Should Women Be Allowed to Serve in Combat?
KAYE: A Pentagon commission on diversity has recommended that the U.S. military end its ban on women serving in direct combat roles. The group says that the restriction is discriminatory and out of touch with the demands of modern warfare. In its report, the Military Leadership Diversity Commission said that the military should gradually eliminate the ban in order to create a, quote, "level playing field" for all qualified service members. So, our question for today's Stream Team is this: should women be allowed to serve in combat? With us today: Lieutenant General Russel Honore. He was deputy commander, 1st Cavalry for two years at Ft. Hood. And Elaine Donnelly, she joins me by phone as well. She's the founder and president of the Center for Military Readiness. Thank you, both. General, I'd like to start with you. Should women be allowed, do you think, to serve in combat? LT. GEN. RUSSEL HONORE, U.S. ARMY</s>KAYE: And, Elaine, you're not in favor of women in combat. I mean, is it the physical aspect of the job that concerns you and gives you pause?</s>ELAINE DONNELLY, FOUNDER, CENTER FOR MILITARY READINESS (via telephone): Well, first, we need to define what the word "combat" means. It's not just being in danger. And yes, as the general says, all the women in Afghanistan and Iraq are serving well. They are all in danger. But direct ground combat means attacking the enemy. We're talking about the infantry, the armored special operation forces, the tip of the spear. You cannot do this on an optional basis. The commission that studied this issue in 1992, on which I served, looked at that, and there's no way you can make it optional. It would be mandatory for the majority of women who want nothing to do with being in direct ground combat. The diversity commission is all about diversity. It's not about combat effectiveness. It was started by the Pentagon, but it's primarily a group of people who are pushing equal opportunity as if the military is just another equal opportunity employer, but there's no such thing as a level playing field in combat. You attack the enemy or you get attacked by the enemy.</s>KAYE: Right.</s>DONNELLY: You'd better win.</s>KAYE: General Honore, is it possible, do you think, though to allow women into combat without maybe having training standards be lowered as a result?</s>HONORE: Contrary to popular belief, we have the same standard. Women have to complete the same tasks as men. The difference is, is in your combat unit, when you're wearing the 70-pound, 80-pound, or 90-pound rucksack, as she was talking about going into combat, those are situations that in a majority of the cases, that would be a stress on the average woman, but there are some women that are capable of doing it. That being said, we're running a volunteer army and military. And until everybody is serving, those who serve and have the capability to either be a military policeman, to be an artilleryman or those type skill, there are many more skills that women can do than they're doing today. To outright cease (ph) this is act of Congress, not one that the military would decide on its own.</s>KAYE: Elaine, I'd like you to weigh in on that as well.</s>DONNELLY: Sure.</s>KAYE: Do you think that standards would need to be lowered?</s>DONNELLY: Sure. I understand what the general is saying. But every attempt to keep standards the same or identical for men and women has failed, and it goes back to the same diversity crowd that's pushing to have women forced into infantry and special operations forces or areas where they're not really suited. The reason is gender norming. Standards are always adjusted to, quote, "make it more fair." That's because women don't have the same strengths, physical strengths and capabilities that men have. Certainly, they're as smart as men, as courageous as men, but physical differences matter in those direct ground combat units, such as the infantry. So, treating women equally would really be quite unfair, and we know that the Army has not been complying with regulations as they are. But if this continues, we're going to see a situation where civilian women would have to be subject to registration for the draft because the ACLU are going to court on behalf of men and say, well, look, let's make it equal, let's force women into the military, into combat in time of war, registration for it, selective service. There are a lot more factors here than meet the eye superficially. And, by the way, I do have to add this -- we're all proud of our women who serve. None of this is their fault. But the policymakers have to keep their priorities straight. Then we can use women to the best capability that they have, and that would be best for everyone.</s>KAYE: Elaine Donnelly, General Russel Honore, thank you both for weighing in on this hot topic. And it is time now for a CNN political update. Senior White House correspondent Ed Henry joins me now from the White House. Ed, big golf match scheduled for tomorrow for the president and John Boehner.</s>ED HENRY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Randi. It'd be interesting. Vice President Biden will be joining these two leaders, along with John Kasich. He'll be playing on the Republican side with John Boehner -- obviously, Ohio governor from John Boehner's home state. Jay Carney today told us they're going to allow us to take some pictures of this foursome, but they're still holding back on whether or not they're going to release the scores. That may have something to do with the fact that John Boehner, particularly, a little bit better than the president. His handicap is much, much lower. He gets out there a lot and is known for being pretty good on the links. So, we'll see how that plays out. I think more importantly, what both sides are saying is that this is a chance at a time of great division between both parties for them to try to get together in a social setting, maybe try to work out some big problems. We shall see. Meanwhile, in terms of Republican presidential politics, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is denying a report in "The American Spectator" which suggested she's closing in on a decision about whether or not to run. Obviously, a lot of people are still waiting to see whether or not she's going to get in. And, finally, Texas Governor Rick Perry announcing he's going to be getting minor back surgery early next month. People are watching that closely. Obviously, any health moves, anything going on in his schedule, because a lot of Republicans now, perhaps because of some concern that maybe the Republican presidential field is not strong enough, turning their eyes to the Republican governor of Texas, thinking maybe that Governor Perry would be strong. He's been out there on the road last couple of days, and he's going to be out in New Orleans this weekend speaking at a Republican gathering, may be testing the waters. And a lot of people watching and waiting to see whether he'll get in, Randi.</s>KAYE: All right. Ed Henry for us at the White House. Ed, thank you.</s>HENRY: Thanks, Randi.</s>KAYE: And your next update from "The Best Political Team on Television" is just one hour away. San Francisco's latest crusade, fighting for the rights of goldfish? We could not let this story get away. What you'll hear, next in my "XYZ."