Women in the US Military.

It is a staggering figure with major implications for those of us who want to change society. And for those of us who stand for gender equality. According to a Defense Department study there were more than 200,000 female enlisted and commissioned officers in the military in 2010. This was up from 55,000 in 1973. These figures are so enormous I am afraid to print them but they come from the Defense department's own study.

Look at a few implications. First these 200,000 women and of course their male equivalents could be providing enormous resources not for war, but for health care, child care, helping build better lives for all at home and abroad. When you add on to this the enormous amounts spent and workers employed in the military complex then you can see how the world can be changed for the better with very little effort if we could only end capitalism.

Another implication we have to consider. As the class struggle heats up the ruling classes will be prepared to throw everything they have at the rising revolution. We will have to be able to win over forces in the capitalist state. This means having a program, having an appeal to the ranks and also in many cases the officers of the capitalist state, the military and all the state apparatus. Trade union rights, gender equality, no discrimination against sexual orientation, better wages, conditions, a democratic internal life etc., etc.

An appeal to females in the military is especially important. Women in the military are more critical of the war than their males peers - 63% of women said the Iraq war was not worth fighting while the figure was 47% amongst men, 54% of women said the same about Afghanistan while the figure was 39% amongst men.

Sean.