Women in combat faces next U.S. leader

WASHINGTON, May 27 (UPI) -- The next U.S. president likely will have to address sending women into combat, an issue driven by pressure to open all military jobs to women, observers say.

Troop shortages and a reluctance to restore the military draft means "all the restrictions are going to be lifted" regarding women in the military during the next two years, Lawrence Korb, a defense analyst who worked in the Reagan administration, told the Los Angeles Times.

Democratic presidential hopefuls Sens. Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois don't have a record on this question and didn't comment to the Times about their positions.

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain of Arizona opposes women in combat, a position critics say raises questions about his commitment to women's rights.

Women make up about 15 percent of the military, records show.

When considering the question, decision-makers must confront a general reluctance to place women in harm's way, observers told the Times.