Outrage and a defensive posture

Re “Rapists in the ranks,” Opinion, March 31

Rep. Jane Harman (D-Venice) reported that women are more likely to be raped by a soldier than killed by enemy fire in Iraq. That, of course, ignores the fact that women cannot serve in infantry units, but it makes a good sound bite.

Harman also notes that in more than a third of the cases investigated, the chain of command took no action because of “insufficient evidence.”

Our local police and district attorneys have even worse prosecution and conviction rates because of the same problem, and because about 20% of rape charges are false, based on studies.

Wayne L. Johnson

Alexandria, Va.

The writer is a retired Navy commander in the Judge Advocate General Corps.

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Where is the outrage? The treatment these young women were subjected to is horrendous -- raped by fellow soldiers and neglected by their superiors.

Doesn’t anybody care about these young women besides their families?

I don’t understand why women would go into the military knowing how badly many are treated. It’s time for Congress to wake up and take action.

Lisa Eriksen

Redondo Beach