"Any claim that women are equal to men in combat settings is utterly irrational."

WND ^

[narses]

...

Riggs said one woman who spoke at yesterday's press conference, Charmaine Yoest, a national advisory board member with the Independent Women's Forum, relayed a recent example involving DACOWITS that illustrated the need for less military feminization.

"On Sept. 10 – the day before those awful terrorist attacks – DACOWITS was discussing lactation and the need for breast-feeding policies within the Army," Riggs said. "This, the day before so many people died" in New York City and at the Pentagon.

"This is no longer a power game where ambitious women can try to advance their careers," Rios said during her speech, "this is a matter of life and death. Any claim that women are equal to men in combat settings is utterly irrational."

Rios cited a recent Royal British Army study that found stark differences between men and women under combat conditions. In one phase of the study, men failed 20 percent of the time to carry 90 pounds of artillery shells over certain distances, she said, adding that women failed "90 percent of the time."

"In a mission simulating wartime conditions, male and female soldiers were asked to carry 60 pounds of equipment while marching 12.5 miles, completing the exercise with target practice. Seventeen percent of the men failed, [as did] 48 percent of the women," she said.

...

[Burkeman1]

You know- your right. As a male civilian- If I am thinking about her at least two or three times a day- then how many times a day are the men in her unit, company, brigade, battalion, regiment, division, army group thinking about her? How is that effecting them? Women have no place near the battlefield- even in support positions.

[farmfriend]

I don't have Unisex views. I am a masculinist though and feel that men get the short end of the stick more often than not. My stand here is not feminist though I get accused of that.

[Happygal]

So far, ZERO women have lobbed grenades into tents of their own side killing them. Think about it

Are YOU for f*ckin' real?

So far NO Catholic has done that either.
So far No Irish person has done it.
So far No jew has done it.
So far No gay man has done it.
So far No hermaphrodite has done it.

If THAT is all you can come up with in an internet debate as an argument. God help us, if you go into a military battle...what would you do? Hold your breath until Saddam Hussein gave up?

Infantile argument, for someone on the wrong side of a losing battle.

[nopardons]

Name calling now ? If you and Lorraine are examples of women who " should " be in the military, you've just given yet another reason, why they should NOT.

I have been civil and you can't take the opposing view, backed by facts. You'd crummble, in battle; which is far worse than my ladylike postings. ; ^ )

Oh, and dear ? If anyoone belongs over at DU, it's Y-O-U !

[expatguy]

bump

[proudofthesouth]

Speaking as a former FemiNazi, I agree with you 100%. But I will go further than that by saying that I don't think that women should be admited to the military academies either.

[Happygal]

Would you say that of me? Farmfriend? And I agree with Nopardons, complicitly!

[nopardons]

An outhouse or chamberpot, at least gives you some semblance of privacy, though not much comfort. OTOH, a shallow hole in the sand, which you have to precariously hang over, in the company of many others ( including men ! ) is quite different.

You want someone else to wipe you ? Not me ! LOL

[Lorianne]

I'm not ignoring it. I disagree with you. Women belong in the military if they are capable and can be of use. If the military doesn't use the best people where they need them, the military loses. I don't argue based on equal rights, I argue based on what the military needs.

Even the head of the Selective Service has argued that women should register for the draft because, should it ever come to the point where we need to call up a draft, we'll be in such deep kim chee we'll need all the help we can get. THAT is the only argument for anyone in the military. I'd be in favor of 80 year old grandmothers in the military IF they could be of some useful service whatever that may be. That's all that is important.

We have a volunteer military. We would be stupid to turn away anyone who could be of use who volunteers. Likewise, we don't need anyone who is not of use.

[farmfriend]

Well, I did notice she twisted your words out of all recongnition, but I was going to leave you to defend them yourself!

I've tried before. I know my views in this area are not the most popular. I don't mind healthy debate and often have to just agree to disagree. Name calling, although I must admit I did it by calling her a witch, should be left out. I am going to have that one post pulled. I meant to put it in freepmail.

[Centurion2000]

Speaking as a former FemiNazi, I agree with you 100%

Reformed feminazis are nice and make for pleasant company (seems they appreciate chivalry) :)
.... sometimes wisdom is knowing your limitations .... just had a discussion with a SEAL ... told him as a Marine I was gung ho but not THAT hard core.

[RightOnline]

Great pics / posters..................terrific, actually. :)

[Lorianne]

I didn't say I belong in the military. I didn't say anyone belongs in the military. 90% of all people probably don't belong in the military.

You have a reading comprehension problem.

[Centurion2000]

Why do we need MEN in the military who cannot concentrate on the job or who can be "played" by anyone?

With all due respect, you have no idea about how the 18-21 year old male mind works .... just about ALL of them can be played by a woman.

[WorkingClassFilth]

"I don't have Unisex views. I am a masculinist though and feel that men get the short end of the stick more often than not. My stand here is not feminist though I get accused of that."

Well, farmfriend, what are these mystical views?

I'm eager to know how Old Testament theology and 21st century feminism can be unified? Better yet, I have an enquiring mind and I want to know what Jesus would do in a combat role with men and women under his command.

Speak the truth, Brother!

[farmfriend]

Would you say that of me? Farmfriend? And I agree with Nopardons, complicitly!

No and I'm having that post pulled per my request. It was meant for freepmail not the open forum. I don't mind others having a different opinion. I know my views are not the norm for this forum. I like to debate them. That is not what nopardons does. She twists what is said and makes it something it is not. Then she calls names that are unworthy of this forum or a lady. She now seems to seek out my posts and tries to bait me. I refuse to play her game.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Amen, Brother. When I was that age, I would have paid to drink the bathwater of many women just to see them take it. Luckily, age has refined some sensibilities - and sharpened others...

[webber]

If you had a choice of having two men or two women accompanying you into battle, how many of you would choose two women?

That should tell a person whether he/she really believes that women belong in combat. I for one will choose two men every single time.

[dead]

I'm not against women on the battlefield.

I'm against anybody who can't pick up their wounded 225 lb. fellow soldier and carry him three miles to safety.

If some big-ass broad can pull that off, I not only support her presence on the battlefield, I worship her and think she flat-out kicks ass.

I love her.

[Lorianne]

Yep, I'm for real. And I could go on. People act like there are NO problems with men in the military simply because they are men. Well the brigs are full of "problem" military males. So male gender doesnt' make them perfect military personnel. That was my point, which you apparently missed.

You and others seem perfectly happy to group libel women based on the actions of a few. I used the same exact logic toward men with my equally ridiculous comment. I did it precisely to illicit your response. Thanks for falling into line!

Hypocrisy anyone?