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.
Or to the power lifting team.
> likened the historic shift to ending racial segregation in the military
Not at all the same. A stupid analogy from a stupid Obama.
Our president is delusional and the press just goes along with it.
Leftists: Facts that do not conform to the theory are not facts at all.
Just like allowing sodomites to infect the military will make it stronger(extra special sarcasm).
He is a damn clown. I spoke to a number of SF men who were out of the 5th at Ft Campbell and each one told me those so called combat women army and Marine types who went into villages and spoke to Muslim women were a damn JOKE.I recall Army nurses and it should have remained limited to nurses.
The liberal lie of “diversity is a strength”.
Right on...Of course this narcissist 0bama believes his own lies.
“In declining states the leadership intuitively chooses the most harmful course of action.”-F. Nietzsche.
And “public school education”.
This guy is SUCH an *sshole.
Women had appropriate roles in WWII. Today they weaken the military through their lack of ability in positions they are AA’d into and because they bear the deadly bacillus of “feminism”.
yep, and cutting the legs off of track stars make htem run faster, and blinding seeing eye dogs will make them see better, and lopping off the arms of javelin throwers will make them throw the javelin further
What a brilliant tactician he is
hopefully Rudy Guilliane will come out and say “Only a moron would claim that weakening the front liens would make our military stronger”
I’m with you on Obama’s delusion. Although he might be intentionally lying and trying to destroy the military, I think it’s more likely that he truly believes what he’s doing. It amazes me when I encounter true liberals, but there are people who really believe such nonsense like everyone will be safer if all guns are confiscated and the military will be stronger if we put women on seal teams. I simply think the president lives entirely within his liberal ideology and is surrounded by like minded people.
Not sure how putting potentially pregnant women into combat and harm’s way, creating gender tension, and undermining unit cohesiveness is a positive for the country. Both genders offer and have their own behavioral and capability advantages, but they are not the same.
Then again Obama’s only goal is about PC for certain genders and ethnic groups while trashing majority and traditionalism, which is the only thing important to Obama elites. Their ultimate game plan is divide and conquer the masses by creating infighting.
Yes, having women come home mangled and disabled will make us stronger tovarisch! All hail the collective...
Couldn’t agree more, it’d be a twofer in one day for Rudy and he was exactly right on the terrorism.
Unbelievable, isn’t it?
* “Opening combat roles to women will make military stronger”
* Fighting the fairy tale of ‘climate change’ will weaken ISIS
* Taking in unvetted Syrian men doesn’t increase jihadi risks
* “workplace violence”
* Doubling the cost of health insurance and making the copays and deductibles sky-high is “affordable health care.”
Talk about Bizzaro World.
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