 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
U.S. Military Defends Pregnancy Punishment in Iraq
posted 12/22/09
1:14 pm
(Photo: MGN Generic File)
Stay on top of breaking news!
Sign up for ABC News 4 e-mail alerts.
Sign up for ABC News 4 e-mail alerts.
"I see absolutely no circumstance where I would punish a female soldier by court martial for a violation ... none," Maj. Gen. Anthony Cucolo III wrote to ABC News in an exclusive statement. " I fully intend to handle these cases through lesser disciplinary action."
Cucolo triggered debate, some of it angry, when his Nov. 4 policy forbidding pregnancy among his soldiers became public recently. His policy statement said violation of the rule could be punishable by court martial, and that it would also apply to the men who get female soldiers pregnant, even if the couple is married.
While legal and military experts said the order was proper, a spokeswoman for the National Organization for Women called it "ridiculous."
"How dare any government say we're going to impose any kind of punishment on women for getting pregnant," NOW President Terry O'Neill said. "This is not the 1800s."
She said NOW would seek to have Cucolo's order rescinded, and would turn to Defense Secretary Robert Gates and even President Obama for help. "Applying this criteria is intended to promote thoughtful and responsible behavior," Cucolo told ABC News today. "I wanted all my soldiers to think before they act, before they make a personal choice that has consequences."
Cucolo, who ran the policy by several of his female commanders, told ABC News that seven soldiers -- four women and three men -- have so far been found in violation of the pregnancy portion of his general order. The four women and two of the men received letters of reprimand that will not be remain in their permanent military files.
read more stories in Local News
4 Interact - Story Comments
Not a member yet? Click Here to sign up.
Please leave your comments below:
Messages that harass, abuse or threaten other members; have obscene or otherwise objectionable content; have spam, commercial or
advertising content or inappropriate links may be removed and may result in the loss of your posting privileges. Please do not post any
private information unless you want it to be available publicly. Never assume that you are completely anonymous and cannot be identified by your posts.
More News and Videos
© 2009 WCIV-TV, LLC.
© 2009 The Associated Press
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
ABC News 4 to leave comments on news stories.