Sexist or Strategic?
By ParaTed2k
@ParaTed2k (22940)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
November 11, 2011 1:07am CST
?1st Lt. Ashley White from Alliance, Ohio, is the first member of the "Cultural Support Teams" to lose her life in this new frontier of US military service.
What are the Cultural Support Teams?
During the Bush administration, the DoD came under a lot of fire for using female intelligence troops to interrogate Islamist Extremist detainees. Because of Arab culture and Islamic rules, women intimidated the detainees, and could get information out of them that the male troops couldn't.
Now there is another use for female soldiers. One that works with the arab and persian cultures instead of strategically against it. However, it is still singles out women.
One of the problems of fighting a war against governments but not against the people is you have to take the people on their own terms. The Soviets never learned this while then were fighting in Afghanistan, but Gens McCrystal and Patreaus took action, and issued orders accordingly.
The U.S. Special Operations Command was ordered to establish training requirements and regulations to develop "Cultural Support Teams". The teams are women, trained and qualified to work along side Special Forces and Ranger teams to search, interrogate and provide support for indigenous women.
Since the indigenous women aren't offended by women searching their bodies or their homes, it creates a more cooperative relationship. The men see that our male troops are willing to respect their wives and daughters, and the rules of their culture, so it's proven to be an asset.
The female troops have discovered men posing as women, found weapons hidden under burqas, as well as in areas of homes and buildings designated for females only.
So, is this being sexist? Or is it strategic?
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2011/10/ap_death-highlights-womens-role-in-
4 people like this
6 responses
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
28 Nov 11
Well, it was the female intel troops who chose to use the fact that the detainees were bothered by being interrogated by women also.
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
11 Nov 11
I think it's being strategic.. hopefully some well meaning idiot won't come along and demand it change.. I also think Burkas are a security risk..
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
11 Nov 11
It sounds like good strategy to me, although I've never heard of the program before now. It would make no sense to have men search the women or the premises if it would create so much ill will--it would make the military's job harder and throw up a lot of walls. Using women volunteers to do these things saves a lot of time and effort and offends fewer people and might foster more cooperation.
As for being sexist, it might be but so what? It's war, and whatever works is what we should use. I think a lot of people nowadays think that consideration based on culture or gender is sexist and they are wrong. It's common courtesy and compassion.
@RebeccaScarlett (2532)
• Canada
13 Nov 11
Strategic. The way women are often treated in middle eastern countries is what is sexist.
Potential commenters: please note that I said the way women are often treated. I did not accuse every man of any particular race, religion, or culture of automatically being sexist merely for belonging to that particular race, religion, or culture. There are good men in those countries who respect their wives and daughters. Unfortunately it seems like many people in charge of certain countries view women as objects rather than people.
