Saturday, March 23, 2013
Seven Myths About “Women in Combat" UPDATED
Michael Yon posted this article by G.S. Newbold, Lieutenant General, USMC (Ret.). TW has included only excerpts of each point the general has made.
Myth #1 – “It’s about women in combat.”
"No, it’s not. Women are already in combat, and are serving well and professionally. The issue should be more clearly entitled, “Women in the infantry.” And this is a decidedly different proposition."
Myth #3 – “If they pass the physical standards, why not?” ...."Any study of sexual harassment statistics in this age cohort – in the military, academia, or the civilian workplace — are evidence enough that despite best efforts to by sincere leaders to control the issue, human instincts remain strong. Perceptions of favoritism or harassment will be corrosive, and cohesion will be the victim."
Picture your daughter in this Marine unit:
Myth #4 – “Standards won’t be lowered.” ...."Pity the truthful leader who attempts to hold to standards based on realistic combat factors, and tells truth to power. Most won’t, and the others won’t survive."
Myth #5 – “Opening the infantry will provide a better pathway to senior rank for the talented women.” ...."Those who might meet the infantry physical standard will find that their peers are expected, as leaders, to far exceed it (and most of their subordinates will, as well)."....
Myth #6 – “It’s a civil rights issue, much like the integration of the armed forces and allowing gays to serve openly.” In the process, they demean initiatives that were to provide equally skilled individuals the opportunity to contribute equally. In each of the other issues, lowered standards were not the consequence.
Myth #7 –
“It’s just fair.” ...."Direct ground combat, such as experienced in the frozen tundra of Korea, the rubble of Stalingrad, or the endless 30-day jungle patrols against a grim foe in Viet Nam, is the harshest meritocracy — with the greatest consequences — there is.
"And psychology in warfare is germane – the force that is respected (and, yes, feared) has a distinct advantage.
"Will women in our infantry enhance a psychological advantage, or hinder it?
Second, if it’s about fairness, why do women get a choice of whether to serve in the infantry (when men do not), and why aren’t they required to register for the draft (as men are)?"....
And the General concludes with an assessment of how political-correctness has stifled open, reasoned discussion and ruined careers of those who dare to tell things as they are:
"It may be that we live in a society in which honest discussion of this issue, relying on facts instead of volume, is not possible. If so, our national security will fall victim to hope instead of reality. And myths be damned."
Gregory S. Newbold served 32 years as a Marine infantryman, commanding units from platoon to the 1st Marine Division. His final assignment before retiring in 2002 was as director of operations for the Pentagon’s Joint Staff.Myth #1 – “It’s about women in combat.”
"No, it’s not. Women are already in combat, and are serving well and professionally. The issue should be more clearly entitled, “Women in the infantry.” And this is a decidedly different proposition."
Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Michelle Berglin trains for an upcoming
deployment at Camp Pendleton in January.
Myth #2 – “Combat has changed” (often accompanied by “There are no front lines anymore”). ...."The standard for ground combat unit composition should be whether social experimentation would have amplified our opportunity for success in that crucible, or diminished it. We gamble with our future security when we set standards for warfare based on the best case, instead of the harshest one."Myth #3 – “If they pass the physical standards, why not?” ...."Any study of sexual harassment statistics in this age cohort – in the military, academia, or the civilian workplace — are evidence enough that despite best efforts to by sincere leaders to control the issue, human instincts remain strong. Perceptions of favoritism or harassment will be corrosive, and cohesion will be the victim."
Picture your daughter in this Marine unit:
Myth #5 – “Opening the infantry will provide a better pathway to senior rank for the talented women.” ...."Those who might meet the infantry physical standard will find that their peers are expected, as leaders, to far exceed it (and most of their subordinates will, as well)."....
Myth #6 – “It’s a civil rights issue, much like the integration of the armed forces and allowing gays to serve openly.” In the process, they demean initiatives that were to provide equally skilled individuals the opportunity to contribute equally. In each of the other issues, lowered standards were not the consequence.
"And psychology in warfare is germane – the force that is respected (and, yes, feared) has a distinct advantage.
"Will women in our infantry enhance a psychological advantage, or hinder it?
Second, if it’s about fairness, why do women get a choice of whether to serve in the infantry (when men do not), and why aren’t they required to register for the draft (as men are)?"....
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| General Newbold |
And the General concludes with an assessment of how political-correctness has stifled open, reasoned discussion and ruined careers of those who dare to tell things as they are:
"It may be that we live in a society in which honest discussion of this issue, relying on facts instead of volume, is not possible. If so, our national security will fall victim to hope instead of reality. And myths be damned."
Update: This comment was posted on Facebook:
Racism alive in well in the Country.... U go! I guess they wanted Osama Bin Laden to blow up the rest of us I guess.... Bush lover!
A response: "That is your best argument against this General's points? Nothing more? "
Such is the state of reasoned dialog between our ever more balkanized society.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Dark Knight killer James Holmes 'is now a Muslim who prays five times a day'
UK Mail "James Holmes, the gunman behind the Dark Knight massacre in Colorado last July, has reportedly turned Muslim and prays five times a day.
"The killer showed off a lengthy, thick beard during a court appearance earlier this month, and a prison source has claimed it is a symbol of his new-found faith.
"The source said Holmes has turned to Islam as a way of justifying his horrific murder spree in an Aurora, Colorado cinema on July 20 which left 12 people dead and 58 people wounded."
Debbie Schlussel posts this: Alhamdillulllah [Praise Allah]: “Dark Knight” Murderer James Holmes Converted to Islam "Last summer, when James Holmes murdered 12 people and seriously injured 58
others at a Batman “Dark Knight” screening in Aurora, Colorado, I got a number
of nasty e-mails, tweets on Twitter, and Facebook comments from Muslims who were
proud to proclaim that Holmes was not a Muslim, even though I never accused him
of being one. On the other hand, Muslims believe that we are all supposed to be
Muslim or have a Muslim soul or some other sort of halal baloney. And, so,
perhaps it’s fitting that James Holmes has “reverted.” "
"The killer showed off a lengthy, thick beard during a court appearance earlier this month, and a prison source has claimed it is a symbol of his new-found faith."The source said Holmes has turned to Islam as a way of justifying his horrific murder spree in an Aurora, Colorado cinema on July 20 which left 12 people dead and 58 people wounded."
Debbie Schlussel posts this: Alhamdillulllah [Praise Allah]: “Dark Knight” Murderer James Holmes Converted to Islam "Last summer, when James Holmes murdered 12 people and seriously injured 58
others at a Batman “Dark Knight” screening in Aurora, Colorado, I got a number
of nasty e-mails, tweets on Twitter, and Facebook comments from Muslims who were
proud to proclaim that Holmes was not a Muslim, even though I never accused him
of being one. On the other hand, Muslims believe that we are all supposed to be
Muslim or have a Muslim soul or some other sort of halal baloney. And, so,
perhaps it’s fitting that James Holmes has “reverted.” "....He has brainwashed himself into believing he was on his own personal jihad and that his victims were infidels,’ a prison source told the National Enquirer."Um, no, Islam brainwashes people into believing that.
Obama Preaches to the Israeli Choir
Roger L Simon "But the overwhelming message of the speech, its theme, was an importuning of young Israelis to make sacrifices for peace. Those sacrifices were, not surprisingly, unspecified,....
"There was only one problem: it was delivered to the wrong audience.
Israeli students are almost all ready to make some sort of compromise for peace. Indeed if peace were really a prospect, I would bet most of them would be fairly weeping for joy.
"The trouble is — they don’t have anyone to make peace with. On the Palestinian side, nobody is home. ... Hamas is a collection of religious sociopaths and the Palestinian Authority is composed of corrupt cowards who were unwilling to negotiate even after the supposedly bellicose Netanyahu suspended settlement building a couple of years ago."
And you will notice, as Mr. Simon points out, Obama made no apologies to this audience.
"That “walk a mile in their shoes” talk is more than a little condescending. Most young Israelis I would wager have plenty of empathy for the Palestinians. The problem is the other way around. Few Palestinians have demonstrated much empathy of any sort toward Israelis. (Watch their television shows.)"
"There was only one problem: it was delivered to the wrong audience.
Israeli students are almost all ready to make some sort of compromise for peace. Indeed if peace were really a prospect, I would bet most of them would be fairly weeping for joy.
"The trouble is — they don’t have anyone to make peace with. On the Palestinian side, nobody is home. ... Hamas is a collection of religious sociopaths and the Palestinian Authority is composed of corrupt cowards who were unwilling to negotiate even after the supposedly bellicose Netanyahu suspended settlement building a couple of years ago."
And you will notice, as Mr. Simon points out, Obama made no apologies to this audience.
"That “walk a mile in their shoes” talk is more than a little condescending. Most young Israelis I would wager have plenty of empathy for the Palestinians. The problem is the other way around. Few Palestinians have demonstrated much empathy of any sort toward Israelis. (Watch their television shows.)"
From Affirmative Action to Diversity
"Similar verbal gymnastics have gradually turned "affirmative action" into "diversity" — a word ambiguous enough to avoid the innate contradictions of a liberal society affirming illiberal racial preferencing."
Reminder: That incandescent light bulb ban was not a good idea
Hot Air "Why? Not merely because government directives might forcibly funnel consumer demand, investment, and R&D toward a product that really isn’t ready for mass consumption, but also because, no matter how great their intentions might be, the free market is always better than politicians at picking efficient solutions. The free market’s only bias is in appealing to people’s rational self-interest; i.e., if people figure out that Product A is more expensive or of lower quality than comparable substitute Product B, people will buy Product B."
Well duuuhhh. Only a government bureaucrat would fail to figure that out.
Well duuuhhh. Only a government bureaucrat would fail to figure that out.
The 50 percent solution; How we can get the fiscal Holy Grail — tax and entitlement reform all at once
Charles Krauthammer; ….“Republicans are adamantly opposed. No more revenues, Mr. President. You got your tax hike on Jan. 1.
“Is there a solution? Yes: tax reform with a twist.
“The problem begins with definitions. By tax reform, Obama means eliminating deductions, exclusions, credits of various kinds with all the money going to the Treasury.
“That’s radically new. The historic 1986 Reagan-O’Neill tax reform closed loopholes with no extra money going to the Treasury. The new revenue went directly back to the citizenry in the form of lower tax rates.”….
ObamaCare, the caged beast about to be unleashed
Mona Charen: As Obamacare becomes more unpopular, Republicans should be ready with an alternative. "The battle over health-care reform is not over. Yes, the 2012 election ensured that the law would not be repealed and replaced in 2013. But when the American people are unhappy with a policy, they find a way to alter it. Republicans can tie themselves in knots and consider abandoning their principles on abortion, taxes, immigration, or marriage (and perhaps some of those positions require rethinking), but the health-care issue is pitched right over home plate."
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Offline until Friday evening
TD and wife are indisposed until Friday evening and blogging will be spotty for the next few days. I appreciate those who visit the Tunnel Wall regularly and faithfully, and dislike disappointing you, but hang in there with us, please.
The Tunnel Dweller
The Tunnel Dweller
The stupidity of those who govern us
These people should work at a real job during the day and legislate in the evenings. They have way too much time on their hands.
Lawmakers introduce bill to void 'Redskins' trademark "The Non-Disparagement of American Indians in Trademark Registrations Act of 2013 is co-sponsored by Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), and comes days after a federal trademark panel heard arguments over whether the team name was a slur. The panel could potentially overturn the team's trademark, which would erode profits by allowing other businesses to sell apparel and goods featuring the Redskins name."
Charlie Rangel "made the extraordinary claim that "millions of kids" are dying because they are "being shot down by assault weapons."
Progressive Radical Record of Labor Nominee Tom Perez "Perez has twisted the rule of law to bring a lawsuit against Mowhawk Central School District in New York to ensure 8th grade students can dress in drag. The lawsuit perverted protections for women against gender discrimination and rewrote federal law to include “gender identity perception.” Thus, the school was forced to allow male children to dress in mini-skirts, stilettos and pink wigs.
....
"To divert attention from the nomination of a radical, the White House has predictably played the race card. Spokesman Dan Pfeiffer reflexively attributed opposition to Perez to opposition to Latinos."
California: How about a retroactive tax grab, plus interest? "“How would you feel if you made a decision, which was made four years ago, (and) you absolutely knew was legally correct and four years later a governing body came in and said, ‘no, it’s not correct, now you owe us a bunch more money. And we’re going to charge you interest on money you didn’t even know you owed’,” Brian Overstreet told Fox News from his office north of San Francisco."
While on the subject: Kaliforniya reflux disease "I took this photo in the San Joaquin Valley: As can be seen, it is a farmers’ sign attacking politicians who created a legislated agricultural crisis.
"Further up I-5 I saw a vast dead orchard that I couldn’t get a shot of. Maybe next time."
Feds Spend $400,000 to Study Duck Genitals "For the past four years, American taxpayers have paid nearly $400,000 so that Yale University could study the sexual conflict of waterfowl and “plasticity in duck penis length.”
Fantasy in the reality-based community over the $22 per hour minimum wage "Professor Senator Warren’s course in “How to kill jobs 101″ is cruel and unusual punishment especially to hard working small businesses, family owned farms and companies trying to survive since 9/11 in struggling communities across our nation." One of the comments to this post:
"Citizens get the shaft, and illegal aliens get VIP treatment – that is America’s Sanctuary State."
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| Norton |
Charlie Rangel "made the extraordinary claim that "millions of kids" are dying because they are "being shot down by assault weapons."
Progressive Radical Record of Labor Nominee Tom Perez "Perez has twisted the rule of law to bring a lawsuit against Mowhawk Central School District in New York to ensure 8th grade students can dress in drag. The lawsuit perverted protections for women against gender discrimination and rewrote federal law to include “gender identity perception.” Thus, the school was forced to allow male children to dress in mini-skirts, stilettos and pink wigs.
....
"To divert attention from the nomination of a radical, the White House has predictably played the race card. Spokesman Dan Pfeiffer reflexively attributed opposition to Perez to opposition to Latinos."While on the subject: Kaliforniya reflux disease "I took this photo in the San Joaquin Valley: As can be seen, it is a farmers’ sign attacking politicians who created a legislated agricultural crisis.
"Further up I-5 I saw a vast dead orchard that I couldn’t get a shot of. Maybe next time."
Feds Spend $400,000 to Study Duck Genitals "For the past four years, American taxpayers have paid nearly $400,000 so that Yale University could study the sexual conflict of waterfowl and “plasticity in duck penis length.”
Fantasy in the reality-based community over the $22 per hour minimum wage "Professor Senator Warren’s course in “How to kill jobs 101″ is cruel and unusual punishment especially to hard working small businesses, family owned farms and companies trying to survive since 9/11 in struggling communities across our nation." One of the comments to this post:
How any thinking person, especially anyone involved in running a business, can think that tripling the minimum wage will raise the standard of living in this country is beyond comprehension. These people shouldn’t be allowed to vote, be near small children, pump gas, or play with scissors. They are dangerously ignorant.New Commercial Features Illegal Aliens Asking For ‘Affordable Healthcare’
"Citizens get the shaft, and illegal aliens get VIP treatment – that is America’s Sanctuary State."
Months After Federal Raid, Gibson Guitar Still Faces No Charges "Why did the government go after Gibson? A new video from Reason.tv explores the implications of the case, problems with the Lacey Act and how overcriminalization is threatening the American way of life.
John Bolton: Don’t confuse what Obama says with what the American people actually believe.
"Obama has consistently demonstrated, both in his rhetoric and policies, that of all US presidents since 1948, he is the most hostile to Israel. Now safely reelected, he travels to Israel on his terms, with no potential domestic political downsides for saying things he knows Israelis (and most Americans) don’t want to hear.
"Obama will have two basic messages, one relating to the Palestinians and the other to Iran’s nuclear weapons program.
"In both Israel and the United States, the media and the political classes will likely focus on the Palestinian question, but in truth, the Iran message will be the more chilling and potentially dangerous."
....
"So here’s the real message to Israelis from Americans: Whatever our religious backgrounds, we do not agree with Obama’s views on Israel or the Middle East."
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