미군 내 성범죄 발생빈도가 하루 평균 71건에 달하는 것으로 조사됐다.

미 국방부는 최근 보고서에서 작년 한해에만 2만6천여건의 성폭행과 성추행 사건이 발생한 것으로 추산했다. 이는 전년 대비 37% 증가한 수치다.

비난 여론이 거세지자 버락 오바마 대통령은 16일(현지시간) 군 수뇌부를 백악관으로 소환했다.

오바마 대통령은 이날 주재한 회의에서 군내 성폭력 문제가 국가안보에 위험요소로 작용할 수 있다고 지적했다.

그는 이 문제는 “범죄이며, 수치스러울 뿐 아니라 우리 군대를 덜 효율적으로 만들어 왔다”고 말했다. 

회의 참석자들은 군내 성폭력이 한 팀으로 일하는 남녀 군인 서로의 신뢰를 무너뜨리는 행위라는 데에 의견을 같이 했다.

지난 15일 텍사스주 포트 후드 기지에 배속된 육군 중사는 성매매 알선과 성폭력 혐의 등으로 수사기관의 조사를 받고 있다. 이 중사는 성폭력 예방 프로그램 조정관으로 복무해 온 것으로 알려졌다.

또 이달 초엔 공군에서 성폭력 예방 프로그램을 담당했던 크루진스키 중령이 한 여성을 성추행한 혐의로 경찰에 체포된 바 있다. (코리아헤럴드)

<관련 영문기사>

Obama: Military 'ashamed' about sexual assault  

President Barack Obama said U.S. military leaders told him they are ``ashamed'' of their failure to end sexual abuse in the armed services. Obama pledged to take all efforts to halt the abuse, which he said undermines the trust the military needs to be effective.

``They care about this, and they are angry about it,'' Obama said at the White House after he summoned Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Martin Dempsey and other leaders to discuss the problem. A Pentagon report that says up to 26,000 military members may have been sexually assaulted last year.

Earlier Thursday, the Army's top officer acknowledged that his service is failing in its effort to stop the assaults.

``It is time we take on the fight against sexual assault and sexual harassment as our primary mission,'' Gen. Ray Odierno said.

In remarks to reporters after the meeting, Obama said he wants the military and others to explore every good idea to fix the problem. He said Hagel would consult with other militaries around the world.

Changing the culture of a male-dominated, change-resistant military that for years has tolerated sexism and sexist behavior is proving to be a challenging task _ especially with women entering more combat roles.

As new sexual assault allegations emerged this week involving an Army soldier who was assigned to prevent such crimes  -- the second military member facing similar accusations -- the Pentagon said Hagel is working on a written directive to spell out steps aimed at resolving the growing problem.

But Obama, fuming at a news conference last week, warned that he wanted swift and sure action, not ``just more speeches or awareness programs or training.'' Sexual offenders need to be ``prosecuted, stripped of their position, court-martialed, fired, dishonorably discharged. Period,'' he said.

A new case emerged Thursday evening: The manager of the sexual assault response program at Fort Campbell in Kentucky was arrested in a domestic dispute and relieved of his post, authorities said. Lt. Col. Darin Haas turned himself in to police on charges of violating an order of protection, and stalking. He was removed from his program position, said Master Sgt. Pete Mayes, a spokesman for the Army post.

Experts warn that stemming an increase in assaults will require concrete changes, both in law and in military culture.

The Pentagon had scheduled a briefing for journalists Thursday with Hagel and Dempsey, but after the White House meeting was announced, the Pentagon news conference was postponed until Friday.

(AP)