Readers’ thoughts on UK troops abroad paying for sex

Welcome to openDemocracy’s weekly reader comments round-up. We receive so many carefully considered messages about our work that it seems a shame to keep them to ourselves.

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Re: UK troops stationed abroad pay for sex ‘day in, day out’ without sanctions

These military types are always protected by the big-shot entities in their governments and willing lawyers. –Kevin Leyes

Literally not even surprised or shocked any more by the abject failure of the UK state apparatus. –@m.p.landscapes

Absolute power corrupts absolutely –@Feesable

I was saddened to read the article in openDemocracy about the sexual misconduct of British soldiers in Kenya. I lived in Kenya and worked there as a science teacher in girls' schools for about 16 years, starting in 1966. During that time, I met and married a British mechanical engineer who was running a hydroelectric power station. He took early retirement from the power company and started a mechanical engineering workshop that still exists today: my son is now its managing director and the British Army recently brought some equipment to it for repairs. When I was living in Kenya, I knew of African, British and South Asian girls being paid for prostitution. –Ruth Bradshaw

Makes me ashamed to be British. Hope the government puts pressure on law for retrials. This abuse has got to stop! –Louisa Maskell

A fascinating, disturbing, and really important article – thanks for sharing and for doing the work. –Simon Kilpin

I was surprised to read this, even though an Indian friend had told me of sexual atrocities during the occupation by the massive army of the East India Company. Because I have no experience of any army but have known a few soldiers, I suppose I took it for granted our British soldiers would behave like this.

This is something other armies have dealt with sensibly by hiring sex workers or allowing soldiers to visit local brothels, however, the British Army has forever been shackled by pseudo-Victorian type moralities despite recognising the soldier's need for sex. It has forever been the policy of the politicians and military command to turn a blind eye allowing soldiers to forage for sex among local women. Releasing a bunch of young men to carouse together is a recipe that invites disaster.

It is long past time Britain shook off its preoccupations and prejudices related to those pseudo-Victorian moralities. I am sure most people would be happier knowing prostitution could be a regular job that gave invoices and paid taxes, that there was far less crime associated with it and the women saw a doctor regularly. It should be regularised in society as well as in our armed forces in the UK and abroad. Regularising the situation would mean any sexual atrocities wouldn't have a blind eye turned and there could be proper investigations and proper punishments and perhaps the return of regulated brothels for the British army abroad. –Vernon Taylor

Read the original story here.

Weekly poll: Should social media platforms be nationalised?

I don’t see nationalisation as a solution, though regulation in a more satisfactory form is definitely needed. But given social media operates on a global scale, would this need an international agreement? I can’t see that happening. –Sandy Taylor

How can they be nationalised? They are (almost) all foreign-owned. Far better to classify them as drugs (as they are addictive and dangerous) and regulate them that way. –Alan West

I was surprised to see how few people there were, like myself, with any thoughts on this subject. Nobody seems to realise that both parties would hijack the platforms for their own agendas.

Many alternative media organisations have found themselves de-platformed, and funding seized or blocked because their journalism didn't agree with the mainstream narrative, which is becoming less and less democratic and free. So I'm in favour of nationalisation, with a robust system ensuring lack of interference by any vested interests. I'm old enough to remember when this was a thing! –John Burr

It could be good for them to be nationalised if we had a true democracy and were not governed by leadership of either of the existing parties. They would likely just impose the establishment narrative and a less free internet and social media. –K M

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Read the original story this poll was based on here.