Women warriors

TO THE MILITARY LEADERSHIP DIVERSITY COMMISSION for its women-in-combat-jobs report, which acknowledges that female troops have been serving in harm’s way for years, and recognizes that the military is hurting itself by formally barring women from certain units and assignments. The report, which recommends a deliberate pace when opening up additional occupational specialties, should help the Pentagon and the services continue down the path that put women in jet cockpits and submarines. Last September, then-Defense Secretary Robert Gates even said he expects women eventually to join special operations forces. In fights against intelligent foes, it is folly to exclude qualified people, of whatever gender. Indeed, as the Army and Marines have learned, for some missions, women are indeed more qualified.