At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing investigating the troubling regularity in which sexual assault occurs within the U.S. armed forces Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., suggested that he could not recommend that a woman join the military given the current crisis, according to the Washington Post.
There are few families in the U.S. who have a closer connection to the military than the McCain family, which made McCain's words at the hearing bear even more weight.
"Just last night, a woman came to me and said her daughter wanted to join the military and could I give her my unqualified support for her doing so," McCain said. "I could not. I cannot overstate my disgust and disappointment over continued reports of sexual misconduct in our military. We've been talking about this issue for years and talk is insufficient."
Since a report came out stating that an estimated 26,000 cases of sexual assault occurred within the armed forces last year legislator have been searching for an answer to the crisis. The crisis is one of the rare occasions where lawmakers on both sides of the aisle seem to be working in lockstep to get something done. Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, has called the issue a "national disgrace."
"The present program within the military is not working," Senate Majority leader Harry Reid told the Washington Post. "Women are being exploited and I'm sorry to report that even men are being exploited sexually, and that's wrong."
Today's hearing marked the first time in modern history that the Joint Chiefs of Staff testifying on the same topic before Congress at the same time, according to the Washington Post.
While acknowledging that they had made mistakes by allowing sexual misconduct to run rampant the military leaders were adamant that they would not support any bill that would allow for uniformed prosecutors to try criminal cases instead of the current system where military commanders are in charge, according to NBC News.
"Without equivocation, I believe maintaining the central role of the commander in our military justice system is absolutely critical," Gen. Ray Odierno, the Army's Chief of Staff, said. "Removing commanders, making commanders less responsible, less accountable, will not work. It will hamper the delivery of justice to the people we most want to help."
Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., is the lead sponsor of the bill that would remove commanders from power in the case of serious crimes. Gillibrand is one of seven women on the committee and was outspoken during the hearing.
"You have lost the trust of the men and women who rely on you that you will actually bring justice in these cases," Gillibrand said. "Not every single commander necessarily wants women in the force. Not every single commander can distinguish between a slap on the ass and a rape because they merge all of these crimes together."
After Gen. Odierno told the panel that the military can't "simply prosecute our way out of this problem" Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., responded forcefully.
"With all due respect, General Odierno, we can prosecute our way out of...the problem of sexual predators, who are not committing crimes of lust," McCaskill said. "My years of experience in this area tell me they are committing crimes of domination and violence. This isn't about sex. This is about assaultive domination and violence."
Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., expressed the opinion that sexual assault cases will occur as long as women are a part of the U.S. fighting forces.
"If we're going to have women in combat, I think the potential for the issue to increase is going to become even greater," Chambliss said. "Gee whiz, the hormone level created by nature sets in place the possibility for these types of things to occur."
In a period of time when it seems as if it takes years for even the most basic legislation to pass Congress a quick solution should be expected on this issue due to the unilateral desire for a solution, especially with Sen. McCain working so adamantly toward reform.
