Why are we sending Teenage Girls into the Battle Zone?

AP (Yahoo News) ^

[optik_b]

Jessica Lynch is known for her smile, her laugh and for loving children so much that she wants to be a teacher. "That smile is all you ever see," Glenda Nelson, a close family friend, said Monday. "No matter what, she always had a smile on her face."

Lynch, who aspires to become a teacher, joined the Army to get an education and because it was one of the few opportunities available in a farming community with an unemployment rate of 15 percent — one of the highest in West Virginia.

Once she entered the service, Jesse, as she is known to family and friends, would often write letters, send e-mail and call home.
The young woman is "every mother's dream of a teenager daughter," said Lorene Cumbridge, a cousin.

[Solson]

Not at all...I get angry when people ask stupid loaded questions. This girl is very honorable and is serving her country well.

[P-Marlowe]

Why do we allow teenage girls to drive on the freeway?

In 1999, there were over 2,000,000 teen driving accidents and 6,000 deaths

1 out of 3 teens have an accident during their first year of driving

Teen drivers account for 7% of the driving population but 14% of all accidents and deaths

82% of teen accidents are caused by "driver error" according to police reports

More teens have been killed in automobile accidents during the last 10 years than soldiers lost in the Vietnam War.

[Salvation]

optik_b signed up 2003-03-09

Hmmmm.

[jmc813]

no, i have a problem with letting teenage girls joining the military.

Disagree 100%. The 1st Sgt. of an MI unit I was in was a woman, and damned if she wasn't one of the best leaders I encountered during my time in the Army.

That said, I do think the Clinton era feminization of the military is dispicable, case in point being mixed-gender basic training. I was actually in one of the very last all-male basic traing companies ever, and there was a very noticable difference between the soldiers of the pre-integration basic and the newer ones.

[Mark17]

Good morning RDB. Hoo-ah.

[breakem]

If you want to discuss what the requirements should be go ahead, but meeting minimums and passing are the same thing. And you know she "met minimums" because..............

[semaj]

Why don't you ask pat Schroeder and the NOW gayng what they think about sending young women into combat areas? It's only fair since they have been the driving force behind the effort to do just that.

[MineralMan]

"My youngest daughter just turned 20 and she'll be in No. Iraq (combat medic)probably within a day or two. Why is she there? Because she g**d*** well wants to be. And who are you to say otherwise?"

You show your pride in your daughter's service. I'm proud of her, too, as I am of every person serving in our military. I'll keep her in my thoughts.

[Mark17]

Untrue. What about Israel?

If I am not mistaken, they did try it, and later stopped it.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

What struck me about both the women captured/killed from the 507th was their job titles - one was a cook and the other was a supply clerk. What the heck were they doing out in a convoy of mechanics in a war zone?

I hate to state the obvious here, but every unit bigger than a platoon has a supply clerk, and most soldiers, so far as I know, still eat.

[johnb838]

Look how little she is! Would we send a male that small into combat?

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Women in combat is insanity.

It demeans women, and endangers men and other women...just what the bad guys want.

[homeschool mama]

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands; one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

[MineralMan]

"If I am not mistaken, they did try it, and later stopped it."

You are mistaken.

[homeschool mama]

Oh boy...the Northern California respiratory crud has got you by the lungs, huh? I'm so sorry. Hubby is battling that too. Drink plenty of water and eat healthy, Mark. :o) And please get to feeling better.

[Howlin]

Maybe not a troll, but it sure has an obsession with Bush and Cheney.

[Michael81Dus]

Has anybody the text of the oath of the US Armed Forces?

I can post the German one, which have I spoken:

"I swear (vow) to serve the Federal Republic of Germany loyal and to defend brave the right and the freedom of the German people. (So help me God.)"

[mercy]

It's not about women being abused. Any soldier in the hands of the enemy is a horrible thing. Sex does not matter.

What it's about is women degrading the fighting ability of combat troops. It's insane. Anybody who believes in it is a fool. A disgrace to humanity. Sick.

Women in combat will only get more men AND women killed. I suppose you could find some butch 175 pounder who could nearly pull her own weight but LOOK AT THIS GIRL. All she is going to do is make all the men around her want to protect her and she could ONLY destroy unit cohesion.

[Nefaria]

As a woman, I have no problem with women sent into battle.
If you join a military service you have to be prepared to give your life for our country, male or female.

[Mark17]

That's what confused me.

Regards