why aren't women and women ONLY fighting the next 225 years of wars while the men stay home and pine for their brave spouses? Seems awfully sexist and hypocritical of women and feminists to expect otherwise.

After reading this article, I must admit I was horrified, shocked, and disgusted. I couldn't help but recall my college years at the University of Southern Mississippi where the majority of women I had met had been raped, molested, or both. I was incredibly shaken by this experience. I was appalled that it was so commonplace in the lives of women. At first, I thought I was lucky because I had not been raped our molested; but then after my 85 year old grandmother got raped and I continued to hear more stories I began to think, "I am not lucky, my turn just has not come yet." During my teenage years and my twenties I was sexually harassed by men nonstop. It didn't matter whether I was living in Europe or the United States. I haven't had this experience since I have been in my 30's. Is it because I am older, therefore less attractive, or a lot more confident or both? Not being harrassed anymore has made me naive. I suppose I wanted to think that our society has made progress. I don't want to view men as monsters, but why do they think they are entitled to our bodies? Why do they forget so easily that we are human? Moments like this, I am grateful I am a lesbian- although that would never prevent me from being raped.

I'm confused. Aren't these women SOLDIERS? Aren't they trained to DEFEND themselves? Don't they carry GUNS? If they can't fend off one of their own,in camp, they shouldn't be there at all.

Get the fuck out of the military already. Next thing you know they'll be complaining that they aren't getting the right type of moisturizer on the front line! Having chicks serve is an awful idea for the following reasons: Women are weaker, slower, and dumber than men. Emotionally, women are train wrecks for a week out of every month-MEDIC WE'VE GOT A BLEEDER! Add this weak ass sexual harrasment crap and one can only conclude that women are a HUGE LIABILITY!

Listen up ladies, war is hell!

HOOOHAAA

This was an incredibly moving article.

Shame on the Army for not taking care of their soldiers. It's pretty telling that when commanders didn't condone harassment, there were fewer instances of such. If only some people in charge were serious about fixing this, I'm sure things would change.

I cannot imagine the kinds of trauma that these women faced, especially feeling that there was nothing they could do to make it right.

I'm so sorry they ended up feeling alone. They sacrificed so much voluntarily, why did so much have to be taken from them, too?

I'm confused. Aren't these men SOLDIERS? Aren't they trained to BEHAVE themselves? Don't they support their COMRADES IN ARMS? If they can't support one of their own,in camp, they shouldn't be there at all.

Get the fuck out of the military already. Next thing you know they'll be complaining that they aren't getting the right type of prostitutes on the front line! Having men serve is an awful idea for the following reasons: men are sex-crazed, distracted and unable to back up one of their own if their cock needs a dippin'. Emotionally, men are train wrecks for a week out of every month-MEDIC WE'VE GOT A HORNY ASSHOLE! Add this weak ass sexual neediness crap and one can only conclude that men are a HUGE LIABILITY!

Listen up men, behavior demanded of a solider in the US army is hell!

I am blown away by the level of hostility in some of the letters. The men who are writing in, calling women "bitches" and saying they're dumber than men are a frightening bunch. There's nothing wrong with a woman wanting to serve her country. If she is qualified for the job, she should be able to do it. Patriotism shouldn't go by gender. And every soldier deserves comrades who will look out for them. How can a woman defend herself when she's getting gang-raped in a shower? These LWs have mothers, maybe sisters and ladies in their lives. If those women were raped, would you share with them the same nasty comments, i.e. why didn't you defend yourself? If so, then those LWs deserve to left alone. Women, beware of those callous psychos.

As for the monthly hormonal change that turns women into so-called emotionally unstable "lunatics"...hate to break it to you, fellas, but during that time of the month, women's hormone levels rise to the level of men. Meaning, women act like GUYS when they're PMS-ing. It's true. Look it up, sherlock. If you don't like the behavior, look in the mirror!

I hope the rational, decent male LWs out there respond to this important article about Iraq. Don't let the voices of Neanderthals drown you ou.

I have never been in the military but nothing in this piece surprised me in the least. Men without women are animals, especially young men who have been trained to kill. The idea that women are natural warriors and that they can fight beside men as equals is simply an impossible idea. If the enemy does not rape them, their own side will. Every army in history has needed prostitutes or captives, like the comfort women given to the Japanese troops, to satisfy the exacerbated lust of war time. Women soldiers are paying a terrible price for the delusions of the feminists and the politicians.

The cruelity and callousness of some of the comments here can make one only surmise some of you are bored, giggly middle-school kids or an actual rapists.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Really Necessary?

if the Army had no women in Iraq, it would be even more understaffed than it is now. So, ban women and bring back the draft. Is that what you he-men want?