UK: Major General Margaret Woodward takes command in Libya

PJ: This might be one of those "Only in America" moments that its citizens have a right to be proud.

The Guardian

US hands command of Libya air strategy to senior female officer
Major General Margaret Woodward becomes first American woman to been given such a senior combat role
By Ewen MacAskill in Washington

The US air campaign in Libya is being run by Major General Margaret Woodward, the first American woman to been given such a senior combat role.

Woodward, who has been involved in wars in the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan and has clocked more than 3,800 hours as a pilot, is running the air operation from Germany, where the US Africa Command is based.

Her background is mainly in logistics and her specialism is refuelling, prompting a debate in military circles over whether she is the right choice for a combat role.

But her high profile in the Libyan conflict is a boost to women in the US military who complain daily about discrimination.

Women have been more prominent in the Libyan war than in either Iraq or Afghanistan. The push for intervention came from Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, Susan Rice, the ambassador to the UN who is a long-time advocate of intervention in Darfur, and Samatha Power, a White House foreign affairs adviser who also favours liberal interventionism.

Woodward, who joined the air force in 1983 after graduating from Arizona State University with a degree in aerospace engineering, is commander of the 17th Air Force and US Air Forces Africa. She has responsibility for all US air actions involving Africa.

Tom Ricks, a military analyst writing on the Foreign Policy website, under the headline The New Face of War, suggested her appointment to the combat role was accidental.

He said; "[Woodward] seems to be an expert in refuelling and mobility, which is probably why she was picked for Africa Command, whose planners likely expected the command mainly to be doing humanitarian relief missions. Instead she is overseeing airstrikes by B-2 bombers, F-15E fighter/bombers, and F-16 CJ jammers."

Ricks's article started a debate on the website over whether her appointment was accidental or a political move, aimed at encouraging gender equality.

A contributor, who appeared to be serving in the military, said: "Women are already in combat roles: we're just neglecting to notice." The contributor expressed concern about her lack of combat experience, but added: "Let's all remember also that she's been handed a shit sandwich to eat. An ambiguous mission with unclear goals."

Before taking up the Africa command job, she was commander of the 89th Airlift Wing at Andrews air force base, Maryland, responsible for 1,000 personnel who are mainly engaged in providing logistical and communications support for the president, vice-president and senior air force staff.

On Barack Obama's inauguration day in January 2008, she was pictured escorting George Bush for his flight home to Texas.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/25/libya-woman-heads-us-operation