Because equal rights has always meant equal responsibility, that’s why! This is not about political correctness. We are living in an age when roles are constantly evolving, and attitudes about gender roles must evolve, too. I’m not content to be part of the barefoot and pregnant generation, and I applaud the women who let nothing stand in their way of defending our country … I allowed that to happen to me, and I’ll regret that to my dying day.

Whether women in the military should be involved in combat, is a decision that should be made by her and her commanding officer. Women who go into combat know the risks that are involved, including being a POW, or an MIAand the ugliness that goes with it. It is a tough decision, that I would not want to be the judge of the person making the decision.

For now, being in the military is a choice. Hopefully, the draft will never be used again. But if the draft is implemented, men and women will most likely encounter the same decisions as the draftees during the Vietnam war.

What I am really hoping for is more focus on getting out of Afghanistan.

How do we reconcile “allowing” women in combat (they get to choose) versus when a man enters the military and ends up as an infantryman and would not be “allowed” to decide that combat was not for him without severe consequences.

Doug, you are spot on.