Scandal at sea

Amsterdam

A female Dutch sailor claimed last week that she and two other women were gang-raped by fellow sailors on the Dutch Royal Navy frigate Tjerk Hiddes. The 20-year-old sailor, who hasn’t been named, also said her shipmates routinely snorted coke and passed around pornography. On another ship, the Amsterdam, four crewmen took pictures of one another naked, mimicking poses from the notorious Abu Ghraib photos of Iraqi prisoners. Defense Minister Henk Kamp convened a special commission to investigate the allegations and determine whether the charges relate to isolated incidents, or are signs of a "cultural problem" within the military.