The military’s job is to protect, right? So why is the military failing to protect the women (and men) who choose to enlist in the military from sexual assault and exploitation? I refer to all the recent headlines about the marines posting, “Sex assault increase at U.S. Navy, Army Academies,” (March 16), and of course the case of the sailor who was actually convicted of videotaping a female sailor while she was in the shower and sharing it with other sailors.

So why is this happening? There are many reasons, but, perhaps most telling; who did this country elect as president?

Someone who proudly bragged about grabbing women and assaulting them, bragged about being able to go into the women’s dressing room, while the women were in various stages of undress, during the Miss America Pageant because he owned it and he could. And a president, and unfortunately commander-in-chief of the military, who brags about assaulting women, and who wants to pardon the sailor who videotaped the female sailor. That is a great big, the best, seal of approval.

Nicolette Doukas

Groton