[Vision2020] Troops angry over no-hookers plan

[Ron Force]

Nope, it's real. But the motivation is a little more "PC".


U.S. May Punish Troops Seeing Prostitutes
PAULINE JELINEK; Associated Press Writer

DATELINE: WASHINGTON

U.S. troops stationed overseas could face courts-martial for patronizing
prostitutes under a new regulation drafted by the Pentagon.

The move is part of a Defense Department effort to lessen the possibility
that troops will contribute to human trafficking in areas near their
overseas bases by seeking the services of women forced into prostitution.

In recent years, "women and girls are being forced into prostitution for a
clientele consisting largely of military services members, government
contractors and international peacekeepers" in places like South Korea and
the Balkans, Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., said Tuesday at a Capitol Hill
forum on Pentagon anti-trafficking efforts.

Defense officials have drafted an amendment to the manual on courts-martial
that would make it an offense for U.S. troops to use the services of
prostitutes, said Charles Abell, a Pentagon undersecretary for personnel and
readiness.

If approved, that would make it a military offense under the Uniform Code of
Military Justice to have contact with a prostitute, Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke,
an Abell spokeswoman said later. The draft rule is open to 60 days public
comment after being published in the Federal Register, she said.

Officials also are developing a training program for troops and contractors,
to be distributed in November. The program will explain trafficking,
department policy on it and possible legal action against violators, Abell
said in a written statement.

Additionally, the military is reviewing regulations and procedures for
placing off-limits those businesses where such activities take place and
working with Justice Department officials to tighten rules on contractor
misconduct.

Gen. Leon J. LaPorte, commander of the 37,000 U.S. troops in South Korea,
said another initiative started on the peninsula has been to "make on-base
military life a more desirable experience, and attempt to diminish the
seductive appeal of many of the less wholesome off-duty pursuits."

That effort includes offering expanded evening and weekend education
programs, band concerts, late-night sports leagues and expanded chaplains'
activities.

All new arrivals to duty in Korea are given prostitution and human
trafficking awareness and the military is working with Korean law
enforcement agencies, he said.

"In spite of all these efforts, we know that there are still some U.S.
service members, Department of Defense civilians and contractor personnel
who may continue to contact prostitutes and, thereby, be construed as
supporting human trafficking," LaPorte said.

NATO officials in July outlined new guidelines adopted to ensure alliance
peacekeepers do not encourage sex trafficking gangs by seeking the services
of women forced into prostitution.

The rules follows accusations from human rights groups that NATO
peacekeepers and civilian staff working for international organizations had
fueled the growth of sexual slavery in the Balkans.

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Ron Force        Moscow ID USA
rforce at moscow.com
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The article reads like something out of "The Onion".
Ron Force...can you debunk this one?

-Scott