US General in Iraq defends court martial for pregnant soldiers

[jimmy olsen]

Decision reversed

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/34579550#34543418

[Neil]

American cowardice knows no bounds.

[KRonn]

Decision reversed

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/34579550#34543418

Too bad. It really wasn't such a big deal it seems, and was just military discipline for what seemed responsible reasoning by the General.

[grumbler]

Some people cannot handle the truth

And some cannot speak it.

[grumbler]

First off if it's army policy to send pregnant soldiers home (as stated in the OP), does this general have the authority to change that on his own?  I'm not an expert on military law, but isn't what is and isn't a court-martial offense a matter of written law, not just something that individual commanders decide on?

I don't think the general can over-ride the policy on sending pregnant women home, and I have seen nothing to indicate that he even considered it.  As far as courts-martial are concerned, they are a matter of law (the USMJ) but the UCMJ allows for convening a court-martial on someone who incapacitates him/herself (or another soldier) for duty

Also, how does it apply to both male and female soldiers?  Does that mean that if a male soldier is home on leave and gets his civilian wife pregnant, he can be court-martialed?  If so, the why?  It doesn't diminish readiness.

If the wife is a civilian, how could this general's military orders apply to her?

[Martinus]

What if religious soldiers are against using condoms or taking the pill? That threat would basically force those soldiers to go against their religion.

[Martinus]

Also, how does it apply to both male and female soldiers?  Does that mean that if a male soldier is home on leave and gets his civilian wife pregnant, he can be court-martialed?  If so, the why?  It doesn't diminish readiness.

I understood that to mean that if a male soldier fucks a female soldier and gets her pregnant, they will both be court-martialed, and not the example you made.

[dps]

Also, how does it apply to both male and female soldiers?  Does that mean that if a male soldier is home on leave and gets his civilian wife pregnant, he can be court-martialed?  If so, the why?  It doesn't diminish readiness.

I understood that to mean that if a male soldier fucks a female soldier and gets her pregnant, they will both be court-martialed, and not the example you made.

That makes sense, but the article said that the policy applied equally to male and female soldiers.  So it applies to female soldiers who get pregnant by civilians (and it seems to), if it doesn't apply to male soldiers who get civilians pregnant, it doens't apply equally.

[DontSayBanana]

I understood that to mean that if a male soldier fucks a female soldier and gets her pregnant, they will both be court-martialed, and not the example you made.

I was under the impression that kind of fraternization was already verbot, not just in case of pregnancy.

[merithyn]

And the rule goes byebye:

Commander to Rescind a Provision on Pregnancy

WASHINGTON (AP) — The top United States commander in Iraq intends to rescind a policy that had placed pregnant soldiers at risk of discipline.

The commander, Gen. Ray Odierno, has drafted a broad new policy for American forces in Iraq that will take effect Jan. 1 and will not include a pregnancy provision that one of his subordinate commanders enacted last month, the United States military command in Iraq said Thursday.

The news of General Odierno's order comes about a week after the pregnancy policy issued by Maj. Gen. Anthony Cucolo set off widespread criticism. General Cucolo had issued a policy that would permit the punishment of soldiers who become pregnant and their sexual partners.

The pregnancy provision was one of a variety of offenses for which General Cucolo said punishments could range from minor discipline to a court-martial.

In a conference call with reporters earlier this week, he said he would never actually seek to jail someone over a pregnancy. General Cucolo said the policy had been intended to emphasize the problems created when pregnant soldiers go home and leave behind a weaker unit.

The new general order issued by General Odierno, which follows a full review of existing orders, consolidates and replaces several general orders from United States commanders across Iraq.

[Neil]

Once again, America fails.

[Martinus]

Also, how does it apply to both male and female soldiers?  Does that mean that if a male soldier is home on leave and gets his civilian wife pregnant, he can be court-martialed?  If so, the why?  It doesn't diminish readiness.

I understood that to mean that if a male soldier fucks a female soldier and gets her pregnant, they will both be court-martialed, and not the example you made.

That makes sense, but the article said that the policy applied equally to male and female soldiers.  So it applies to female soldiers who get pregnant by civilians (and it seems to), if it doesn't apply to male soldiers who get civilians pregnant, it doens't apply equally.

Hint: only females have wombs.

[grumbler]

That makes sense, but the article said that the policy applied equally to male and female soldiers.  So it applies to female soldiers who get pregnant by civilians (and it seems to), if it doesn't apply to male soldiers who get civilians pregnant, it doens't apply equally.

Both partners in rendering a soldier unable to continue her combat tour would be subject to discipline, unless the male partner was not a soldier and therefor not subject to the UCMJ.  It applies to male and female soldiers equally.  Dunno why this seems so hard to understand.

[C.C.R.]

That makes sense, but the article said that the policy applied equally to male and female soldiers.  So it applies to female soldiers who get pregnant by civilians (and it seems to), if it doesn't apply to male soldiers who get civilians pregnant, it doens't apply equally.

Both partners in rendering a soldier unable to continue her combat tour would be subject to discipline, unless the male partner was not a soldier and therefor not subject to the UCMJ.  It applies to male and female soldiers equally.  Dunno why this seems so hard to understand.

Gives a whole new meaning to the term "Friendly Fire," eh?