I understand that Russia, which also once had women on the front lines, has also rescinded that policy. We should learn from other nations’ experience.
Hmm, I don't think so. I was just reading this article...
Moscow, 22 June 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Kseniya Agarkova is not just a pretty Russian brunette. She can shoot rifles, assemble machine guns in a flash, and floor the fiercest attackers. Lieutenant Agarkova was also crowned Miss Russian Army 2005 yesterday in Moscow, outmatching 18 other long-legged beauties serving in Russia’s armed forces. “Beauties in Shoulder-Straps” is the second beauty pageant staged by the Russian Army as an attempt to boost its waning prestige and encourage young men and women to join its ranks.
I’ve got some real concerns due to the recent deployment to Afghanistan of 6 female soldiers from our local National Guard unit.
I don’t have any issues with them being deployed to Afghanistan but I do have issues with the fact that they’re being pulled from behind desks at a transportation unit and will “accompany” combat troops on patrols to act as liaisons to Afghan women in remote villages.
When these troops go out on patrol, they may not intend to enter combat but combat often comes to them. Add in a half dozen women who write newsletters and file paperwork and you’re asking for trouble.
The local newspaper quoted one of them as looking forward to seeing the beauty of Afghanistan, helping the Afghan women, and writing about her experiences. This 20 year old women spoke like she was going on vacation.
Yes, well, when enemy armies have conquered 1/3 of our territory, killed 20 millions of our people, and are machine-gunning children and women into death pits every day, we can consider putting women into combat, as Russia did.