This is so horrible. I saw (but couldn't watch) a documentary about this on Netflix - turns out it's a Frontline documentary.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dancing_Boys_of_Afghanistan

disgusting. And our government just turns a blind eye. Why am I not surprised? It's so corrupt. I had heard once a story about young boys in a orphanage foster care group home that were used sexually from some high official people who worked in the white house and for our federal government. Anytime there is someone who comes forward about it they are suddenly killed or wind up drugged up that nobody believes them.

Despicable abuse of power! Totally messed up priorities. What are people fighting for if they place no value on human life?

I wonder if those who think it's okay to sacrifice innocent children for some higher military cause would be willing to sacrifice themselves instead. I think their priorities would be very different if they were the targets of such cruelty.

I have heard of this before, but allowing it to happen on base?
That's utterly disgusting.

Yesterday I was really upset by this, it triggered all kinds of negative feelings about my past. But today I'm just really angry.

Issuing orders that raping children is OK at a US military facility? Seems like the Uniform Code of Military Justice covers this...orders that conflict with basic standards of human conduct are not to be followed.

First the churches condone child rape, now the military is into it. Well, as far as I'm concerned they can all go stuff it. So long as orders like that are in place, I don't support the military anymore. That's a bright red line for me...I will not cross it.

Child abuse is not acceptable anywhere, anytime, by anybody.

Thank you RichieD for the information. Extremely disturbing, but not too surprising knowing the "culture" (yeah right) of that particular geography. What surprises me is that our nation has such "totally screwed up priorities" as whistleblower so astutely writes. The same way the military looks the other way when this horrific abuse happens, they should look the other way when our heroes punish the abusers. Anyone who confronts these monsters are true heroes. Why are these people that are creating and watching this film seemingly doing nothing if they may be in a position to do so? Is it just an intellectual foray for them, and then on to the next crisis? Don't get me started on Syria.

So so sad.
My high school English teacher sticks in my head when I see another example of "Man's inhumanity to man". I can just hear the Afghans twisting the kids mind with the fact that it's ok because the Americans don't stop it and/or they are doing the same thing in secret.

Can you imagine a society where pedophilia is an open secret and the victims are status symbols. No shame. How do you change it?

http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/sociopolitica/sociopol_middleeast17.htm

I had a hairdresser from the Middle East who condemned Islam because she said Mohammad practiced pedophilia and it was widely practiced today. I took her word for it but was curious and found this article which claims to quote the Koran(sp?).

Of course we know lots of people whose religion doesn't approve of sexual abuse of children, yet the followers commit it so I am not suggesting religion is to solely blame.

In defense of Afghan culture, I think it's only fair to state that these people in Afghanistan who openly practice pedophilia are warlords. The practice of using kidnapped boys for sex is completely illegal in that country.

We westerners forget that the country was once a peaceful area under the control of a monarchy. Since then the country has become a battleground for outside interests to wage proxy wars and this has destablized everything for generations. Osama bin Laden was originally financed and supported by the US government, as was Saddam Hussein.

The havoc that exists today is not something you can blame their culture for. The entire Middle East has been pummeled by opposing forces for a very long time...the Ottoman Empire, the Nazis, the Soviets, the Allies after each world war. Even the national boundaries of countries like Afghanistan were laid out arbitrarily on maps by Englishmen who were oblivious to the ethnic and linguistic groupings present for centuries in that region.

Whatever those countries are today is due in large part to inept interference by outsiders to their culture. And there is no place in the world that seems immune to child abuse. I live in a very conservative area with countless churches everywhere and pedophiles are unearthed regularly here...including people who produced and distributed child porn worldwide. Several of them were in charge of youth programs in the community.

Blaming a particular religion or culture doesn't protect children. The only thing that does any good is uniting in defense of children and condemning their exploitation wherever it is found.

But I do agree that nothing excuses child abuse. I don't care if a person is a bishop or an imam or a great leader. If they abuse children or protect those who do, they're just gutter trash. And they should be prevented from having any contact with children.

We have to protect the children. If child abuse becomes an integral part of any cultural institution, I'm in favor of dismantling it or at least opposing it any way we can.

Richie,
If the Bible stated that Jesus was a pedophile do you think there would be more Christian pedophiles, or the same number and they would believe they don't sin and they are no worse than their Savior? Would there be any laws against the sexual abuse of children?

http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2012/09/20/the-truth-about-muhammad-and-aisha/

I think people everywhere manage to make of their religion what they want it to be. I think it is true that Mohammed's marriage to Aisha made it easier for pedophiles to justify what they are doing. But Christians used to use the Bible to justify slavery too.

This was a very interesting article, Donna, thanks for posting the link.

I have no interest in defending the Judeo-Christian religions. There are things to criticize about all religions, my own included. Some pagan cults have done reprehensible things, that's historical fact.

My personal belief is that the three "great" religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have an unmatched history of violence and atrocity. Sexual abuse of children has taken place among the clerics of all three of these religions in modern times. Which one has the worst record is debatable, but I'm not interested in that debate.

The main point I would want to make is that clerics and religious leaders who sexually abuse children are not worthy of our respect. And I would include all the enablers and protectors of pedophilic rabbis, priests, and imams.

If religious people abuse children or disrespect women, I consider them to be my enemies...and as for those who "follow" or respect religious leaders who do these despicable things...I think they're gullible fools.

Unfortunately the world is full of gullible fools, and always has been.

DW,
That's an interesting article. There is no information about her giving birth and that might have shed some light on her age.

To me it isn't as complicated as cultural and/or religious beliefs. People who are in opposition for *whatever* reason should be smart enough to value children, or they'll end up killing us all off. Children are the future of mankind.