[Tax-chick]

This is a no-brainer. Of course young men are more suited for warmaking than old men, young women, and middle-aged ladies with a houseful of children. If there were no other obvious advantage, it's beyond question that young men are never pregnant.

The fact that we're even discussing this is a symptom of societal insanity.

[whipitgood]

Very well put Taxchick. “Societal insanity” describes many aspects of America today.

[El Gato]

The fact that we're even discussing this is a symptom of societal insanity.

Except for one small fact. We don't get enough male volunteers. Without the women, who still mostly do non combat work, we'd be in a world of hurt.

Now, not getting enough male volunteers may be a symptom of societal insanity, or a societal death wish, but using women to make up the difference is a perfectly rational response.

OTOH, it's sweet when some Sharia law type gets smoked by a girl. Even if the girl is at the controls of an A-10, F-16 or AC-130. (One of the latter was known on the Afghan radio circuits, Taliban and Northern Alliance alike, as "The Angel of Death". She'd announce over the radio, "You just got killed by a girl", with translation by the Northern Alliance types on the frequency)