U.S. Soldiers Reportedly Told to Ignore Child Rape, Pedophilia by Afghan Allies

Posted Tuesday, September 22, 2015 12:00 am

Dennis Maley

BRADENTON – A New York Times expose published Monday details a pervasive pattern of child sexual abuse committed, often openly, by Afghan commanders allied with the United States. American soldiers who witnessed or gained knowledge of the abuses said they were repeatedly told to look the other way on what they were told was a cultural difference unrelated to the mission.

According to the Times, Captain Dan Quinn and Sgt. First Class Charles Martland confronted an American-backed Afghan commander "for keeping a boy chained to his bed as a sex slave.“ Instead of commending Captain Quinn, the Army relieved him of his command, while Martland says the Army is pushing him to retire.

The abuses, which are said to be common within the Pashtun culture, were often committed by former warlords engaged by the U.S. in a policing capacity to help hold territories taken by the U.S. military.

Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-Longboat Key) condemned the policy. In a letter to General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Buchanan called it a "shameful“ policy that ignored "barbaric and savage behavior.“ The Congressman called on General Dempsey to immediately end the policy.