Overseas atrocities must end

To the editor:

I am writing to thank Frank Phillips for his editorial in the 11-12-15 issue of The Brazil Times. His editorial about the prosecution of Sgt. 1st Class Charles Martland for trying to defend a young Afghan boy who had been raped (and the child's mother beaten) by a U.S. supported and trained Afghan commander motivated me to write my senators and congressman. I urged them to do anything they can to end US support of child rapers in Afghanistan. Additional incidents have recently been brought to public attention.

These are not, however, recent or isolated incidents. Vice News has a heart-wrenching documentary about this issue. (See news.vice.com "This is What Winning Looks Like?") The practice of powerful Afghan men raping boys is so common that it has a name and is reported specifically on the UN's list of sex crime. With US support, it is now comon throughout Afghanistan as it is not limited to the Afghan military. It is also prevalent in the police system we have trained and implemented.

In addition, expecting our finest young people in the military (such as Sgt. Martland) to know of this horror and then be forcibly restrained from assisting the helpless victims is a vicious, traumatic crime against our own enlisted men and women. While there are other serious issues involved, could any of their post-traumatic stress or alarming suicide rate be related to being in this position?

I ask all Amercians to educate yourself regardin these horrific atrocities and to write to your senators and representatives. Our tax dollars are supporting this terrible situation.

Sincerely,

Roberta M. Wiggins