Women fight, die in Iraq

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Female American troops in Iraq have killed Iraqis with bombs and bullets. They've won medals for valor and Purple Hearts for combat wounds. They've been captured as prisoners of war, killed by enemy fire and buried as heroes in Arlington National Cemetery.

American women have participated more extensively in combat in Iraq than in any previous war in U.S. history. They've taken roles nearly inconceivable just a decade or two ago - flying fighter jets and attack helicopters, patrolling streets armed with machine guns and commanding units of mostly male soldiers. Seven have been killed in combat.

Yet all this has gone largely without much comment in Washington, despite the attention given to rescued POW Jessica Lynch.

Congress debated the issue of women in the military after the 1991 Gulf War, voting months later to loosen the 1948 ban on women in combat. The issue hasn't come up on Capitol Hill this year, however.

More: http://www.pjstar.com/news/topnews/b1pftm0l052.html

[benddem]

1. This has really bothered me

In all the media hoopla about Jessica Lynch there wasn't one word about the female who became a double amputee because of that same ambush. The sclwm is NOT doing its job.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

2. I guess the picture of children weeping over the broken body of their

Mother wouldn't help sell the story of how all is peachy and going to plan.

[Skittles]

3. the whole Jessica thing sickened me

as a female veteran I found her indulgence in her 15 minutes of fame while her peers are still being killed very, very offensive.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. She actually, to her credit

set the record straight as how she was used for propaganda

Otherwise I agree

But she was perfect for the Rumselfeld machine, white, blond and almost blue eyes

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

5. Don't you say something on this topic I agree with, now.

(Which I wholeheartedly agree with)

Lynch did the right thing once she was released from her handlers.

[schultzee]

7. It took courage for her to tell the truth. And she was seriously

injured and perhaps never be the same.

[cap]

6. i notice the right wing is awful quiet

now about women in combat....and women's role in the service. No big media storm now. If they try and pull women out of service, they won't be able to fight the war.

[schultzee]

8. The right wing really hates women having independence and

they can't do anything now because they need the women. I laugh at all the anti-abortionist rePiglican men. Not one of them really respects women.