I sure have my work cut out for me when

Rich approvingly cites that old canard about gender integration being a

non-problem if leadership lays down the rules. The Pentagon’s gender

sensitivity indoctrination courses take this line. I see it’s working

in the field despite what our common sense tells us about human nature.

The same rules were in effect during the Gulf War, after which a

Rand study documented widespread sexual activity among the bands of

brothers and sisters. Along with policing the sexual attractions,

jealousies, and fraternizations, that same leadership, of course, is

fighting a war. Plenty of studies on unit cohesion support the

proposition that sexual tensions and unequal treatment (arising from

favoritism or unequal standards owing to sex differences) is extremely

destructive. Tougher rules than those cited in Rich’s e-mail are

imposed on the extremely disciplined, ambitious officers in training at

our service academies – every one of which has had sex scandals. Is

there a single example of “leadership” meeting this challenge and

successfully preventing any of the prohibited behavior among a large

co-ed group for a significant period?. . . I didn’t think so.