http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/defense_bill_women
The gist of this artical is that an amendment has been inserted into a defense bill that would prevent women from serving in the front line services of any of the armed service branches.
Quote:
Rep. John McHugh (news, bio, voting record), R-N.Y., planned to offer an amendment to put into law a Defense Department policy from 1994 that prohibits female troops in all four armed services from serving in direct ground combat units below brigade level.
The amendment would define "direct ground combat" and allow the
Pentagon to further exclude women from units in other instances, while requiring defense officials to notify Congress when opening up positions to women.
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Apparently, women are second teir soldiers that some believe do not serve as effectivley, or more effectivley, than men.
To say this bothers me is an understatment. I see no issue whatsoever with allowing women to serve in every front line position. They are just as capable (and often more capable) than their male peers.
This smacks of a patriorical attitude of "Women are weak and cannot do these jobs"
Well bullshit to that. I've met female soldiers that beat every male in their unit in every endurance test without the test being curved for gender.
And we can't forget good ol' Rumsfeld.
Quote:
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Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Wednesday the Army is working with Congress and battlefield commanders "to find an appropriate way that's consistent with our country's view on that subject."
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Well isn't that interesting."...our country's view on that subject." I do wonder what he means by that. His view or mine? This amendment isn't even consistent with the current Military rules that began allowing women to serve frontline last year.
To me quite honestly, this seems like some in the military have become disturbed by the success of women on the front lines and don't want to see it repeated. Then they'd have to think of a day when a women may be part of the joint chiefs.
What are your thoughts on this issue?
Do you feel the amendment is justified or not?
Do you feel this protects women, or limits them?