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US general defends pregnancy ban | US general defends pregnancy ban |
(1 day later) | |
A US Army general in northern Iraq has defended his decision to add pregnancy to the list of reasons a soldier under his command could face court martial. | A US Army general in northern Iraq has defended his decision to add pregnancy to the list of reasons a soldier under his command could face court martial. |
It is current army policy to send pregnant soldiers home, but Maj Gen Anthony Cucolo told the BBC he was losing people with critical skills. | It is current army policy to send pregnant soldiers home, but Maj Gen Anthony Cucolo told the BBC he was losing people with critical skills. |
That was why the added deterrent of a possible court martial was needed, he said. | That was why the added deterrent of a possible court martial was needed, he said. |
The new policy applies both to female and male soldiers, even if married. | The new policy applies both to female and male soldiers, even if married. |
The male sexual partners of female soldiers who get pregnant would also "face the consequences", he said. | |
It is the first time the US Army has made pregnancy a punishable offence. | It is the first time the US Army has made pregnancy a punishable offence. |
I'm going to take every measure I can to keep them all strong, fit and with me Gen Anthony Cucolo | I'm going to take every measure I can to keep them all strong, fit and with me Gen Anthony Cucolo |
Gen Cucolo told the BBC it was a "black and white" issue for him. | Gen Cucolo told the BBC it was a "black and white" issue for him. |
He said married soldiers in combat zones should either put their love lives on hold - or take precautions. | He said married soldiers in combat zones should either put their love lives on hold - or take precautions. |
"I've got a mission to do, I'm given a finite number of soldiers with which to do it and I need every one of them." | "I've got a mission to do, I'm given a finite number of soldiers with which to do it and I need every one of them." |
"So I'm going to take every measure I can to keep them all strong, fit and with me for the twelve months we are in the combat zone," he said. | "So I'm going to take every measure I can to keep them all strong, fit and with me for the twelve months we are in the combat zone," he said. |
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