General: Pregnant Troops Won't Be Punished

A controversial policy that put pregnant soldiers in war zones at risk of discipline will be rescinded under an order from the top U.S. commander in Iraq.

Gen. Raymond Odierno has drafted a broad new policy for the U.S. forces in Iraq that will take effect Jan. 1, and that order will not include a pregnancy provision that one of his subordinate commanders enacted last month, according to the U.S. military command in Iraq.

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

The order listed a variety of offenses, and the punishments for them could range from minor discipline to a court-martial. But in a conference call with reporters earlier this week, Cucolo said he would never actually seek to jail someone over the pregnancy provision.

And he said the policy was intended to emphasize the problems created when pregnant soldiers go home and leave behind a weaker unit.

U.S. military leaders in Iraq conducted a full review of all existing orders as part of the ongoing transition in Iraq, and a new general order has been drafted. The order would consolidate several general orders from the U.S. commanders across Iraq. That policy, the military said Thursday, will not include the pregnancy provision.

Previously, the commanders have had the authority to draft their own restrictions.

[ramos1129]

And he said the policy was intended to emphasize the problems created when pregnant soldiers go home and leave behind a weaker unit.

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The above is not true. The order plainly stated that both civilian and military types would be prosecuted under this provision. It was not recinded until it became public and the General came under fire from all sides.

[afmcalax]

I totally agreed with the General. Both the female soldier and the male soldier that got her pregnant should both be court martialed and dishonorably released from the military. If women want to be treated as equals in the military then when in a combat situation they should be held accountable for their actions. There is a PILL that will keep a woman from getting pregnant and if they do not want to take it then they should abstain. The male soldier should also be he accountable and if they cannot treat their fellow soldiers professionally then they should be discharged. It is hilarious but homosexual soldiers would probably act better and they are the ones getting kicked out. Once again this policy shows the hypocrisy of the military and American society.

[cidaia]

If the rule is "no sexual relations", then I don't see what is controversial about enforcing that rule.

If they're not going to enforce it, they shouldn't have it as a rule.

But I don't see any reason to believe that gays are "better behaved" than women. Their own stories about how persecuted they are under 'don't ask, don't tell' (stories which they share freely, as evidence that DADT should be overturned so that they can be "open about their sexuality") rather suggests that they're just as sexually active as women. It is their attempts to pursue their right to have a sex life that gets them into trouble (otherwise nobody could possibly know they're gay). They think it's oppressive to have to be 'discreet' about it.

If we want a battlefield where the soldiers aren't screwing each other in the field, then we shouldn't put sexually compatible couples together in close proximity.

[barbaram99]

men need to control theirs..Men keep it zipped,,when I was young I was appalled at men making an asre in front of me..Don't blame the lassie when the lad can't control himself..a man see a woman and acts like an asre..it takes 2 to make a child- male and female..It can happen one time..May be they need to address the issue..i am 55.

[retm-w]

And women keep their legs closed. Don't blame the lad when the woman can't control herself. Works both ways, I've seen women make arses out of themselves to, throwing themselves at men.

[keithle1]

I done got pregnat again, momma. He tricked me.

[Lawyers-Guns-n-Money-01]

"Hey, that's not my belly button!"

"That's not my thumb either."

[chatmandu7451]

As with all people some of our soldiers are what we use to call "zeros or duds". They are the ones that can't adjust to anything and seek ways to get out of their service enlistment. Most of the "zeros" are discovered during basic training but some still get through. Most of the time these are the same people that can't make it civilian life either.

[cidaia]

If men deliberately create a situation where their bodies are compromised by a medical condition, to the point where they are unable to serve because of a medical condition, and this is suspected of being done for the purpose of avoiding war, do they get in trouble?

If those women want equality, they should be prepared to accept the rules as well as the rights.

[Lawyers-Guns-n-Money-01]

The general's mistake in his establishing the rule was his specificity concerning pregnancy. Most all commanders in Iraq/Afghanistan have a general order number one which forbids, among other things, sexual relations. In some cases though, married couples that deploy together are often billeted together. The Army actually encouraged this. The backtracking on this issue isn't really changing much, it's just no longer singling out pregnant women.

[ffoulkes-2009]

The first general was not singling out pregnant women...he had it in for the men that made them that way too.

[kippertoo]

Getting pregnant in the military is just a cop-out. If you are not committed to going to war, don't enlist in the military. Women wanted the right to fight alongside men so suck it up, keep your legs closed and do what the American taxpayers are paying you to do.

[P0STING_AWAY]

Pregnant troops will not be punished????

You mean not punished beyond the punishment that pregnancy already is ??????

[Wichitagirl]

Split tails? Really? Do you idiots wear gloves so you don't injure your knuckles when you drag them on the ground? The fact that a women can bear a child doesn't make her any less tough or any less effective in battle.

[cidaia]

Apparently it does.

They can't even take care of their own body enough to avoid getting knocked up.

What sort of male soldier can't even control his own body?

[Lawyers-Guns-n-Money-01]

by cidaia December 26, 2009 12:46 PM EST
Apparently it does.

They can't even take care of their own body enough to avoid getting knocked up.

What sort of male soldier can't even control his own body?
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The one knocking up the female?

[barbaram99]

They should not be..It is better they not bear children in a war zone..They have to have rules on the matter..They need to keep the sleeping quarters sep..