"cases that have no evidence so aren't brought to court, the 'victim' admitting making up false claims, the police finding the person is talking shit in the first place etc".
I really really take issue with how much emphasis you put on cases not ending in conviction because the woman was lying.
The cases of women lying about being raped are about the same as any other crime, like murder or burglary, and that percentage is 1- 2% (This is an American statistic). But people, usually women, who accuse someone of raping them are disproportionally labeled as liars when compared to people who make claims about murder or burglary.
57% of respondents to a poll from a French newspaper believe that DSK was the victim of a trap-i.e. 57% of people in a poll believed, on no real evidence, that the woman was lying.
That is is not just believing that DSK could be innocent, it is DIRECTLY DISBELIEVING THE WORD OF SOMEONE WHO IS SAYING THEY HAVE BEEN ASSAULTED.
This is a major problem, as it sends a message to women which says that if they report a rape they will not necessarily be believed. This is why a huge number of rapes are not even reported to police in the first place.
So please don't trivialise rape as a problem and say that most rapes are justly punished and therefore nothing for 'feminists' (I put that in quotes because really anyone should care about people being raped!)to get 'all het up about'. Which is the impression I got from your post.
(Mr._F is not actually a man- this username is a lie!, Mon 23 May 2011, 9:07, 1 reply)

re: DSK - perhaps it will have this kind of happy ending
An ironically amusing sequence of events that happened in my industry:

1) Bloke works for the industry regulator as head of security.
2) Bloke resigns. Soon afterwards, said Bloke is the star of a BBC documentary claiming corruption is widespread and the regulator is turning a blind eye.
3) It is implied that he left due to frustration and a desire to blow the whistle.
4) Unfortunately for him, in the excitement of his crusade Bloke seems to have forgotten the real reason for his departure.
5) His former employer goes public and discloses that he was forced out for being the office lech.
www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/horseracing/3035957/Jockey-Club-break-their-silence-on-Buffham.html

It's a happy ending but also a sad one, because if he hadn't been so desperate for attention then his public reputation would have been unsullied. I've often wondered how many other Blokes are getting away with this kind of shit.
(slowly play it cool, Trig, Mon 23 May 2011, 10:52, closed)

Yeah it makes you wonder huh- especially with things like this journalist who has come out saying DSK tried to assault her years ago, but she didn't report it because her mother didn't want to damage his reputation or their family friendship or whatever. Because that is more important than defending your daughter's right to bodily autonomy, or something. It's sad thinking about the things which people who are powerful and well- connected can get away with.
(Mr._F is not actually a man- this username is a lie!, Mon 23 May 2011, 11:00, closed)