Army chief: Embrace women or ‘get out’
By Matt Smith, CNN
updated 4:28 PM EDT, Sun June 16, 2013
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Lt . Gen . David Morrison says sex scandal hurts Australia’s army
- Women are “vital” to the army, he says; if you don’t like it, “Get out”
- Morrison says he’ll be “ruthless” in rooting out offenders
(CNN) — Faced with a sex scandal in his ranks, the chief of Australia’s army delivered a blunt message to his troops: Treat your female comrades properly or “get out.”
Lt .
Gen . David Morrison announced last week that three soldiers had been suspended and he was weighing action against five others implicated in the distribution of videos he called ”demeaning, explicit and profane.” In a follow-up statement posted on the service’s YouTube page1, Morrison told soldiers that female troops “are vital to us maintaining our capability now and into the future.”
Lt . Gen .
David Morrison: “I will be ruthless in ridding the army of people who cannot live up to its values.”
“If that does not suit you, then get out,” he said. “You may find another employer where your attitude and behavior is acceptable, but I doubt it . The same goes for those who think that toughness is built on humiliating others.”
Australian women began serving in auxiliary units and as nurses in the early 20th century and were integrated into the armed services in noncombat units in the 1970s and ’80s . They were allowed to join combat units in 2011, and female troops “have proven themselves worthy of the best traditions of the Australian army,” Morrison said.
“No one has every explained to me how the exploitation or degradation of others enhances capability or honors the traditions of the Australian army,” he said in his message to the troops. “I will be ruthless in ridding the army of people who cannot live up to its values, and I need every one of you to support me in achieving this.”
Australian news outlets reported last week that at least 17 soldiers circulated video of themselves having sex with women .
The videos were shared without the women’s knowledge .
Some of the material was distributed over military computer networks, and those under investigation include a lieutenant colonel and a major, Morrison told reporters on Thursday.
The distribution dates back to 2010, and another 90 people “may have been on the periphery” of the group’s e-mail exchanges, he said .
Military investigators and the New South Wales state police are conducting the probe, and Morrison said he had apologized to some of the women involved.
Daughters and moms now consider rape before applying to military2
References
- ^ YouTube page (www.youtube.com)
- ^ Daughters and moms now consider rape before applying to military (www.cnn.com)
Eagle Forum Blog: Norway army to draft girls
Norway’s parliament voted overwhelmingly on Friday to conscript women into its armed forces, becoming the first European and first NATO country to make military service compulsory for both genders. “Rights and duties should be the same for all,” said Labor lawmaker Laila Gustavsen, a supporter of the bill. “The armed forces need access to the best resources, regardless of gender, and right now mostly men are recruited.” Norway has been at the forefront in the fight for gender equality, introducing measures such as requiring all public limited companies to fill at least 40 percent of their board seats with women .
On Wednesday the country celebrated a century since Norwegian women won the right to vote. Women make up half of the current government, and opposition leader Erna Solberg is expected to become Norway’s second female prime minister in elections later this year, according to opinion polls which indicate her Conservative Party and its allies will win a parliamentary majority. “This is historic .
For me it is fantastic to make history, for the armed forces and for women,” Gustavsen said.
Fantastic for women ? Yeah, Norway is some sort of feminist utopia . Let’s just hope that NATO keeps defending them, and they don’t have to fight any wars .
Besides, this isn’t the kind of military draft that you might be expecting:
The change is not expected to force women to serve against their will but should help improve the gender balance.
Not serve against their will? !
My guess is that even if they do serve, they won’t have to crawl in the mud or fire guns.
References
Army knew of internet sex ring three years ago
Video will begin in 5 seconds.
Army chief lays into force
Scathing video warning posted online as Army chief David Morrison leaves little doubt about his views on another ‘demeaning’ military sex scandal.
The Australian Defence Force hierarchy knew an exploitative internet sex ring was operating within its ranks almost three years ago but did not involve police until the middle of last year, it emerged on Saturday.
Fairfax Media asked Defence when the Australian Defence Force Investigative Service (ADFIS) began its investigation of the matter . An Army spokeswoman confirmed it first became aware of the unfolding scandal in September 2010.
NSW Police has stated that Kings Cross Local Area Command established Strike Force Civet in July last year – after being alerted in June.
Denial: Defence Minister Stephen Smith claims the military were not made to go public. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
The latest revelation exposes a period of 21 months during which ADFIS conducted an internal investigation before approaching NSW Police for help.
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On Saturday the Department of Defence said ADFIS conducted an investigation between late 2010 to mid 2011, and involved police three months after the launch of the investigation.
The statement revealed the investigation was first referred to Victoria Police, and the Australian Federal Police were also initially involved .
Two years after a cadet was publicly exposed broadcasting himself having sex with a female counterpart on Skype, the Australian Defence Force has once again been rocked by sex abuse allegations, this time involving at least 17 male officers – including a lieutenant-colonel, the sixth highest rank in the army.
Calling themselves the Jedi Council, the sex ring ”picked up” women in locations such as airport lounges and bars, then filmed them performing sexually explicit acts.
The ADF went public with the revelations on Thursday when the Chief of Army, Lieutenant-General David Morrison, announced three personnel had been stood down and 14 others were being investigated in relation to ”demeaning, explicit and profane” emails . He also confirmed a brief relating to the three sacked personnel had been forwarded to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
Defence Minister Stephen Smith has since denied the military was forced to go public because it was about to be exposed by other agencies involved.
An ADF spokeswoman said investigators had simply needed a period of time to ”do what they needed to do” without triggering potential ”adverse effects”.
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Army internet sex ring busted
Officers swapped derogatory and explicit images of sexual conquests
A group of Australian army officers in an internet sex scandal circulated videos and photos of naked women, challenging “Jedi Council” members to try to bed them too.
Emails sometimes included the victims’ names, addresses and phone numbers so other members had the chance to try to “have sex with them”, Australian newspapers reported.
Fairfax Media reported the ring included elite special forces soldiers and some civilians.
After the unsuspecting women were picked up in places such as airport lounges and bars, the men filmed them in sexual acts, sometimes without their knowledge.
The shared images were often embellished with the men’s derogatory comments about their conquests .
Demeaning commentary included details such as the size and shape of the woman’s breasts and a rating of the sexual experience.
On Thursday, Australia’s Chief of Army, Lieutenant-General David Morrison, announced three of the ringleaders had been stood down and a further 14 Defence Force personnel were under investigation in relation to a group of “demeaning, explicit and profane” emails that began in 2010.
Of the 17 who formed the core of the sex ring, the most senior was reported to be a lieutenant-colonel.
Often the material was sent using Defence Force email systems.
General Morrison won plaudits for a steely YouTube video in which he warned that soldiers who did not appreciate the role of women in the force should “get out” of the army.
“If you’re not up to it, find something else to do with your life .
There is no place for you among this band of brothers and sisters.”
The Defence Force investigated the allegations for nine months before asking the New South Wales police to take over in June last year.
General Morrison described the internet ring’s activities as worse than the Skype scandal in 2011, when a defence force cadet was caught broadcasting himself having sex with a female cadet over Skype without her knowledge or consent.
A police spokesman said Kings Cross Local Area Command established Strike Force Civet in July last year to investigate the alleged exchange of offensive emails by Defence Force personnel.
A brief had been sent to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, who was assessing it.
Australian Defence Association executive director Neil James said the actions of the men involved did not reflect the broader military.
“They were calling themselves the Jedi Council, but they were doing the exact opposite of what Jedis are supposed to do, thinking they were above normal ethical standards.”
References
- ^ Herald on Sunday (www.facebook.com)
Army knew of sex ring three years ago
Video will begin in 5 seconds.
Army chief lays into force
Scathing video warning posted online as Army chief David Morrison leaves little doubt about his views on another ‘demeaning’ military sex scandal.
The Australian Defence Force hierarchy knew an exploitative internet sex ring was operating within its ranks almost three years ago but did not involve police until the middle of last year, it emerged on Saturday.
Fairfax Media asked Defence when the Australian Defence Force Investigative Service (ADFIS) began its investigation of the matter . An Army spokeswoman confirmed it first became aware of the unfolding scandal in September 2010.
NSW Police has stated that Kings Cross Local Area Command established Strike Force Civet in July last year – after being alerted in June.
Denial: Defence Minister Stephen Smith claims the military were not made to go public. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
The latest revelation exposes a period of 21 months during which ADFIS conducted an internal investigation before approaching NSW Police for help.
Advertisement
Details of the ADFIS investigation, including its length, when it started, those responsible for conducting it and its findings, have not been made public . The Department of Defence did not respond to repeated requests for comment on Saturday.
Two years after a cadet was publicly exposed broadcasting himself having sex with a female counterpart on Skype, the Australian Defence Force has once again been rocked by sex abuse allegations, this time involving at least 17 male officers – including a lieutenant-colonel, the sixth highest rank in the army.
Calling themselves the Jedi Council, the sex ring ”picked up” women in locations such as airport lounges and bars, then filmed them performing sexually explicit acts.
The ADF went public with the revelations on Thursday when the Chief of Army, Lieutenant-General David Morrison, announced three personnel had been stood down and 14 others were being investigated in relation to ”demeaning, explicit and profane” emails .
He also confirmed a brief relating to the three sacked personnel had been forwarded to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
Defence Minister Stephen Smith has since denied the military was forced to go public because it was about to be exposed by other agencies involved.
An ADF spokeswoman said investigators had simply needed a period of time to ”do what they needed to do” without triggering potential ”adverse effects”.
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