GENERAL - SIR, THE FLOOR IS YOURS

GENERAL - SIR, THE FLOOR IS YOURS
by Andy Weddington
Friday, 01 February 2013


"And I found nowhere in my mental exploration any place for women to be down in the ground combat element." General Robert H. Barrow, USMC (27th Commandant)

That opening quote, delivered with emotion and emphasizing arm and hand gestures at "any place", by General Barrow was offered during somber reflection of his combat experiences during the Korean War at the Chosin Reservoir - an historic fight against a numerically superior Chinese force where his leadership in command of a rifle company holding a key pass near Koto-ri was recognized with a Navy Cross.

A year ago come March 17th, I wrote and posted commentary titled, 'Destroying the Marine Corps - Women in Combat'. 

That comment was short and to the point. But my words, from the perspective of an infantryman, were offered only to frame the issue and to set the stage for a Marine, an infantryman, who distinguished himself leading infantrymen in offensive combat on battlefields in three wars.

That Marine's words were offered in video recorded testimony, in 1991, before the Senate Armed Services Committee - 8 years after his 41 year career and 17 years before his death.

Drawing on his experiences, without the aid of notes, General Robert H. Barrow skillfully laid out his compelling case against women serving in ground combat units.

It was the General's son, a retired Marine, who first brought the Youtube video to my attention. He okay'ed its inclusion in my commentary. At the time, we thought it may get 100 or so views. We were wrong. Within hours it reached 500 and then 1,000. And we watched in disbelief as views surpassed 5,000, 10,000, 25,000 and continued to climb. And viewers, by the hundreds, opined and bluntly. With rare exception, nearly all agreeing with General Barrow and ridiculing and mocking current "leadership."

I checked this morning, the count is 44,559 - more than 1,200 more views than when I retired for the evening late last night. Do the math, that's well more than 4,000 views a month. His message, even from his grave, is resonating.

Recently, I heard from a general officer whom I respect and once worked for. Their opinion - "leadership" is the answer to dealing with the inevitable challenges of maintaining good order and discipline, between genders, in ground combat units.

If "leadership" was the answer we'd have long ago solved the problem of invincible young Marines killing themselves drinking and driving and zooming on motorcycles. The problems remain.

General Barrow, who held command as a junior and senior officer in combat, saw it differently. And he was not ambiguous. He said heaving the responsibility of maintaining good order and discipline (between the genders) upon the shoulders of corporals and sergeants and lieutenants and captains that are trying to fight the war is wrong. "It doesn't work! It doesn't work!", he said.

Those speaking to the contrary, whether civilian or military, do not enjoy General Barrow's unimpeachable credibility. The talk is nonsense.

During the past week or so there have been DoD releases, statements, and letters written by admirals and Marine generals addressed to the force. One written by our sitting commandant to the retired general officers was sent to me. Soon thereafter so were quite a few comments from readers about that letter - none of them suitable for reprint or even comment. To put it kindly, let's just say that in the eyes of many the change is not going over so well and General Barrow's boots are empty.

I was sent a short video clip, a minute or two, featuring the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps - addressing women in combat. He was positive, clear, and to the point that the change would not impact combat readiness. He fared no better (than the commandant) in comments from readers. 

Not that my opinion matters one iota but so offered last week when asked. Two of the comments follow...

"Political "pressures," mandates, policies, directives, orders, 'gender-neutral' standards (they're coming), etc., all contrary to national security. Succumbing is easier than leadership. How disappointing. During little more than 13 minutes of sworn remarks, without notes, before the SASC [Senate Armed Services Committee] in 1991, General Robert H. Barrow, 27th Commandant, eloquently, passionately, thoroughly, and most gentlemanly summarized why women in ground combat is a stupid (a word he did not use) idea. In closing, he pleaded with Congress, based largely on the horrors of his combat experiences in three wars (all different), to not let it happen. His fear - destruction of the Marine Corps (and, of course, compromise of national security). Who, with more credibility, can argue to the contrary? Alas, the old warrior has finally been shelved as irrelevant. Carry on but Mother Nature will have the final word. No man, nor woman, will ever beat her to Parade Rest. Ever. And yet it's "Forward, March!" into inevitable peril. And with that, closing with "Good grief" fitting."

 

And to another...

"Women are serving as captains of industry because they have the talents, skills, and ability and the people have elected women to the House, Senate, and governorships because they have the talents, skills, and ability - neither because of loopy thinking and mandates and orders. So goes the natural order of things. If women were naturally capable, equally capable, of serving in the combat arms occ [occupational] fields, the natural reality would have been lower level leadership (including women) [long ago] demanding it and the senior level leadership aggressively campaigning for it - pulling for it (not fighting it). That's not what happened [and is happening]. Removing the combat exclusion is stupid and no amount of polish, spoken or written, will change opposing minds. Granted, civilian control of the military is a must and following orders understood. But it is appalling no senior officers laid their stars on the table refusing on moral, ethical, practical, and national security grounds. Going along to get along is a disservice to Corps and Country.

For our Corps, there will be unintended consequences - as to whom chooses to serve and in turn capabilities. And General Barrow's sobering prediction of destroying the Marine Corps will prove prophetic. Those last two sentences written with great angst. Truth - someone has to so speak. And I suppose that's about all I have to say."

And then Wednesday morning an article amongst a batch of related articles caught my attention. And so, with included comment, I sent it to a few contacts. The introduction and article...

 

"Well, the campaign to win the hearts (Americans have no brains) continues. About 1% volunteer to serve. So, the stupidest poll and article to date regarding women serving in ground combat units. The article was included in Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps Daily Media Report. Red text and yellow highlight mine. AFW"

 

Reuters.com

January 29, 2013

(Uninformed) Americans Largely Back Combat Role For Women: Poll (Agenda)

By Ian Simpson, Reuters

WASHINGTON (Idiotville) -- The U.S. public largely backs the Pentagon's decision to lift restrictions on women in combat, a poll showed on Tuesday. (Right! And the U.S. public backs Snookie, Honey Boo Boo, legalizing dope, and more nonsense than there's room to cite.)

Sixty-six percent of those polled said they support letting women serve in ground units that engage in close combat, while 26 percent are opposed, according to the survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press and the Washington Post. (None of whom know what they are talking about.)

Opinion on the issue is little changed from a Washington Post/ABC News survey two years ago, Pew said in a statement. (And that poll equally as flawed.) 

The Defense Department lifted a longtime ban on women serving in front-line combat units on Thursday. The move marked a historic step toward sexual equality (What in the world is "sexual equality"?) after 11 years of war in which women were increasingly on the battlefield. (Being on the battlefield is not ground combat.) 

The survey found that the public is split over whether the move represented a major change for the U.S. military. Forty-seven percent said it is, while an equal percentage said it is a minor change. (And how would they, those polled, know?) 

The poll was conducted from January 24 to 27 among 1,005 adults (Surely as determined only by age.), after Defense Secretary Leon Panetta ended the combat ban. The margin of error was 3.7 percentage points. (The margin of error is irrelevant when the sample is flawed.)  

The poll found that 58 percent of Americans think that the policy shift will improve opportunities for women in the military. (And opportunities for women in the military, especially ground combat units, has what to do with national security?) 

Nearly half, or 49 percent, say allowing women to serve in combat roles will not make much difference to military effectiveness. (And how many of the 49% have served in uniform? In ground combat units? And have engaged in offensive ground combat?)  

Among those who say it will have an impact, 29 percent say this will improve effectiveness, versus 15 percent who say it will make it worse. (More dopey conclusions drawn from a flawed, irrelevant sample. A 5th grader could rip this moronic poll and article apart.)  

Back to Index Pass the Kool-Aid. And the doobie.

Until someone, anyone, with a more distinguished service record who knows what they are talking about when it comes to ground combat makes the case, then I will continue to be a conduit for General Barrow (commandant when I was commissioned 33 years ago).

General Barrow - Sir, the floor is yours:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy--whDNNKk

Post Script

Despite the absence of military need - testing, evaluating, analysis, and so on, including assignments, continues as to women Marines service in ground combat units. The approach is quantitative. And it's corrupt - but quantitative to support the agenda.
 
Destroying the Marine Corps - Women in Combat
http://acoloneloftruth.blogspot.com/2012/03/destroying-marine-corps-women-in-combat.html

I've lost count how many times the above commentary has been sent to me by family, friends, acquaintances, and readers with short comment, "It's making the rounds." Keep General Barrow's message going. Thank you!