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ACLU sues over policy barring women from ground combat
Yahoo! News ^ | 11/27/12 | Peter Henderson | Reuters

Posted on 11/27/2012 12:55:31 PM PST by NormsRevenge

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The American Civil Liberties Union sued on Tuesday on behalf of four U.S. servicewomen to challenge a longstanding policy barring women from thousands of ground combat positions, citing the changing nature of warfare and fairness for career soldiers.

The civil rights group argued in a legal complaint filed in federal court in Northern California that a military policy to bar women from combat roles on the basis of gender was unconstitutional.

"Nearly a century after women first earned the right of suffrage, the combat exclusion policy still denies women a core component of full citizenship - serving on equal footing in the military defense of our nation," reads the suit, on behalf of four women soldiers who have fought in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Their career opportunities also had been limited by the policy, the women said.

The lawsuit comes as the Department of Defense has slowly been dropping such gender-based restrictions. In February, it allowed some women to serve in combat battalions, a unit of 300 to 1,000 members, and dropped restrictions on women serving in units that were required to be based with combat units.

But women are still not allowed in infantry, or in smaller units engaged in combat. Women are barred from more the 238,000 positions, the ACLU said. But in Iraq and Afghanistan, where there are no clear battle lines, women have been pulled into combat in spite of the policy, the group added.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: aclu; combat; policy; women
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1 posted on 11/27/2012 12:55:39 PM PST by NormsRevenge
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To: NormsRevenge

Sheesh the REMFS at the ACLU will do anything to stay out of a line unit.


2 posted on 11/27/2012 12:58:54 PM PST by jwalsh07
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To: NormsRevenge

Single women overwhelmingly voted Obama.

Let’s get as many of them into combat as want to go. I’m all for eliminating Obama voters however we can.


3 posted on 11/27/2012 12:58:59 PM PST by brownsfan (Behold, the power of government cheese.)
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To: NormsRevenge

The end is near.


4 posted on 11/27/2012 12:59:23 PM PST by ex-snook (without forgiveness there is no Christianity)
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To: NormsRevenge

I supposed I’d rather have a bull dyke watching my back in combat rather than a light in the loafers flaming fluffer.


5 posted on 11/27/2012 1:00:18 PM PST by crosshairs (Hurricane Barry is 1000 times more destructive than Hurricane Sandy.)
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air combat, OK.. ground combat, No.

not sure how ya keep the battle lines from getting crossed up.. ‘fog of war’ and all.. ‘no holds barred’ can apply as easily to walking down the streets of a number of US cities today. so can sacrifice for a cause.. should we begrudge those who do seek to go in harm’s way, some as capable as their male counterparts, well aware of the risks?


6 posted on 11/27/2012 1:01:50 PM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi)
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To: jwalsh07

You’d think CODE Pink’rs would be at the head of the recruitment line.. go figure.


7 posted on 11/27/2012 1:03:36 PM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi)
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To: NormsRevenge

Homosexuals and women.


8 posted on 11/27/2012 1:05:32 PM PST by onyx (FREE REPUBLIC IS HERE TO STAY! DONATE MONTHLY! IF YOU WANT ON SARAH PALIN''S PING LIST, LET ME KNOW)
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To: FReepers; Patriots; FRiends

FR really needs your help!

Please Contribute Today.

FReepathon Day 58!!

9 posted on 11/27/2012 1:06:29 PM PST by onyx (FREE REPUBLIC IS HERE TO STAY! DONATE MONTHLY! IF YOU WANT ON SARAH PALIN''S PING LIST, LET ME KNOW)
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To: NormsRevenge

Funny, back in the day feminist told us if let in the military there would be no more war - men just screwed it up and caused war and now they want to get in the fight.


10 posted on 11/27/2012 1:10:01 PM PST by edcoil (It is not over until I win.)
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To: NormsRevenge

I’ve never experienced war, and I understand your concerns about ground combat, but I also feel that if the left wants to push this, then send them to the front lines. Actually, I’m in favor of mandatory military service for community organizers.


11 posted on 11/27/2012 1:14:33 PM PST by pieceofthepuzzle
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To: pieceofthepuzzle

The problem is that you destroy the military in doing that, you get everyone killed and we lose the war, and America ceases to exist.

What sounds funny to some people is not realistic.


12 posted on 11/27/2012 1:18:23 PM PST by ansel12 (The only Senate seat GOP pick up was the Palin endorsed Deb Fischers successful run in Nebraska)
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To: pieceofthepuzzle

I support some form of public service be it either military or community based.

Both my wife and I are veterans. Fortunate to have not seen combat ,, more a timing thing ,, but that wouldn’t have stopped her or me from going at it.

I do find it ironic that the Left which pushes all these new freedoms for gays and women so readily sacrifices others to fulfill their own agendas. but that’s business these days in politics..


13 posted on 11/27/2012 1:19:36 PM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi)
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To: NormsRevenge

Among other things, combat is an athletic event. So, putting aside all the social and sexual aspects of this, if there is one woman in an infantry squad it means that the squad as a whole is short the difference in strength and ability to carry supplies, munitions, etc that a man could carry. It’s not about women lacking the ability to pull the trigger or anything like that. History is chock full of examples depicting women being quite capable of doing so. An example of my point has come to mind. Lets say that as an experiment one NFL team could be be persuaded to always have one woman on the field at all times during every game of a season. How many games would that team win? I suggest that the answer is none. Ok, ok, maybe the Chiefs Would have won two games by now. I’ll concede that, lol :)


14 posted on 11/27/2012 1:20:46 PM PST by snoringbear (Government is the Pimp,)
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To: pieceofthepuzzle
I’ve never experienced war...but I also feel that if the left wants to push this, then send them to the front lines.

Females in combat would cause numerous difficulties. They would require certain "personnel items" that would take up room in cargo vehicles normally used for ammo, food, and water. They could, if they were not ugly dykes, potentially cause attention deficits which would give rise to security risks. Finally, they are not strong enough to help the big guys over obstacles or pull wounded teammates to safety.

15 posted on 11/27/2012 1:22:29 PM PST by GingisK
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To: NormsRevenge
A "core component" of "full citizenship" is ground combat?

Wouldn't that exclude about 85-90% of the citizens of the United States, males AND females, who for physical and other reasons, do not qualify?

16 posted on 11/27/2012 1:22:56 PM PST by Mrs. Don-o (He's xvi, / He's beautiful, / And he's mine.)
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To: brownsfan

Oh, this post is CLASSIC!!!


17 posted on 11/27/2012 1:24:27 PM PST by Fedupwithit (You gave him what he wanted. I gave him what he needed.)
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To: GingisK

‘Females in combat would cause numerous difficulties. They would require certain “personnel items” that would take up room in cargo vehicles normally used for ammo, food, and water. They could, if they were not ugly dykes, potentially cause attention deficits which would give rise to security risks. Finally, they are not strong enough to help the big guys over obstacles or pull wounded teammates to safety. “

They also get raped, and they also get pregnant.


18 posted on 11/27/2012 1:26:43 PM PST by Persevero (Homeschooling for Excellence since 1992)
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To: NormsRevenge

Wonder how long it’ll be after they demand this in the name of equality before the ACLU is demanding preferential treatment in the name of respecting women.

As bad as this’ll be for the future, you gotta admit the fact these screwballs can’t make up their minds is amusing.


19 posted on 11/27/2012 1:30:47 PM PST by RWB Patriot ("My ability is a value that must be purchased and I don't recognize anyone's need as a claim on me.")
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To: NormsRevenge
Over the holidays, I re-watched Episodes 5, 6, and 7 of "The Pacific," which depicted the savage Battle of Pelelieu in all its gore and horror.

No way that women could ever fight in real combat like THAT. These morons have forgotten what the military is for and what it does. To them, it's just another government job with lots of perks followed by 20-year retirement.

Lord help us if we ever get into another such war with say Russia or Red China.

20 posted on 11/27/2012 1:31:23 PM PST by Timber Rattler (Just say NO! to RINOS and the GOP-E)
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