Columnist Ruthe Deskin: Female war vets should be recognized

Ruthe Deskin

Thursday, April 17, 2003 | 8:45 a.m.

Ruthe Deskin is assistant to the publisher. Reach her at deskin@lasvegassun.com.

Women have been there all along, but more or less we took it for granted. A death and the capture and rescue of two American women POWs made us realize just how far women have come in the military.

Lest we forget, here is a reminder from Mildred Batalias of Las Vegas:

"I read your recent column regarding Women's History Month.

I am writing to ask why the women in the military are never recognized during Women's History Month. To me, as a World War II female veteran of three years in the Women's Army Corps ('42 to '45), it is a bit of a letdown.

"We served all over the world (New Guinea jungles, Philippines, Europe, Africa). We had women who died, and some are still suffering. We never were allowed to handle guns, etc. (nothing to protect ourselves). Our women went on to serve in Vietnam, Korea, Gulf War and now in Iraq.

"Today, our military women fly planes, serve on ships and in submarines. Also on the front in combat (which I, along with other past women, are strictly against).

"We gave up families, jobs and privileges to help our country fight the enemy in many ways. We are all very proud to have served and, I think, once a year (Women's History Month), we are entitled to be recognized as much as state representatives.

"God Bless America, and our troops."

-- Mildred Batalias.

As I watched the frantic reactions of Iraqi citizens kicking the fallen statue of Saddam Hussein as they joyously greeted coalition forces, I recalled a few months earlier when some of these same Iraqis were burning photos of President Bush and setting fire to the American flag while shouting obscenities against America.

How times change.

Soon after liberation the looting began. The vandalizing of the Iraq National Museum was particularly devastating as irreplaceable relics were destroyed.

"Our heritage is finished," lamented the museum's director on viewing the destruction.

Even Red Cross workers have been threatened as they try to restore water and power facilities in the city of Basra.

Did our leaders underestimate the risk of chaos in post-war Iraq?

When we speak of democracy in Iraq, we are neglecting the historical, cultural, social, economics and religious obstacles to establishing a Western-type democratic regime.

Sanner Shehata, an Egyptian-American professor at Georgetown University, warned: "Democracy is not a case of Coca-Cola that one can import into a country. Democracy is institutions, structures and a kind of culture.

"We're talking about things like independent judiciary, free press, a culture of political participation -- all of these things which can't be brought into a country overnight in a cargo plane ... to think Iraq can be a democracy in a few months as soon as we mop up the mess is nonsense and naivete."

Always lurking behind the problems in Iraq is the fear of the unknown. As of this date, Syria has indicated a sly willingness to assist Iraq. Other Arab nations likely would fight regime changes if attempts were made to democratize all of the Middle East.

There's a tough job ahead and it can't be done overnight.