Military Prostitution and the Iraq Occupation

Military prostitution has long been seen around U.S. bases in the Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, and other countries. But since the U.S. has begun to deploy forces to many Muslim countries, it cannot be as open about enabling prostitution for its personnel. U.S. military deployments in the Gulf War, the Afghan War, and the Iraq War have reinvigorated prostitution and the trafficking of women in the Middle East.

Another major change has been the reliance of the U.S. military on private contractors, who have now surpassed the number of soldiers in Iraq.

During the brief Gulf War, the U.S. military prevented prostitution for its troops in Saudi Arabia

The U.S. invasion of March 2003 brought prostitution back to Iraq within a matter of weeks.

The rebirth of prostitution has generated fear that permeates all of Iraqi society.

The war has created an enormous number of homeless girls and boys who are most vulnerable to the sex trade.