[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15498]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            PUNISHMENT FOR MILITARY WHISTLEBLOWER WAS WRONG

  (Mr. PAULSEN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, I was shocked and outraged to learn 
recently that a decorated Green Beret was dismissed from the military 
for blowing the whistle on a child rapist who was a member of the 
Afghan forces.
  When our forces are abroad, our military should strive to uphold 
American values, and that is exactly what Sergeant First Class Charles 
Martland did when he confronted Afghan officials engaging in perverse 
actions. However, instead of being commended, Sergeant Martland was 
punished for his actions and was taken out of the region, despite being 
a soldier that was critical to the mission.
  As someone who has worked to protect children and keep them safe from 
sexual exploitation, it is disheartening to see the military look the 
other way when children are being assaulted by our allied forces. This 
has to change. Steps must be taken to ensure that our military uphold 
American values while overseas.
  Mr. Speaker, our military should not be looking the other way when 
our allies are engaging in wrongful acts.

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