US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has previously expressed opposition to women serving in combat, has ordered the military to develop gender-neutral physical fitness standards for frontline troops, a memo released Monday said.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has previously expressed opposition to women serving in combat, has ordered the military to develop gender-neutral physical fitness standards for frontline troops, a memo released Monday said.
Was with you till the draft comment. I didn’t think anyone should be drafted. If the people don’t willingly enlist, either your cause is shit, or your benefits don’t offset the risks.
I agree nobody should be drafted, but that’s not reality, so everyone should be forced.
I don’t want to be drafted either but I think there do seem to be cultural benefits to universal conscription and mandatory military service. These countries seem to be much less willing to go to war than countries where only certain classes or groups of people are represented in the military.
Three of the worst offenders, the US, Russia, and Israel, are examples of the latter. The people making the decisions to go to war tend to be in the class or group that avoids military service.
Israel has universal conscription last I knew and they don’t seem to give a hoot about bombing everyone. I don’t think mandatory military service makes them any less willing to go to war.
They don’t. Until June 2024, Ultra-Orthodox Jews (Haredim) were exempt from military services under an arrangement known as Torato Umanuto. Furthermore the draft only applies to male and female Jews, male Druze, and male Circassians in the first place. All other ethnic groups are excluded.
Haredim have historically been very active on the far right of Israeli politics. They’ve made up a significant portion of settlers and have been major proponents of the expansion of settlements. Their loss of draft exemption last year was met with widespread protests but some are hopeful it will eventually contribute to political change. Policies like this are slow to take effect though, and generational prejudices don’t disappear overnight.