Young Man's Work

NRO ^ | August 30, 2007 | W. Thomas Smith Jr.

[SuzyQ2]

...beyond my ability to shoot and think, I would be a burden on any infantry force in a desperate situation in which everyone needs to pull his own load and assist others with theirs. I think this is true for most war correspondents, though many would never admit it.

Infantry campaigning is difficult, and it has been ever since man first picked up a few stones, shouldered a club, and moved against a neighboring tribe. And despite modern weapon-systems and many of the new modes of delivery — helicopter, various ground conveyances — that difficulty has not changed.

Of course, we all remember former Congresswoman Patricia Schroeder’s attempt to dismiss the physical severity of modern combat with her now-famous line: “A woman can push a button just as easily as a man.” Perhaps, if combat were limited to waiting on the unthinkable in an air-conditioned missile silo in the American West, but that’s not how war actually works.

[RC2]

Our young military personnel have always amazed me. The calmness under that type of stress is difficult to explain. I watch our pilots, flying at 400-500 miles an hour, and am amazed at the calmness in the cockpit. I was Navy when younger and the calmnes in performing a given function was the same. I guess a big thanks needs to go out to the drill instructors and the like. They teach our young how to control themselves in any situation.

[glorgau]

Little Feat:

And you know that you’re over the hill
When your mind makes a promise that your body can’t fill
Doin’ the old folks boogie
And boogie we will
‘Cause to us the thought’s as good as a thrill

[caver]

Not only that, I would say that the regular troops are in superior physical condiation. You need to be in great shape if you are doing more than pushing a button.

[Beagle8U]

You know you’re getting old when the hair starts falling off your head, and growing in your ears.

[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)

[Tax-chick]

My husband was in the Air Force ten years. He spent the Gulf War sitting behind a desk in Texas. While I've no particular desire for Der Prinz to go to war (and he's a civilian now, anyway) he was one of many healthy young men doing jobs that women could have been doing.

it's sweet when some Sharia law type gets smoked by a girl

I do find a certain poetic satisfaction in that.