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The Reality That Awaits Women in Combat
The Wall Street Journal ^ | January 23, 2013 | RYAN SMITH

Posted on 01/23/2013 5:09:15 PM PST by MinorityRepublican

America has been creeping closer and closer to allowing women in combat, so Wednesday's news that the decision has now been made is not a surprise. It appears that female soldiers will be allowed on the battlefield but not in the infantry. Yet it is a distinction without much difference: Infantry units serve side-by-side in combat with artillery, engineers, drivers, medics and others who will likely now include women. The Pentagon would do well to consider realities of life in combat as it pushes to mix men and women on the battlefield.

Many articles have been written regarding the relative strength of women and the possible effects on morale of introducing women into all-male units. Less attention has been paid to another aspect: the absolutely dreadful conditions under which grunts live during war.

Most people seem to believe that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have merely involved driving out of a forward operating base, patrolling the streets, maybe getting in a quick firefight, and then returning to the forward operating base and its separate shower facilities and chow hall. The reality of modern infantry combat, at least the portion I saw, bore little resemblance to this sanitized view.

I served in the 2003 invasion of Iraq as a Marine infantry squad leader. We rode into war crammed in the back of amphibious assault vehicles. They are designed to hold roughly 15 Marines snugly; due to maintenance issues, by the end of the invasion we had as many as 25 men stuffed into the back. Marines were forced to sit, in full gear, on each other's laps and in contorted positions for hours on end. That was the least of our problems.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bhodod; militaryreadiness; women; womenincombat
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To: Michael Barnes

only the butch lesbians.


41 posted on 01/23/2013 7:06:00 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (I can neither confirm or deny that; even if I could, I couldn't - it's classified.)
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To: THX 1138

That was quite an article, I hope others read it.


42 posted on 01/23/2013 7:08:17 PM PST by ansel12 (Cruz said "conservatives trust Sarah Palin that if she says this guy is a conservative, that he is")
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To: MinorityRepublican

Conscription/compulsion is around the corner.


43 posted on 01/23/2013 7:10:04 PM PST by Theophilus (Not merely prolife, but prolific)
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To: MinorityRepublican

More cannon fodder for our Saudi Defense Forces.

Makes me sick.


44 posted on 01/23/2013 7:11:17 PM PST by gotribe (obama = the Great Divider)
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To: MinorityRepublican

I am an enemy soldier, I havent seen my wife or girlfriend in 6 months, along comes this woman trying to kill me, I capture her . Now what am I going to do with her?

Pass her around to the guys after I am through or take her to the Capt. so he can give her to the officers?

Women do not belong in combat. In fact they do not belong in the same military as men. They should be serving as WACS, WAVES or some separate entity from men.


45 posted on 01/23/2013 7:11:37 PM PST by Venturer
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To: MinorityRepublican

Talk of your “war on women”


46 posted on 01/23/2013 7:12:10 PM PST by Theophilus (Not merely prolife, but prolific)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Deployed women will be forced to take birth control. The first forced abortions in America will be on women in combat units.


47 posted on 01/23/2013 7:14:58 PM PST by Theophilus (Not merely prolife, but prolific)
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To: Chainmail

Romney has been anti-military as a politician for longer than Obama, Romney was calling for, campaigning on, full homosexualization of the military, 20 years ago. Romney was against Clinton compromising with DADT because he wanted to open it up entirely.


48 posted on 01/23/2013 7:15:29 PM PST by ansel12 (Cruz said "conservatives trust Sarah Palin that if she says this guy is a conservative, that he is")
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To: MinorityRepublican

My comparison ... OK, because we are so touchy feely today, we take NFL cheerleaders (all female to this point) and introduce them to the reality of pre-season training camp. Some, although obviously coming up short in every respect, must pass thru and make the team roster. NFL football appeal, the same could be said for college ball, would be gone within three years. Reality is reality ... women don’t belong in front line combat. Only liberal idiots like Pinetta (with no military experience), likewise BHO and Clinton earlier would think otherwise. Granted the liberals can always thrust forward a few ass kissing generals who are where they are because they excel at ass kissing ... to endorse the treachery ... but experienced combat officers shudder at the thought of females on the front lines.


49 posted on 01/23/2013 7:15:50 PM PST by BluH2o
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Greater sacrifices will be made to maintain net levels of effectiveness.

What remains on the Left’s agenda?


50 posted on 01/23/2013 7:16:38 PM PST by Gene Eric
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To: MinorityRepublican

Ubama unleashed.
Congratulations, America, lol.


51 posted on 01/23/2013 7:19:26 PM PST by Lancey Howard
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To: MinorityRepublican
This all part of the Marxist/Anarchism of this regime.

It is an effort to destroy this nation and
reduce it to third world status.


52 posted on 01/23/2013 7:22:21 PM PST by Uri’el-2012 (Psalm 119:174 I long for Your salvation, YHvH, Your teaching is my delight.)
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To: MinorityRepublican

During WWII communists evaluated females in every possible combat role (with the exception of Navy which refused to take part in program since the very beginning).
You can learn from them.
By 1943 they kept women only as medics, hunter-snipers, AA-teams and pilots (other aircrew).
They learnt women lack enough strength for other roles and also screwing things up on battlefield because their fellow male soldier behave protective towards them.
On the other hand they fond women as much more stable under heavy psychological stress.
For that reason their strike and night bomber aviation was dominated by women performing literally suicidal missions which men simply sabotaged by bombing elsewhere.
Their most successful snipers were females too.
Airwings were sexually segregated with a few exceptions. Snipers worked in pairs (two females).


53 posted on 01/23/2013 7:37:34 PM PST by cunning_fish
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To: MinorityRepublican
..... Of course if there is ever a draft .... I wonder if the women will also share in the same honor of conscription as the men?

..... equal is as equal does ....

54 posted on 01/23/2013 7:47:15 PM PST by R_Kangel ( "A Nation of Sheep ..... Will Beget ..... a Nation Ruled by Wolves.")
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To: THX 1138
good article, i read three books it mentions
55 posted on 01/23/2013 8:06:57 PM PST by Chode (Stand UP and Be Counted, or line up and be numbered - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: YankeeReb

The woman interviewed is a friend of ours. She is absolutely amazing! Her dad and husband were also in the military.

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/video/#!/news/local/Bay-Area-Reacts-to-Women-in-Combat/188138861

I trust her opinion.


56 posted on 01/23/2013 8:08:53 PM PST by luckystarmom
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To: Venturer

Our females will no doubt be treated the same way Russian soldiers treated German females as they moved into Germany in 1945. You make a valid point.


57 posted on 01/23/2013 8:17:08 PM PST by MSF BU (n)
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To: MinorityRepublican
This is all about finishing already almost nonexistent morale off under cic Obama.
58 posted on 01/23/2013 8:22:29 PM PST by 444Flyer
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To: MinorityRepublican

What kind of cowards would send women to fight in their place?


59 posted on 01/23/2013 8:27:53 PM PST by Vietnam Vet From New Mexico (If you don't want to stand behind our troops, feel free to stand in front of them.)
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To: MinorityRepublican

I can say unequivically that no woman would have been able to take it in my armored cavalry outfit, Vietnam ‘68-69.

Even more difinitely not with the infantry.


60 posted on 01/23/2013 8:35:14 PM PST by onedoug
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