Marines, Morality, And Misconduct: The Dark Secrets Of War

There have been several reports of sexual abuse in Afghanistan, including the sexual abuse of young boys by Afghan commanders. The practice of bacha bazi, which translates to boy play, has been widely reported and has been a very effective recruiting tool for the Taliban.

In 2019, a documentary was released showing US Marines getting high, playing with sex dolls, and defecating outside the homes of locals during a tour of Afghanistan. The film, Combat Obscura, was made by a combat cameraman who wanted to demystify what really happens in war zones.

In addition, there have been reports of US soldiers using Craigslist to meet and have sex with each other on bases across Afghanistan.

Sexual abuse of boys by Afghan security forces

The sexual abuse of boys by Afghan security forces, known as "bacha bazi" or "boy play", has been a widespread and longstanding problem in Afghanistan. This practice involves powerful Afghan men, including military commanders, keeping young boys as sex slaves, often obtained by paying their families. These boys are forced to dress in women's clothing and dance for entertainment, and are subjected to sexual abuse and exploitation. Despite being illegal in Afghanistan, bacha bazi has been secretly revived after being banned under the Taliban regime.

The issue of sexual abuse of boys by Afghan security forces has come under scrutiny due to reports of US soldiers being instructed to ignore such abuse by their Afghan allies, even on US military bases. This non-intervention policy has been implemented to maintain good relations with Afghan police and militia units in the fight against the Taliban. However, it has led to criticism and disciplinary action for some US soldiers who have disobeyed orders and attempted to intervene.

A declassified report by a US government watchdog revealed that two-thirds of those interviewed were aware of child sexual assaults by Washington-backed Afghan security forces. The report highlighted the lack of guidance, training, and reluctance to report suspected cases, making the full extent of the problem difficult to ascertain. The US Department of Defense has described the report as "speculative and not well substantiated".

The Leahy Law, a US legislation, bars US military units from providing support to foreign military units involved in serious human rights abuses. However, a technical provision, the "notwithstanding clause", has allowed the Pentagon to continue providing aid to select units despite their involvement in gross human rights violations, including child sexual abuse. This loophole has been criticised and there are calls for its removal.

The sexual abuse of boys by Afghan security forces has had a significant impact on the conscience of American soldiers, who have struggled with the moral dilemma of witnessing or hearing about such abuse. It has also alienated the villages and parents of the victims, and there are concerns that it has been a successful recruiting tool for the Taliban.

Marines getting high and playing with sex dolls

A new documentary film, *Combat Obscura*, offers a behind-the-scenes look at the life of Marines in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, between 2011 and 2012. The film was shot by former lance corporal Mike Lagoze, who used government cameras to capture the Marines' behaviour during their downtime. The footage, which the Marine Corps has not sanctioned for release, shows the Marines getting high, playing with sex dolls, and defecating outside the homes of locals.

Getting High

In one scene, a Marine smokes a joint and describes himself and his comrades as "squared away killers". Another Marine describes Afghanistan as a "hash farm". The film also shows the Marines smoking out of a makeshift bong made from a Pringles can.

Playing with Sex Dolls

The film includes a scene with a deflated sex doll, which the Marines had been playing with.

Defecating Outside Locals' Homes

The documentary also shows the Marines defecating outside the homes of locals and talking off-handedly about killing people.

Marine Corps Response

The Marine Corps has condemned the film and the behaviour of the men depicted in it, saying that it "does not live up to the high standards we expect of our Marines". The Corps says that it was never made aware of the criminal behaviour shown in the film and that the Marines depicted put themselves and their comrades in danger with their "selfish" behaviour. The Corps also tried to contact Lagoze about the footage but received no reply.

Lagoze, who did not reveal whether he sought permission from the men depicted, says he wants people to "stop looking at these boys as heroes".

US soldiers using Craigslist to have sex with each other

In 2013, it was revealed that US soldiers in Afghanistan were using Craigslist to meet and have sex with each other on bases across the war-torn country.

Military commanders had forbidden any service members who were not married to each other from having sex while deployed to the combat zone. As a result, each of the covert meetings was a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

The vast majority of the posts on Craigslist involved male soldiers seeking sex with other men — a practice that could have resulted in the discharge of both parties from the military under Don't Ask Don't Tell, which barred gays in the armed forces.

The soldiers used the 'casual encounters' section of the Iraq Craigslist page. Many posts included sexually explicit pictures.

One soldier, who posted a picture of his genitals hanging out of his military uniform, said he was located at Kandahar Air Field, a key US military base.

Another soldier, who posted a picture of himself in his underwear, said he was posted at Camp Eggers in Kabul.

Retired Colonel Dr Elspeth Cameron 'Cam' Ritchie, a former Army psychiatrist, told the Marine Corps Times that soldiers have long solicited sex while overseas — both from local prostitutes and from each other.

However, online sites like Craigslist make finding hookups faster and easier than ever before, she said.

Child sex abuse in Afghanistan

Child sexual abuse has been a long-standing issue in Afghanistan, with the practice of "bacha bazi", or "boy play", being particularly prevalent. This practice involves the sexual exploitation and abuse of adolescent boys by older men, often involving sexual slavery and child prostitution. Despite being outlawed during the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan period and under Taliban rule, bacha bazi has persisted due to a lack of enforcement and powerful perpetrators.

US soldiers and Marines in Afghanistan have been instructed to ignore cases of child sexual abuse carried out by their Afghan allies, including instances where Afghan commanders have abused boys on military bases. This policy has been justified as a means to maintain good relations with Afghan forces and to respect cultural differences. However, it has also led to criticism and controversy, with soldiers troubled by the arming and empowerment of pedophiles by the US military.

In addition to bacha bazi, there have been reports of widespread sexual abuse of children by government officials, teachers, and police officers in Afghanistan. A paedophile ring in Logar province, for example, was found to be responsible for the abuse of at least 546 boys from six schools, with some victims being murdered. Despite efforts by human rights activists to expose these crimes, impunity for child rape persists due to the power and influence of the perpetrators, who are often members of the military, police, or other official institutions.

The Afghan government has been criticized for its failure to adequately protect and assist victims of child sexual abuse, and for the lack of enforcement of laws criminalizing bacha bazi. This has resulted in victims being arrested and prosecuted instead of receiving justice and support. The US government, which provides financial support to the Afghan government and military forces, has also been criticized for its role in enabling impunity for child sexual abuse by failing to demand an end to these abuses.

Marines cursing at local children

While I was unable to find specific information about Marines cursing at local children in Afghanistan, I did find some general information about cursing in the military that may be relevant.

Cursing is technically prohibited in the military under Article 134 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which forbids "indecent language" or language that may offend a person's decency, modesty, or propriety. However, in practice, cursing is common among service members and can even be argued to have some benefits. For example, Emma Byrne, author of the book "Swearing is Good for Youpromote trust and teamwork and even increase pain tolerance. Additionally, some researchers have found that people who curse tend to be more honest and that swearing allows for more nuanced expression of emotions.

That being said, there are also potential drawbacks to cursing. Some people may view it as unprofessional or as a sign of a lack of education or self-control. Cursing can also be problematic when interacting with individuals who are easily influenced by language, such as children. In the case of the Marines, it is worth noting that Drill Instructors (DIs) are expected to maintain professionalism and refrain from cursing at recruits, although this may not always be the case in practice.

Overall, while cursing may have some benefits in certain contexts, it is important for service members to be mindful of the potential negative consequences and to use their judgment when deciding whether or not to use profane language.

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