suicide in her tent in Iraq, but autopsies revealed she had been brutally attacked and raped.
March 3, 2009 |
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This is Private First Class LaVena Johnson of Missouri. An honors student who nonetheless didn't quite know what she wanted to do with her life, she enlisted in the Army right out of high school in 2003 and was sent to Iraq, where she died. When the Army returned her mutilated body to her grieving parents as a suicide, her dad, Dr. John Johnson, said to himself and the Army coroner, "Somebody murdered my daughter and you picked the wrong person to fuck with." Fucking right.

When LaVena's father finally brought himself to look at his daughter's corpse in 2005, sent home from Iraq with a report that she'd committed suicide by shooting herself in the left side of her head with an M-16 - which, by the way, is not a handgun but a relatively long rifle, he thought there was something wrong.

Private LaVena Johnson's nose was broken, teeth were loose, one eye was concave and there were abrasions over her body. The supposed M-16 hole to the head was far too small for the revolver-sized exit wound, and was on the wrong side of her skull for a right-handed woman to have pulled the trigger. Her genital area showed evidence of acid, perhaps used to destroy DNA evidence. She had white military gloves glued to her burned hands.

Since then, the Army has continued to insist that the LaVena committed suicide by pointing her rifle with her non-dominant hand at the side of her head and set herself on fire, all after she beat herself up and poured acid on her genitals (since their was no apparent investigation into whatever happened there). Oh, and there was a trail of blood leading away from the tent where her body was found.

Her father has been trying for nearly 3 years to get someone - including Congress - to investigate the death of his daughter, which he feels was a cover-up or conspiracy in the manner of Pat Tillman. Of course, he's trying to get people to pay attention to his African-American daughter's "suicide" and not the friendly-fire death of a white male NFL player, which is probably part of the problem. Lara Battles, spokesperson for the House Armed Services Committee, told KMOV, "At this time the House Armed Services Committee is looking into Private Johnson's case, but no decisions have been made for a formal investigation."


Lavena JohnsonLavena Johnson

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Top Opinion

  • Xerxes,Phantom of PHAET 2012/04/10 13:52:01
    No, explain
    Xerxes,Phantom of PHAET
    +10
    As a Vet, I can tell you rape is not the only crime that is covered up. Military does this strictly as PR, if people think they can come to harm on a military installation then no one will re-up or join.

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  • Jack 2012/05/06 20:59:49
    Yes, explain
    Jack
    I don't really think it's okay to cover it up. I just put that because the person who raised this subject was clearly not asking a serious question - as no one could answer yes to it - but was just trying to make publicity for a subject they felt strongly about. I would say, however, that it is utterly amoral and illogical to send women into a war zone, and any nation that does it is asking for trouble. Clearly putting political correctness before common sense - yet again!
  • Vision of Verve 2012/05/05 03:09:52
  • beach bum 2012/04/17 05:29:24
    No, explain
    beach bum
    mst is a big issue as of now....april is mst month
  • penguins in the night 2012/04/12 09:10:28
    No, explain
    penguins in the night
    +2
    By covering it up it is like they are saying it is okay for this to happen or like it is something that is to be expected. Never under any circumstances is rape okay and never under any circumstances should it be covered up.
  • Beautiful_Syn 2012/04/12 02:45:33
    No, explain
    Beautiful_Syn
    +1
    How could someone actually vote yes to this!

    These women signed up and risked their lives for our country (that includes the people who voted yes) we owe them justice for what was done to them at the hands of fellow US soldiers none the less!
  • ☥☽✪☾DAW ☽✪☾ 2012/04/12 02:43:23
  • U-Dog 2012/04/12 02:41:29
    No, explain
    U-Dog
    +1
    War turns people into monsters... and then they come home.

    May LaVena Johnson RIP and may her family find justice for these crimes against her.
  • *Mahoga... U-Dog 2012/04/12 02:42:21
    *Mahogany Goddess of P.H.A.E.T
    +1
    Amen U-Dog.
  • Reggie☮ 2012/04/12 01:44:15
    No, explain
    Reggie☮
    +3
    NO, it's never okay to cover up crimes
  • Alvin 2012/04/11 01:32:18
    No, explain
    Alvin
    +4
    The military just wants it gone and forgotten and the women who are raped are usually blamed and kicked out, while the rapists stay in and are protected. It is a very sick situation.
  • TerryAgee 2012/04/10 22:55:42
    No, explain
    TerryAgee
    +4
    Acts of violence against our female troops is high treason! In my world, the perp would be executed and, I would bannish the spouse, children and his parents to the moon!
  • ««Gingey, the Master Debate... 2012/04/10 20:45:19
    No, explain
    ««Gingey, the Master Debater of Þ|-|Дэ†»»
    +5
    I'm shivering out of anger right now.

    What should scare everyone in this country is that the government and military is allowed to have this much power.
  • *Mahoga... ««Ginge... 2012/04/10 20:49:25
    *Mahogany Goddess of P.H.A.E.T
    +4
    Yup; and it's even worse for foreign civilians who are taken advantage of.
  • Mindlesspartyhack 2012/04/10 18:14:30
    No, explain
    Mindlesspartyhack
    +3
    It is never OK!
  • HippiesKnowAll 2012/04/10 16:41:04
    No, explain
    HippiesKnowAll
    +3
    Definitely Not!!
  • C-ZAR™, Emperor of the PHÆT 2012/04/10 16:35:22
    No, explain
    C-ZAR™, Emperor of the PHÆT
    +4
    No, but they probably do it thinking that saying something will tarnish It's image, sort of like the Catholic church
  • JonDeniro 2012/04/10 15:56:36
    No, explain
    JonDeniro
    +3
    Of course not - for at least two reasons.

    1 - What is done can never be undone, nor made right, but we must seek whatever measure of justice can be attained for the victims. Equally as important is to prevent the criminals from being able to do so again in the future.

    2 - The military is supposedly built upon a foundation of honor and integrity. Incidents such as this bring discredit to the entire organization.

    "let justice be done, though the heavens fall."
  • elijahin24 2012/04/10 15:54:34
    No, explain
    elijahin24
    +2
    Absolutely not. Rape victims deserve justice.
  • Gooky 2012/04/10 14:32:54
    No, explain
    Gooky
    +3
    This is sick...God rest her soul and i pray for her family that justice will be done.
  • *Mahoga... Gooky 2012/04/10 14:35:26
  • Philo-Publius 2012/04/10 13:59:31
  • Xerxes,Phantom of PHAET 2012/04/10 13:52:01
    No, explain
    Xerxes,Phantom of PHAET
    +10
    As a Vet, I can tell you rape is not the only crime that is covered up. Military does this strictly as PR, if people think they can come to harm on a military installation then no one will re-up or join.
  • *Mahoga... Xerxes,... 2012/04/10 13:53:20
  • Kat 2012/04/10 13:04:13
    No, explain
    Kat
    +3
    The majority of our military is honorable, it demeans all of them when they cover up for the bad behavior of a small group or individual, it makes them all look bad and in the current unrest worldwide, could make them targets for extremists that aren't even involved in the current war (s).
  • ally 2012/04/10 12:59:56
    No, explain
    ally
    +5
    Rape is still rape, no matter where or when it happens.
  • Batman 2012/04/10 12:49:07
    Yes, explain
    Batman
    it's a warzone.
  • Kat Batman 2012/04/10 13:08:15 (edited)
    Kat
    +5
    That is no excuse. Raping and murdering a US soldier is inexcusible and when done by other soldiers it's despicable. He or they need to be in Leavenworth then executed for murder and treason after trial and found guilty, but since they've covered it up this long and destroyed evidence whoever medically claimed she did this to herself and signed off on it has all the guilt or needs to tell what they know..
  • Batman Kat 2012/04/10 13:11:29
    Batman
    so do so, but release the information after the war.
  • Kat Batman 2012/04/10 13:45:31
    Kat
    +4
    People always find out about this stuff, trying to sit on it until after the never ending war would make it look worse than coming clean. Be like WWII war trials. Evidence lost, people responsible out of the country or dead. Wouldn't work.
    Look at Gitmo, Abu Ghraib, etc. Somebody always lets it slip and it seems to usually be the persons responsible. These were minor compared to murdering one of your own then trying to cover it up, and doing such a juvenile job at that.
  • Batman Kat 2012/04/10 14:02:55
    Batman
    +3
    sounds like another good reason to end a war as quickly as possible.
  • Kat Batman 2012/04/10 14:08:02
    Kat
    +3
    Yes, the end is long overdue, but the government is already looking for a new front to fight on where it all starts again with soldiers more tired, more disgruntled and more angry at everything than they are now.. iraq
  • Batman Kat 2012/04/10 14:13:15
    Batman
    +2
    Personally, I think the invasion of Iran is mostly saber rattling.
  • Kat Batman 2012/04/10 14:15:25
    Kat
    +3
    I hope so, but I don't think he wants the military in country for the elections. A lot of their votes were not counted last time due to being lost or late and they don't like him.
  • Batman Kat 2012/04/10 14:25:11
    Batman
    +2
    Plus Iran is very mountainous and perfect for setting up ambushes against an invading army.

    another Vietnam situation. I think this is the reason we didn't attack Iran 6 years ago when they were stirring up trouble in Iraq.
  • Kat Batman 2012/04/10 21:23:49
    Kat
    +3
    Be like Afghanistan, same business hide and seek in the hills ,caves or cities / towns with friends or relatives friendly to them, where it's very dangerous to go in to get them. Or Vietnam, both orchestrated by non-military pencil pushers. Be a little better than Vietnam at least they probably wouldn't end up with incurable diseases. (jungle rot, some others caused by sub-tropical climate viruses, germs and bugs).

    Bad situation either way. Everybody in the area looks alike but them, definitely doesn't help rapid FOF identification. Demoralization will be at all time highs. Last thing we need is another front right now.
  • Batman Kat 2012/04/10 23:51:28
    Batman
    +3
    same thing eveyrone I know in the military is saying too. they do not want to fight Iran at this time.
  • *Mahoga... Kat 2012/04/10 13:17:31
    *Mahogany Goddess of P.H.A.E.T
    +3
    Exactly!
  • *Mahoga... Batman 2012/04/10 13:16:35
    *Mahogany Goddess of P.H.A.E.T
    +4
    What? They were on base and even if it was during battle, that changes nothing.
  • Batman *Mahoga... 2012/04/10 14:09:15
    Batman
    +1
    Latrice, in war you need to stay focused on defeating the enemy. If something like this gets blown out of hand, they would have to send all the female soldiers and civilians home. If females can't be in a warzone (whether it's their fault or not), then there's no reason to have them in the armed forces. This in turn causes a whole new mess which you don't want happening on top of being in active combat.

    so table it until the war is over. Otherwise, you divert resources away from the mission.

    Not saying don't bring them to justice, I'm just saying don't make it public...yet.
  • elijahin24 Batman 2012/04/10 15:55:42
    elijahin24
    +1
    All the more reason we should be able to trust each other.

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