Quote of the Week

The Right Thing to Do...


Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. and a former prisoner of war in Vietnam, said earlier Thursday that lifting the ban was “the right thing to do,” but he stressed that the military should make sure physical standards are met.

 So, let me get this straight....  lift the ban but make sure the standards are met.  Why would anyone need to add the second part if they really believed in the first part???

See below for more...




Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Thursday lifted a ban on women in combat, saying that it was “the responsibility of every citizen to protect the nation, and every citizen who can meet the qualifications of service should have that opportunity.”

"If they can meet the qualifications for the job, then they should have the right to serve," he declared.
Panetta’s decision replaces a 1994 military policy memo signed by Les Aspin, a defense secretary under President Bill Clinton.

Women in the military, and outside groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union, have argued that women already serve on the front lines but are not recognized for it. More than 150 women have died on deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, and almost 1,000 have been hurt.

Women constitute 15 percent of the active-duty military.

Critics of Panetta’s decision have expressed concern that allowing women to serve in combat roles could harm unit cohesion and weaken military readiness. Others have said they worry about lower standards for physical fitness, leading to a weaker fighting force.

But, how would it harm unit cohesion and weaken military readiness?  Israel has had women in combat roles for years with no adverse affects.