"I am concerned about recent reports regarding allegations of sexual assaults on service members deployed in Iraq and Kuwait," said Rumsfeld

WASHINGTON, February 7 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld ordered investigations into reported sexual assaults in the ranks of his troops in Iraq and Kuwait.

"Sexual assault will not be tolerated in the Department of Defense," Rumsfeld said in a memo released by the Pentagon on Friday, February 6.

He cited concerns that some female soldiers have reported sexual misconduct but have been left in their units to serve with those accused of assaulting them, CNN reported.

"I am concerned about recent reports regarding allegations of sexual assaults on service members deployed in Iraq and Kuwait," Rumsfeld said in the memo.

The Pentagon is expected to appoint an ombudsman to oversee the investigation, CNN added.

The defense secretary said that in the Central Command region -- which includes Iraq, Kuwait, the Horn of Africa, and Central Asia including Afghanistan -- military officials had received reports in the past year of 88 cases of "sexual misconduct."

Pentagon officials said all of the cases have been investigated, asserting that while some have proven without foundation, others have led to disciplinary action.

They said that of the 80 army reports, investigations into 43 have been concluded, and 33 of those have been determined to require further action.

The Pentagon did not give details of the individual cases, but said sexual assault may include rape, attempted rape, indecent assault and sodomy.

In Iraq, many civilians have charged that the U.S. occupation forces helped undermine morality in the country by spreading vicious acts, including sex trade and drug dealing since they rolled into Baghdad on April 9.

On May 30, a British soldier was questioned over sickening "torture" photos of Iraqi prisoners, including an Iraqi PoW dangling from a fork-lift truck, and others depict soldiers committing sex acts near captured Iraqis.

 ‘Special Issues’

Rumsfeld's memo was addressed to David Chiu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness.

"I am directing that you review how the department handles treatment and care for victims of sexual assault, with particular attention to any special issues that may arise from the circumstances of a combat theater," the memo said.

In asking for findings and recommendations within 90 days, Rumsfeld said the review should address the reporting of sexual assaults and the availability of private channels to report such issues within combat theaters.

Some female service members who have reported sexual assaults in Iraq and Kuwait have gone public with complaints the U.S. military often failed to launch criminal investigations into their cases and did not provide them proper medical attention or counseling after an assault.

Their complaints included charges that male superiors retaliated against them after they accused a male comrade of sexual assault.

Dozens of lawmakers have asked for congressional hearings into how the Pentagon has dealt with sexual assaults.

"Sexual assault and rape should not be tolerated in any case -- the U.S. military is no exception," said West Virginia Republican Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, co-chair of the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues.