i think having a woman who is carrying a child lead an army is philosophically backwards - but war is not philosophical, and as far as i know spain isn't planning any wars any time soon, so good for her. hopefully they provide great maternity benefits.

oh, and so when berlusconi said "too pink" was he referring to communists or vaginas?

That's fascinating. I don't know anything about her, so I'll have to withhold judgment for now, but I will definitely be keeping an eye on this.

I could care less if she's pregnant, but is seems that there is rational concern over her qualifications to serve as defence minister regardless of the pregnancy.

He could have made a better choice in my opinion.

Considering the military experience of the top politicians that we have running our forces, Chacó's lack of experience shouldn't be an issue.

Among the largely pacificist Spanish population, support for military participation in combat is weak (over 50% of Spaniards support withdrawing their troops from Afghanistan altogether). But humanitarian and peace-keeping missions are another story: a 2005 poll by the Madrid-based Center for Sociological Research puts public support for those military efforts at more than 90%. The figure of a pregnant woman — "a woman in full womanhood," as Montaño puts it — only drives home that distinction. "It shows that the army doesn't just have to fulfill this masculine role of force," she says. "It can be more feminine, more humanitarian."
I think when you look at the whole article, she makes a lot of sense from Spain's perspective. More power to her!

Not sure if you were answering my comment stephley but if you are than I would have to make the distinction that qualification and experience are two different things.

Oh no, I think we were posting at the same time -

Considering the military experience of the top politicians that we have running our forces, Chacó's lack of experience shouldn't be an issue. ---love this statement very interesting statement. I would comment but I won't.

I think experience matters.

We effed up the war, no question. But does that mean you think it would have been run better by someone with zero military experience? I don't think so.

In any case, I don't know much about this particular woman so I can't say if she's qualified. Forced gender equality seems a bit odd to me, but if it works for them, then so be it.

this is off topic-But she's really Pretty!

-and-

That's awesome that she's The Defense Minister

she looks like she could kick someone's a$$!

and who cares if she's prego? from time to time, us women have the potential to get that way. just sort of the way things work.

We effed up the war, no question. But does that mean you think it would have been run better by someone with zero military experience?"

Actually Pop, Bush has very minimal military experience; Cheney has none. He got five deferments during Vietnam. Rumsfeld served three years in the 50s and was in the Reserves after that. Gates bio says he was sworn in as a 1st lieutenant, and served a year as an intelligence officer. His deputy, Gordon England, doesn't list any military experience, but he did serve on a city council somewhere.

Since the Treaty of Westphalia Spain has just been biding her time until she reclaims all the territories in South America again. You watch!

while i applaud the prime minister for all his actions in trying to achieve gender equality, i think merit should be the biggest reason why a person is hired, not gender. i don't get why a woman who has no military experience is appointed as defense minister. couldn't he find a woman who does have experience in the field?

I don't believe in forced gender equality, but I don't live in Spain, so it is up to their citizens. I think people should be judged on merit, experience all that good stuff. If they feel she is best for the job, then good for them.

stephley I'm confused.

I read your quote as sarcasm. Like, "see what experience did for us", that sort of thing.

So my response was that I felt experience did matter, even if our so-called experienced leaders dropped the ball.

No where did I claim any of those people had massive amounts of military experience. No where do I pretend to know the length, date, and location of their military service. So what gives?

I meant who are we to judge her experience when our guys currently running a war don't have any/much - no sarcasm intended at all.

Eh what does her regnancy have to do with anything? I don't see this is any great leap for woman kind. now if you had said a 7 month pregnant black homosexual woman had been elected America's president that's when I would be like interesting.

Yeah who knows maybe she's carrying a great worrier in her womb.

IMO this is a shortsighted, "stunt" appointment. I have very little respect for stunts and posturing. Of course, maybe she's supremely qualified, I don't know.

The item that caught my eye: "...required political parties to include as many women as men." Any time you *require* a quota, you will have to amend your standards. For instance, assume that 100 people take a test for a job, but only 20 men and 10 women pass. (Maybe more men took the test, or maybe it's a traditionally male subject. Whatever, it happens.) If you want to hire 40 people, you will have to accept the 20 men who passed, 10 women who passed, *and* 10 women who did not pass! I would rather hire the people who do the best, regardless of their demographics. This ultimately reduces the quality of the work and level of professionalism, and possible the amount of trust and respect the public has for the profession.

I saw a photo of her inspecting troops and thought her outfit was not very "defense minister" like, I didn't realize she was preggars. I think it is fine if she can do the job, which the Prime Minister must believe since she was appointed. Also women in these positions is no big deal, look at women in the Israeli armed forces, they are well-trained soldiers with high expectations of their service.

Forced equality on any line is wrong. If she is the most qualified person for the job, then she should have the job. If she is not, then her sex, gender, orientation, or race shouldn't be an issue.

I agree with Berlusconi. There's sense and then there's common sense. A person really does need to have some kind of military experience to lead a nation with the world as it is today.

The last thing a Nation needs is a Wuss in charge when there's a possibility of an outside force attacking them. Can't you just see Barack Hussein Obama, Jr, rolling over and opening the door and saying "come on in, Al Qaeda, take what you want, kill whom you want to, I'm a wuss and I won't fight you" ????

Hillary Rodham Clinton is a woman who won't even fight for her husband to quit playing gigolo, so do you really think she'd defend this Country from invasion of the Moors?

At least McCain does know what happens in war and that some things have to be defended.

Looking at it from a different angle is she does a kick @$$ job that's one more excuse we can scratch off our list why a women here in the U.S. can't do the same thing.

why did you have to mention Barack's middle name, Auntie Coosa? His first and last name are unique enough alone for us to know who you're talking about.

I am confused, now will BO just let someone walk over him b/c his name is common in the Muslim faith and religion. I just need clarification.

I don't think her being pregnant means anything because at some point she will cease to be pregnant. I don't know anything about her, so I can't comment on her qualifications. The idea of forced equality doesn't sit well with me though.

Her name is actually Carme Chacón, with an n at the end. I'm from Spain, and she's been in politics for many years. She does have experience in many areas, and I think she's pefectly qualified for the job, although I don't always like her or agree with her. And don't believe in forced equality either. Most female ministers in the goverment deserve their postion though, but one of them (Magdalena Álvarez) I really think she doesn't.

Thanks Pequena - I tried looking her up on Google but couldn't find anything in English aside from this article.

"Can't you just see Barack Hussein Obama, Jr, rolling over and opening the door and saying "come on in, Al Qaeda, take what you want, kill whom you want to, I'm a wuss and I won't fight you" ????"

Uh, no.

"Hillary Rodham Clinton is a woman who won't even fight for her husband to quit playing gigolo, so do you really think she'd defend this Country from invasion of the Moors?"

The Moors. Are we really in danger of being attacked by the Moors?

All that is besides the point, however. Pequena, thank you for the information--that gives me a much better perspective on her appointment!

Thanks for the info. Pequena.

Jude C, I am confused on the statements.

There are plenty of women who do things in their personal life but work their a**es off at work and do a good job. Sometimes their personal life/their personal relationships is just that - theirs and sometimes they shouldn't be judged on it. I am sure no one is perfect.

Bellaressa, I was quoting comment #23.

I am personally more afraid of the Visigoths.

FYI:
Carme Chacón Piqueras (Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, March 13, 1971) is a Spanish politician who is currently serving as Minister of Defence in the cabinet Spanish Prime Minister Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

She holds a bachelor and doctor in Law from the University of Barcelona, and she conducted her postgraduate study at Osgoode Hall Law School (Toronto), the University of Kingston and the University of Montreal. She works as a Professor of Constitutional Laws and Secretary of Education, Culture and Research in the Executive Commission of Spanish Socialist Workers' Party.

Chacón is a member of the PSC and PSOE. She was a PSOE member of parliament for Barcelona in the 7th and 8th legislatures, the vice-president of the Spanish Congress of Deputies (Lower House) in José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's legislature and she was later named minister of Housing after María Antonia Trujillo.

Jude C, I know - I was nervous about her statements, did you see mine right before yours.

heck, i was nervous this morning when I read a pop post about britney spears ex-friend, whichever arabic man it was, I can't remember. Someone called him a "camel-jockey" in the comments, and no one even said a THING. except me, of course. but seriously, is that just acceptable to some people, or did they not read it? that is horrendous!

I am sorry Kris, I never heard of that word. What does that mean?

Saw it just now, bellaressa

Kris--that's heinous. I would have been really annoyed if I'd seen that (so I guess it's a good thing I'm trying to avoid Briney posts).

Anyway, I'd be much more worried about the Vikings invading. You know they'd have a kick-ass navy, and they're about due to resurface...

bella, it is a negative term for arabic people. People from a place where they get around by camel.

You guys are forgetting all about Ghengis Khan! If that's not a real threat, I don't know what is.

Auntie Coosa is one of those poster who won't last long because she would rather read her Anne Coulter books than do any rational thinking.

I sit up nights worrying about what's going to happen when the Huns attack.

MarinerMandy...

what about the mayans? where have they been hiding all these years, building up their armies?

Pequena, I'm curious--was there any controversy in Spain over whether her pregnancy made her less suitable for the position? Because I can just imagine people saying, "What if she goes into labor right when we get attacked?"

WTF Kris, how can people be so rude, insensitive and have no couth. I am just pissed at this point and my mouth is open that people use words and just don't seem to care of their impact.

All this time I was worried about the Cave Men.

We're all too concerned about the past. Will we be ready for the invasion of Lord Xenu and his armies from outer space?

I think not Jude C, they will crush us and make Earth their slaves.

Tom Cruise will save us from Xenu!

At least that would render all our current controversies and debates petty and meaningless