[Barnacle]

Iraq Bombing Kills 4 U.S. Women...

How is the Marines' gender relevant to this story?

Four Marines killed. That's the story. If the media is going to make gender part of the story, then do it evenhandedly. Imagine headlines to the affect, "Iraq Bombing Kills 4 U.S. Men"

Except perhaps in the most desperate of circumstances, no civilized civilization puts its women in combat.

[TalonDJ]

no civilized civilization puts its women in combat.

Because the lives of men are not worth as much? Last I checked this civilization did not PUT them in combat, they volunteer go go near it.