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Green Beret Who Hit Child Rapist Should Be Reinstated, Lawmakers Say Green Beret Who Hit Afghan Child Rapist Should Be Reinstated, Lawmakers Say
(about 2 hours later)
Lawmakers are calling on the Pentagon to fully reinstate a decorated United States Army sergeant whose career status is under review after he hit an American-backed Afghan militia officer for raping a boy.Lawmakers are calling on the Pentagon to fully reinstate a decorated United States Army sergeant whose career status is under review after he hit an American-backed Afghan militia officer for raping a boy.
The Special Forces member, Sgt. First Class Charles Martland, helped to beat up the militia commander, Abdul Rahman, in 2011 after, they said, he abducted a boy and kept him chained to his bed as a sex slave. The Special Forces member, Sgt. First Class Charles Martland, helped to beat up the militia commander, Abdul Rahman, in 2011 after he abducted a boy and kept him chained to his bed as a sex slave.
Sergeant Martland, who was on his second deployment with the Green Berets in Afghanistan and who received a Bronze Star for his actions during a Taliban ambush, later wrote to the Army that he and a Special Forces captain, Dan Quinn, “felt that morally we could no longer stand by” and allow the Afghan Local Police “to commit atrocities.”Sergeant Martland, who was on his second deployment with the Green Berets in Afghanistan and who received a Bronze Star for his actions during a Taliban ambush, later wrote to the Army that he and a Special Forces captain, Dan Quinn, “felt that morally we could no longer stand by” and allow the Afghan Local Police “to commit atrocities.”
Captain Quinn had summoned Abdul Rahman after the boy’s mother took her son to the American base in Afghanistan’s northern Kunduz Province to complain about the abuse.Captain Quinn had summoned Abdul Rahman after the boy’s mother took her son to the American base in Afghanistan’s northern Kunduz Province to complain about the abuse.
The beating and its effect on the two men’s Army careers brought scrutiny to a policy of instructing American soldiers and Marines not to intervene in cases of child sexual abuse by their Afghan allies.The beating and its effect on the two men’s Army careers brought scrutiny to a policy of instructing American soldiers and Marines not to intervene in cases of child sexual abuse by their Afghan allies.
In an article in The New York Times last year, the spokesman for the American command in Afghanistan, Col. Brian Tribus, responded by email when asked about United States military policy, “Generally, allegations of child sexual abuse by Afghan military or police personnel would be a matter of domestic Afghan criminal law.” He added that “there would be no express requirement that U.S. military personnel in Afghanistan report it.” An exception, he said, is when rape is being used as a weapon of war. In an article in The New York Times last year, the spokesman for the American command in Afghanistan, Col. Brian Tribus, said of United States military policy, “Generally, allegations of child sexual abuse by Afghan military or police personnel would be a matter of domestic Afghan criminal law.” He added that “there would be no express requirement that U.S. military personnel in Afghanistan report it.” An exception, he said, is when rape is being used as a weapon of war.
But Captain Quinn was relieved of his command, and he withdrew from Afghanistan and later left the military.But Captain Quinn was relieved of his command, and he withdrew from Afghanistan and later left the military.
Sergeant Martland was included in an Army-wide review program that trims the number of its noncommissioned officers when their military records show performance or conduct that is “inconsistent” with standards. An initial decision to forcibly discharge Sergeant Martland by Nov. 1, 2015, was delayed.Sergeant Martland was included in an Army-wide review program that trims the number of its noncommissioned officers when their military records show performance or conduct that is “inconsistent” with standards. An initial decision to forcibly discharge Sergeant Martland by Nov. 1, 2015, was delayed.
On Thursday, Lt. Col. Jennifer R. Johnson, an Army spokeswoman, said in an email that the Army recently postponed until May 1 his discharge from active duty to allow time for him to appeal. She declined to give further details, citing privacy concerns.On Thursday, Lt. Col. Jennifer R. Johnson, an Army spokeswoman, said in an email that the Army recently postponed until May 1 his discharge from active duty to allow time for him to appeal. She declined to give further details, citing privacy concerns.
But lawmakers denounced the latest delay.But lawmakers denounced the latest delay.
Representative Vern Buchanan, a Florida Republican who in September introduced a resolution that said service members should not be punished for standing up to child rapists, said it was “unfathomable” that the Pentagon had yet to reinstate him.Representative Vern Buchanan, a Florida Republican who in September introduced a resolution that said service members should not be punished for standing up to child rapists, said it was “unfathomable” that the Pentagon had yet to reinstate him.
“The Defense Department has had several months and several opportunities to right this wrong,” he said in a statement on Wednesday. “I’m concerned that bureaucratic red tape is blocking common-sense action.”“The Defense Department has had several months and several opportunities to right this wrong,” he said in a statement on Wednesday. “I’m concerned that bureaucratic red tape is blocking common-sense action.”
Representative Duncan Hunter, a California Republican and Marine Corps veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan who hopes to save Sergeant Martland’s career, has written to the Pentagon’s inspector general about the case. On Thursday, he introduced a bill called the Martland Act, which would empower armed forces to confront sexual abuse and not have to “turn a blind eye toward criminal perversion.”Representative Duncan Hunter, a California Republican and Marine Corps veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan who hopes to save Sergeant Martland’s career, has written to the Pentagon’s inspector general about the case. On Thursday, he introduced a bill called the Martland Act, which would empower armed forces to confront sexual abuse and not have to “turn a blind eye toward criminal perversion.”
Joe Kasper, Mr. Hunter’s chief of staff, said on Thursday that Sergeant Martland’s case was getting “bounced around within the Army” and that his office was pushing for the sergeant to continue to serve without an expiration date.Joe Kasper, Mr. Hunter’s chief of staff, said on Thursday that Sergeant Martland’s case was getting “bounced around within the Army” and that his office was pushing for the sergeant to continue to serve without an expiration date.
He said while there were no illusions that the bill would change Afghan culture, Mr. Hunter intended for it to keep the spotlight on the case and provide a starting point to protect service members when they witness or receive reports about sexual abuse.He said while there were no illusions that the bill would change Afghan culture, Mr. Hunter intended for it to keep the spotlight on the case and provide a starting point to protect service members when they witness or receive reports about sexual abuse.
“We know where we can start,” he said.“We know where we can start,” he said.