General Janet Karpinski (USAR-Ret): "I am very interested in the timing of this"

[Stinky The Clown]

Paraphrasing from an interview she gave to MSNBC about allowing women to serve in combat:

Why the three year implementation? What will be different then from right now? Today?

What about the women who have been in combat since 2001, when we started "attaching" women to combat units, but not "assigning" them?

[alfredo]

1. Everything is negotiated in DC.

[TwilightGardener]

2. I wondered about the timing, but assumed it was because Panetta was willing

to sign off on it and take care of it before he left. Kind of a parting "gift".

[longship]

3. Do you honestly believe Panetta made that decision?

It seems more like a decision for the commander-in-chief. Don't you think?

[TwilightGardener]

4. Hard to say. I assume Obama wanted this, but the public green light really had to come

from commanders and those who study how personnel changes like this will impact readiness. DADT repeal, though ultimately legislated, was the product of work and study WITHIN the DoD (impact studies, etc.). Obama doesn't want to have an angry military on his hands, so it's good that the brass seems to support this--plus, there are lawsuits about women serving in combat that kind of sped this along. I suspect the next SecDef prefers not be involved with this decision (being a combat infantry vet himself), and that's why Panetta did it now, in his last three weeks.

[longship]

5. I really like your explanation.

But I have little doubt that this was from the President. It almost had to, didn't it?

[TwilightGardener]

6. I know he approves, that's enough for me to give him credit.

I am actually surprised at how many on DU and elsewhere disagree with this decision. I figured right-wingers would throw a fit, but didn't realize that people on the left might have reservations.

[longship]

7. I have reservations myself, but it's inevitable.

Thanks.

[Whisp]

8. if we have a pro-war woman president in 2016

there might be an influx of women enlisting and they might believe any reason she gives for why there is a war. by the sounds of some here on DU, it would be very exciting, or something.

this is so very sad

[TwilightGardener]

9. I'm assuming you mean Hillary Clinton. I doubt women would join up and choose combat

because of a hawkish female Prez.