Women in combat?

[basketcase]

This morning I read this article about the treatment women usually receive as POW's, and thought I would post it here as food for thought.

PS: (Added via edit) I suggest reading the article before you vote.

http://www.cmrlink.org/WomenInCombat.asp?docID=219

[The_Veg]

It begs the question of the just how equal we want to be and if equal rights should be accompanied by equal responsibilities. What are we as a civilisation ready for?

On a lighter note, anybody remember the combat women in Starship Troopers?

[Cliffy777]

I would like a choice like: I would rather not have women in combat, but if they really, really want to be there I don't want to stand in the way.

[YB in IN]

And this has to do with motorcycles how???:confused:

[basketcase]

YB,

I hope you won't think me too forward in my observation, but my experience is that "Campfire" here is the place to talk about miscellaneous stuff, just like motorcyclists do when they camp out and cluster around a wood fire.

In my personal rally and club meeting experience, the conversation at the campfire is not restricted to "motorcycles only," but in fact includes jokes, pranks, politics, food, beer, sports, boots and apparel, helmets, food, beer & mixed drinks, tires, sex, safety, fork seals, religion, politics, food, beer, mixed drinks, and blood alcohol content, and sometimes ... politics and military issues. Did I remember to include food, beer, mixed drinks, and other such non-motorcycle topics?

The Campfire Forum thread list on page one includes at least six other subject lines that are not specifically motorcycle related:

- Superbowl Commercials
- Poll: Who's going to win the Super Bowl?
- Hail, Columbia
- VW Engine Conversion
- Navy Seal Shops
- Chinese Food Lovers

And that is just page one.

"Women in combat" may not be specifically motorcycle related, but I would wager that others -- like myself, have family, friends, or neighbors in Iraq, or the vicinity. And that makes it relevant to all of us, in the comradely way that we address such things around ... the Campfire.

Thank you,
Rick

... Hmm. I see the non-traditionalists are carrying the day right now.

[kbasa]

Yep. That's why campfire's here. All that non topic stuff has to go somewhere....

[MarkF]

I have no objections to women serving in combat roles. That is as long as the same pass/fail standards are used for both sexes in training. I do have fears of the psychological impact on a fighting force caused by the mistreatment of female prisoners. But, history has shown that keeping women in noncombat roles does not protect them from becoming prisoners.

Remember, the USSR used women effectively in combat roles in WWII.

MarkF

[RebeccaV]

A female soldier who thinks that she can best serve her country by fighting a combat mission (that she qualifies for) should have a right to do so.

All combat soldiers risk torture and death. To suggest that women face a ‘greater and unequal risk’ is ludicrous.

[YB in IN]

"Women in combat" may not be specifically motorcycle related, but I would wager that others -- like myself, have family, friends, or neighbors in Iraq, or the vicinity. And that makes it relevant to all of us, in the comradely way that we address such things around ... the Campfire.

Okay, I get the idiot award, I didn't see what heading that this was in. My bad. I owe you a beer :)

[Cliffy777]

Not to put too fine a point on it, BG, but sometimes men worry how THEY will feel if a woman is being tortured after capture. The fear being that they will spill the beans rather than watch a female soldier be tortured.
Actually, it would be best if no women or men had to be combat soldiers. (Hey, a fella can dream, can't he?)

[Rad]

The article used emotion and not enough fact to make its point.

The title, or sub title, was "Should the Public Know What Happens to Our Female Soldiers?"

It should have read "Should the public know what happened to Jessica Lynch" The author produced no evidence that women get abused any more than men when captured.

If his premise is true, he should have done a better job supporting his theory.

As for the women in combat, It should be up to them. It's their choice if they want to volunteer for duty.