Here are a couple of more examples of soldiers gone awry.
UN peacekeepers in Congo face sex-crimes probe
Last Updated Tue, 23 Nov 2004 11:01:06 EST
UNITED NATIONS - The United Nations is investigating 150 allegations of sexual abuse by its soldiers and staff in Congo.
The accusations include rape, pedophilia and soliciting prostitutes in Congo, formerly known as Zaire.
"It's important that those missions be above reproach," said Jane Lute, assistant secretary general for peacekeeping operations.
The probe, which began after the allegations surfaced last year, has uncovered video footage and photographs to support some of the complaints, Lute said on Monday.
She said investigators are now checking to see if similar problems exist in the 15 other UN peacekeeping missions worldwide.
It's not the first time the peacekeepers have been accused of sexual exploitation. Two years ago, a UN probe rejected similar allegations by refugees in West Africa.
The United Nations can do little to punish peacekeepers who commit crimes, because any prosecutions are up to the countries that sent them on the mission.
The UN mission to Congo, which began in 1999, has about 10,500 soldiers and 1,000 civilian staff from 50 countries.
Written by CBC News Online staff
http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/nation...un-041123.html
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Israeli officer charged over slain Gaza girl
Last Updated Mon, 22 Nov 2004 14:52:58 EST
JERUSALEM - Israel has charged an army captain who was accused of riddling a Palestinian girl's body with bullets after she was already dead.
A military spokesperson said the officer was charged Tuesday with two counts of illegally using his weapon, and one count each of obstruction of justice, conduct unbecoming an officer and improper use of authority.
The officer, who has not been identified, has been suspended.
Israeli troops shot the 13-year-old girl, Iyman Hams, on Oct. 5 as she walked toward a military observation post close to the Rafah refugee camp in the Gaza Strip.
The soldiers said they thought she was planting a bomb, but her family maintained she was on her way to school.
Soldiers later said their commander then walked over to the girl and shot her repeatedly as she lay on the ground.
It's not known if the girl was already dead. Palestinian hospital officials say she was shot at least 15 times.
It isn't clear how much jail time the captain could face if convicted.
The case reignited claims by human-rights groups and Palestinians that Israeli troops are unnecessarily violent in the West Bank and Gaza.
Written by CBC News Online staff
http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/nation...hot041122.html
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I have an idea of what people will say. What I would like discussed is why is this a problem that keeps rearing it's ugly head. Obviously this isn't quarantined to any one countries soldiers and not to the soldiers in the majority who find these acts despicable.
So what is it? A few rogue soldiers who are stressed and snap? A criminal characteristic that exists but is exposed in stressed military situations.( In the UN case,if not soldiers, would these men be more predisposed to rape?) Perhaps it is the training they receive? If so does that training quantify something different in different people?
I'm sure that being in an environment dealing with death on a daily basis desensitisizes those involved, but I'm not willing to only except that these actions are as a result strictly of their environment. I think through military training, aggressive behaviours are taught and that for some it is the right button to be pushed that allows criminal behaviour to exist. What does anyone else think the problem is or where it originates?