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Will women in combat be good or bad for the U.S. military?

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    ‘Factor’ debate on the merits of allowing women to serve in combat

  • Duration 6:02
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And in the impact segment tonight the Obama administration announcing that women in the military will now be able to go on combat operations to New York Times celebrating with a headline -- -- The -- -- at the front lawn.

And you may have noticed said he qualities of new buzzword for the progressive movement economic equality Merrill economy and now combat equality.

Joining us from Washington captain Pete -- as he served in Iraq and Afghanistan and from Tucson Arizona.

Martha -- the first woman to fly combat operations in the air force from which she retired as a full colonel.

So you support the decision colonel correct.

Yes they do them and why.

Well it's really long overdue I mean just in case anybody didn't get the memo women actually are ready years serving in combat operations.

They out patrolling.

Previously in Iraq -- now in Afghanistan.

They're engaging with the population is part of our counterinsurgency strategy.

They're killing the bad guys they're earning.

Wars for their valor they're getting wounded.

Other coming along -- body bags as well and making the ultimate sacrifice so women are hurting out there -- kind of this like New Year's annual policy.

Here's a deal -- 152 young women have been killed American women have been killed in Afghanistan and Iraq and slot.

And they basically are -- right now their jobs are logistical and we're driving vehicles.

Setting off.

Things like that but they're not.

-- involved in -- in the combat operations because of one very.

Strong argument against and that is physical.

Strength as you know basic training is different in the military for women men and women different tasks they have to accomplish.

So.

I'm sure the captain is gonna point out that in some situations.

You need to strengthen the man and if there's a woman.

Which -- counting on she may not be able to do the task and you say colonel.

Well I would argue that you need the strength of somebody who's qualified and capable to do the -- -- -- you wouldn't argue it is not clear so anything in physics -- between men and women look.

Certain the bell curve of men is stronger than the bell curve of women.

But there's plenty of many can't do those jobs either and there's some women who -- our basic argument this is not about equality -- This is about having the most effective fighting force absolutely and that's what you need a moment -- large population lives are on the line okay.

Can usually they -- and all right you descent and -- wants.

I agree it is about the most effective fighting force let me start by by it honestly by giving traced it to -- -- -- someone who fought.

Valiantly who -- some of the first combat I mean that's an American hero in an example of the type of person this military produces so I have -- Mean nothing against her at all I think we play agree on 95% of stuff as a war hawk pilot -- -- and if you've been on the ground when I saw that thing coming down we.

We knew we were in a better place I have nothing but.

Incredible respect for her and her service I think.

Her looking down from the air from 810 and you look it up the kicking down -- -- in Baghdad from and if you can we're gonna have different perspectives on.

But that question of effectiveness that ultimately at the end of the day in and if you -- in the dirt sustained combat operations are different then reacting valor -- to -- Kevin let me let me ask some very aggressive contact I got what I got but I want to talk I wanna talk reality rather -- -- -- both the all right so you're there in Baghdad OK and you you got your guys in and you're going in one house what's wrong with your back -- Being a very well trained.

American soldier was a woman.

-- -- If it is in in many scenarios it wouldn't be wrong and in them -- it would be wrong give me one way you would you feel there -- possible.

What you said bill if they're not physically capable of doing that which a man would do if you've got to wounded soldier marine on -- battlefield who needs to be dragged off he needs to be meg back to need to be -- can I count on that.

Female soldiers do the same thing if we were to look at women in combat we would have to make sure the standards are not a road and -- -- president.

-- don't know that would have colonel let me ask you very specific question.

Would you object then to the same basic training standards.

In the physical area.

Because they already the -- in the -- area intestines.

Would you object to they offered -- -- In most of the services you did you go through the same basic training now with the standards are different you know the standards of the other way of passing me the attacks.

Okay there is that the physical fitness test -- the yeah yeah he takes to be older than the older man also don't have to do the same -- the younger -- so that is set aside.

What we're talking about here is a qualifications to do a specific job.

In if that includes physical strength and by the way plus aptitude intellect courage.

Leadership teamwork sometimes restraint and all the other things we need on the battlefield set the standard.

Allow men and women to compete equally towards that -- its annual energy giant to individual -- -- did a good movie should do the job all right.

If you gonna be in this this situation you've everybody's got to do the same test now.

Kept -- standard one of the arguments is that it's not fair to the women in the military in any branch of service because they don't get promoted fast enough.

Because they're not a combat situation they'll get paid as much -- to combat -- And I was in -- a valid points.

Not I think there are some valid points there are think there are a lot of things -- military needs to address to get real equality look at something like sexual assault.

Look at something the military still grappling with a cultural issue that we've got to do better -- to take care of the female service members and make sure they're honored and then we do need to find ways to promote.

Incapable all right and I don't get wells back into the combat TV or denying them combat they're not gonna well -- -- quick enough and then I don't think so much money.

As the -- said counterinsurgency.

Interact with the population lot of ways are pretty dynamic.

That women are doing it's just -- combat role of sustained offensive combat operations is something.

That I think males together in in the dirt are collectively qualified to do all right very good today thank you both we appreciate.

Your patriotism income and on a -- this evening.

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