BELLICOSE AMERICAN WOMEN

Glenn (Instapundit) Reynolds is still trying to fathom the depths of female bellicosity in the conduct of this war:

"I don't recall seeing this degree of anger from women during the Gulf War, or Vietnam," says Glenn. "And I haven't heard of it being so pronounced in World War Two. I think it's the damned burkas. And the beatings and stonings. And the ban on medical care. And on education. Whatever it is, the Taliban are toast. Did I mention the beatings and stonings?"

While I'm sure we're all in favor of a post-Taliban regime bringing more than marginal improvements to the lives of Afghan women, let's keep things in perspective. Afghanistan is 12,000 miles away and for most of us, sadly, the plight of their women is an abstraction.

To account for the level of anger among American women, look closer to home. As surely as if they'd sent their own trained militia over here to do it, the Taliban just killed our kids, Glenn. The kids of American women. In massive numbers. For no reason.

In World War II especially, and to some extent in those other recent conflicts as well, surely there was more of an understanding among American women that their 18- and 19-year old kids -- overwhelmingly boys, and overwhelmingly volunteers -- were risking and sacrificing their lives for the greater good of the world.

Whereas, in the current conflict, their kids -- 20- and 30- and 40-year-old kids -- men and women alike, in roughly equal number -- have already been arbitrarily slaughtered by nihilistic bullies who just wanted to take out as many victims as possible en route to their own demise. (The only significant difference between Mohammed Atta and Dylan Klebold is one of scale -- of their bankroll, and of their imagination.)

Angry? You betcha, women are angry. The anger you're sensing is their frustration that they can't personally take bin Laden and his Taliban backers apart, one joint, one limb at a time, over a period of several days, in retribution for bankrolling and masterminding the wholesale murder of their innocent, beautiful boys and girls.

(You remember that old World War II recruiting poster, "Gee, I wish I were a man -- I'd join the Navy!" If America's soccer moms could enlist tomorrow, you gotta know they'd join in record numbers!)

By the way, Glenn -- your Blog is the Gold Standard!