I'm very sad that even though there were 4 killed in the roadside bomb, only photos of the women are being put on the headlines

[margo1974]

There are families of the men who died who are grieving just as much and I think it detracts from them.

It's a loss, whether it's a man or woman

I thought the picture of the woman was printed was because she was a friend of William's at Sandhurst rather than because she was a woman???

I agree that all the victims should be remembered though, if that is what their families and friends wish at this time.

I've seen pictures of the men - one had 2 little boys and there was a pic of him with one of them

I agree its silly to focus on one soldier just because of someone she knows. Her life was not worth more because of her association.

I have been incensed at the media coverage both of this tragic incident and the sailors in Iran. One news buletin reporting on the return of the sailors referred to 'Faye Turney and her 14 colleagues' .

Naturally, that leads the Daily Mail and its ilk to pose the question 'should women be in the armed forces?'

WTF not? Are women lobotomised at birth and unable to make decisions for themselves? Or is it just that they cannot defend themselves, despite having undergone the same training as their male colleagues? Or perhaps it is because the loss of a woman is so much worse than the loss of a man? An adult of either sex can be a parent, and an adult of either sex is capable and allowed (thank God) to decide for themself what course to follow through their life. How dare some smug bastard journalist decide what is best for these people and attempt to brainwash the public into thinking that somehow it is wrong for a woman to decide that she wants to enter a combatitive life in the armed forces. The media slant recently has p**sed me right off.

Thankyou Grumpy - That's exactly what I meant, but you have said it better than me

I agree it all a subtle ruse.
What they realy want to say is
'What are these women doing here in the first place.'
Lets just keep the litle women safe at home where they belong.
It is tragic for all the families, they are all so young.
I just hope Faye doesn't sell out comlpetely and start turning up in lads mags that's all we need.

I do think that if they are wanting equality and take the pay for a job then unfortunately the dangers come with doing that job. The media twist things ridiculously at times and the returning captive seamen/woman giving a press conference on the same day 4 died was obscene.

As is the fact they are considering taking money for their stories.

They should be thankful they came out of the situation alive.

I would lay the blame at the door of the media, just look at, say, WW2, plenty of servicewomen died in the horrific circumstances of war.

GOH, I totally agree with you!

I'm incredibly sad and worried whenever I hear of any loss of life of our soldiers as I have a lot of friends out in Afghanistan and Iraq right now (my DH has just left the Army) and have a lot of girlfriends who are anxiously waiting for their DHs to come home.

It infuriates me the way the media is stirring this up and is effectively deciding who is more newsworthy - how dare they

I'm also at a loss to describe how I feel about these sailors/marines who are selling their stories. I know not all of them are, and credit to those who are not. They at least have some dignity and are sensitive to their positions (they're still serving FGS).

But to sell their story in the first place shows no respect to those have died and to keep the money for themselves is outright wrong. I don't know who to be more cross with, them for selling out or the scummy media for waving large cheques at them. It's disgraceful.

I'm suprised that the military gave permission

Is it not the same thing?

Are they just in charge of the paperwork?

So they make the policy that governs the military?

I'll ask Dh when he gets home , he sometimes does contract work for them.

Firstly, I have only seen news reports and newspaper articles where all four of them were featured.

Secondly, I was quite amazed to hear a newsreader say the other day that "we do not allow women on the front line"

huh?

(without meaning to sound like a militant feminist) I thought we had equality. And you can't be equal when it suits, but when it starts to get a bit dangerous be unequal.

If we are talking about the Ramadi bomb, weren't there 5 casualties, not 4?

I can't remember what the reasons are for banning women from the front line but I recall it was pretty weak