[gusty]

The reason that Israel stopped using women in combat was indeed to save lives of their soldiers. Women were used in combat during the 1948-49 Independence War out of necessity, lack of manpower being the reason. What the Israelis found out was that their opponents, Muslim Arabs, would fight to the death if they knew they were fighting against women, out of pure pride. In the the long run, even the victors suffer greater casualties. The Islamic mind is more apt to give up and surrender in combat if confronted by an all male force. It marginal jihadists are surrounded in a building and are facing a mixed sex force, the building is going to have to be stormed and every fighter killed with the extra dead and wounded suffered by the attacking force also. If no women are present, the marginal jihadists were more likely give up, and come out with their hands up.

[exit82]

Great background, gusty.

I would add another reason—Israeli men were killed trying to rescue captured Israeli women, who were being tortured. They heard the screams and could not overcome their urge to rescue the woman, and thus were picked off as they tried to go help.

This is the instinct that makes us men.

I am sick of the PC garbage being promulgated in my name, that is compromising the effectiveness and the moral fiber of the greatest military force ever seen in history.