Posted on 12/03/2015 3:43:04 PM PST by jazusamo
President Obama on Thursday touted his administration's decision to open all combat roles to women as a change that will strengthen the nation's armed forces.
"As commander in chief, I know that this change, like others before it, will again make our military even stronger," Obama said in a statement.
The president likened the historic shift to ending racial segregation in the military and repealing the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy that barred openly gay and lesbian individuals from serving.
Women have "time and again have proven that they, too, are qualified, ready and up to the task," the president said, adding that "in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, our courageous women in uniform have served with honor, on the front lines -- and some have given their very lives."
The move, announced Thursday by Defense Secretary Ash Carter, means that women are eligible to serve in the most elite combat units, including the Army Rangers, Green Berets and Navy SEALs.
The decision comes after a review of recommendations from service leaders and military officials submitted earlier this year.
But the move was highly controversial, sparking an internal dispute between the Navy and Marine Corps, as well as scrutiny from Republican members of Congress.
Absent from Carter's announcement was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford, who recommended that Marine infantry remain closed to women while serving as Marine commandant.
Dunford's advice was based on a study his branch conducted this year showing mixed-gender teams were less effective at combat tasks than units that only contained men.
But Navy Secretary Ray Mabus dismissed that study as "flawed."
Echoing Carter's remarks earlier Thursday, Obama expressed confidence both Dunford and he would "implement this transition -- as they have others -- in a responsible manner that maintains military readiness and the unparalleled professionalism and strength of our armed forces."
The House and Senate Armed Services committees announced they would review the Pentagon's new policy, citing their "essential constitutional role" overseeing the armed forces.
Carter's "decision to open combat positions to women will have a consequential impact on our service members and our military's warfighting capabilities," committee chairmen Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) said in a joint statement Thursday.
Just like adding women to the NFL will make the teams play better...
What does B. O. even know about the military.
Oh, wait, he knows how to misuse and misdirect it.
Another day, another offense to the nation. What else is new.
Here’s my middle finger back at you, clown.
The Marine Corps studies do not support Obama’s claim.
Traitor...to all that is Right & Good.
He’s right. Saul Alinsky could not have done any better...
at taking a wrecking ball to the military.
Exactly, and Ray Mabus and Bambam are calling the Marine Corps officers liars. Not even close as to who should be believed.
This is political correctness come home to roost.
It makes not a lick of sense.
Adding women to the men’s Olympic relay team will make them faster too/s
Lying POS. Making the military stronger is the last thing he wants.
Will Obama and this admin get the blame when the first female POW is raped on video for their propaganda?
obama is converting the military into yet another government handout program, this time for lesbians and gays— and at the same time, drastically weakening usa military readiness.
at least one has to give obama credit for being consistently anti-american, pro-socialist and pro-gay.
Public schools and the parents who send their kids to “public schools” are by far the greatest danger to people in the US.
The enemy is within..!!
Might be good news. If you were a woman, would you join the Army or Marines under these conditions?
Women to the Navy and USAF. Men to the Army and Marines. Simple.
Obama should lead by example and replace all the men guarding him and his family with women. Also, they should be unarmed because he is so in favor of gun control.
Everything out of his mouth is a lie.
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