[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.