By Here is some more news from the gays in the military front:
The Army’s top uniformed officer said Tuesday that he has “serious concerns” about overturning a 17-year policy that bans gays from serving openly in the military and supports a yearlong study into the matter before any changes are made.
The carefully crafted comments by Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey to the Senate Armed Services Committee indicate reluctance by some within the military’s senior ranks to President Barack Obama’s plan to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell.”
Obama says the policy is wrongheaded and should change. Defense Secretary Robert Gates agrees but wants to move slowly, and has tasked a lengthy assessment on how to lift the ban without affecting the force. [Army Times]
So General Casey is against immediate repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell while Admiral appears to be for it:
Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier this month that he thinks the law unfairly forces gay troops to compromise their integrity by lying about who they are.
Admiral Mullen is a good man who I respect quite a bit, but I do find this statement odd. Gay soldiers do not compromise their integrity because they should not be asked in the first place if they are gay, hence Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. If they are asked if they are gay they can tell truth without fear of being discharged because you cannot discharge a gay soldier if asked.
Here is what else is being looked at:
Among the questions to be answered through broader legislation is whether the military would recognize gay marriages and extend benefits to gay partners.
Like I have said before if gays are allowed to serve openly and have a legal marriage certificate their spouse should be allowed to receive benefits. However, at the same time servicemember should be held to the same standards as a heterosexual spouse such as complying with the adultery regulations. What the Army should not become is a place where gays go to get married which I can see some people try and demand that the military do.
My position continues to be that this is not an issue about gays serving openly, but one of what special treatment are they going to demand?
6:40 am on March 2nd, 2010 1
Patraeus and a few others are vying for the top spot. Patraeus clearly is whipping his horse to head the pack by clearly stating that he is for faggots openly serving alongside men. It is halarious to watch and I will laugh at the US Armed forces when the faggots run things. There is no way in hell I would ever take an order from a queer and if I were a Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine, the second DADT is repealed I would do what ever would be necessary to get kicked out. God bless GEN Casey and others for acting like men.
1:44 pm on March 2nd, 2010 2
You worry about them asking for special treatment? You're kidding, right? You darn well know those who would ask for special treatment don't have the discipline to get through basic training.
6:07 pm on March 2nd, 2010 3
At least SOMEONE in the leadership has the courage to speak up.
6:32 pm on March 2nd, 2010 4
I haven't been keeping track but perhaps his career is coming to an end and he isn't due on the rotation for CJCS. So maybe it's not balls*, it's just that he has nothing to lose and no higher to go.
Ideally, they would poll the lower enlisted on the topic. But they can't. That would set a precedent that is impossible to maintain. The military is not a democracy (despite the best efforts of the BOSS program) nor can it be.
*and it's still not out of the question it is balls.
9:28 am on March 3rd, 2010 5
Bart,
A lot of people who got through basic expect special treatment. Heck, some expect it even during basic training.