US rejection of request for Marines charged with rape sparks protests

[ECH1969]

The United States on Tuesday refused a Philippine request to hand over four Marines charged with rape, provoking anti-American protests in the capital and the Muslim south, where U.S. troops began annual counterterrorism training of Filipino soldiers.

In a letter to the Philippine government, the U.S. Embassy invoked the bilateral Visiting Forces Agreement, which allows large-scale U.S. training in the country, and vowed to keep the Marines in its custody during an upcoming trial.

A Philippine judge last week issued arrest warrants for the Marines, who were charged with rape late last year while on liberty following counterterrorism maneuvers with Filipino troops.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/01/18/military/17_57_201_17_06.txt

[Triana]

1. why shouldn't they be able to go there and rape their women?...

...they do it here all the time. And it's legal. (rather, can hardly be prosecuted - laws are impossible to enforce and only on the books for looks). It's a man's world....all of it. Every alpha-male, testosterone-drenched, knuckle-dragging, chest-beating millimeter of it.

Before anyone flames me, the above is part :sarcasm: part :mad: - words placed in base relief to get the point across. What I say above is extremely pointed. HOWEVER, there IS way too much truth to it for my personal comfort, and this nationwide and worldwide problem results in just the type of situation the article is about. Why do we as a nation, protect rapists? We do it here. We do it in the Phillipines. Isn't that grand? I don't think so.