This week there were many important events that went on in and around our nation. For example, President Obama’s inauguration was this week. However, the events that I’ll be discussing today are 2 two events that are centered around the military, and that doesn’t necessarily mean our own.
On Thursday, January 24th, news broke loose that North Korea announced they would 
begin carrying out plans for nuclear testing and long-range missile launching. This obviously poses a threat to the United States considering we aren’t exactly on good terms with North Korea. Part of the issue with the threat for nuclear testing, is that it will be difficult to tell whether or not North Korea is actually carrying out the testing. However, the US Secretary of Defense believes that the United States is “fully prepared” for what North Korea can come up with. To be honest, I’m not sure whether I believe him or not. North Korea does seem to be pretty confident in their abilities along with the confidence that they’ll be able to go through with their plans.
Also on Thursday, a huge step for women was taken in our own military. The ban was finally lifted on women in combat roles! Over the years women have become more and more important in the military. 
They’ve also been put in more and more combat situations with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, even though they aren’t technically assigned to combat units. However, now women can officially serve in combat units thanks to the ban being lifted! I believe that these words spoken by Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta, summarize what lifting this ban really means for women: “Not everyone can meet the qualifications to be a combat soldier, but everyone is entitled the opportunity.”
Sources:
Fishel, Justin. "Military Leaders Lift Ban on Women in Combat Roles." Fox News. FOX News Network, 24 Jan. 2013. Web. 26 Jan. 2013.
Kwon, K. J., and Jethro Muellen, CNN. "N Korea: New Nuclear Test Part of U.S. Clash." KETV. N.p., 24 Jan. 2013. Web. 26 Jan. 2013.
Smith, Matt, CNN. "U.S. to Let Women Join Combat Units." KETV. N.p., 24 Jan. 2013. Web. 26 Jan. 2013.
Comments
Well done Addie!