Posted on 01/02/2007 4:12:33 PM PST by RetiredArmy
General Shalikashvili: Let Gays Serve in Military
The Army general who was Joint Chiefs chairman when the Pentagon adopted its "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays says he no longer opposes allowing them to serve openly.
John Shalikashvili, who retired in 1997 after four years as the nation's top military officer, had argued that allowing homosexuals to serve openly would hurt troop morale and recruitment and undermine the cohesion of combat units. He said he has changed his mind after meeting with gay servicemen.
"These conversations showed me just how much the military has changed, and that gays and lesbians can be accepted by their peers," Shalikashvili wrote in an opinion piece in Tuesday's New York Times.
His view could carry weight at a time when advocates of lifting the restriction on gay service members argue that the military - under the strain of fighting two wars - can ill-afford to exclude any qualified volunteers. It's not clear, however, how much enthusiasm Congress will have for pressing the matter. The current policy, based on legislation passed by Congress in 1993 after a firestorm of debate, states that gays and lesbians may serve in the military only if they keep their sexual orientation private.
Commanders may not ask, and gay service members may not tell. Over the years thousands have been dismissed under this policy.
Shalikashvili is not the first former senior military officer to change his mind about gays in the military, though he is perhaps the most prominent. John Hutson, a retired two-star Navy admiral who was the Navy's top lawyer, said Tuesday he thinks the nation has undergone so much cultural change over the past decade that allowing gays to serve openly in the military would enhance rather than weaken the cohesion of fighting units.
"I think it will absolutely happen," Hutson said in a telephone interview, but probably not during the Bush administration.
Shalikashvili said he expects fierce debate over gays in the military this year as Congress considers President Bush's call for expanding the size of the Army, which is stretched thin by wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Shalikashvili cautioned, however, against pushing for repeal of the ban early in the new Congress, which he said should be focused on urgent priorities like developing a better strategy in Iraq and healing divisions over the war.
"Fighting early in this Congress to lift the ban on openly gay service members is not likely to add to that healing and it risks alienating people whose support is needed to get this country on the right track," he wrote in the Times article.
In explaining his shift on the issue, Shalikashvili also cited a new Zogby poll, commissioned by the Michael D. Palm Center at the University of California at Santa Barbara, of 545 U.S. troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. It reported that three quarters said they were comfortable around gay men and lesbians.
The poll, published in December, also said 37 percent opposed allowing gays to serve openly, while 26 percent said they should be allowed and 37 percent were unsure or neutral. Of those who said they were certain that a member of their unit was gay or lesbian, two-thirds did not believe it hurt morale.
C. Dixon Osburn, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, an advocate for gay rights, called Shalikashvili's article "enormously significant." Osburn said it reflects a growing trend of military leaders supporting repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
And yet, on his profile page, he says he always sticks up for the military. LOL
Reading article would tell you he retired in 1997.
I wouldn't want a preditor in charge at a BCT oufit; the problems with sex-integrated BCT units are bad enough and the AIT's are even worse. Most of the problems that homosexuals in the service would cause would be in garrison. You'd probably end up driving out many good men who don't want to deal with that element in the barracks as well.
Sodom wasn't a 21st century phenomena. It would be interesting to hear his plan on billeting arrangements.
I don't see any in that list that I would want out military to emulate.
1st Bn Plt 172 PI July 11, 1958 (1st day)
I thought President Reagan's "We Ask, Don't Join" policy was a great one. It worked well.
You got a problem with that? I do stick up for the military. But I also know when someone is using the military to further their political agenda.
Thank you for your feedback.
Normally I am very careful about reading.
I hope he has a pleasant retirement.
I trust no one.......no one............who was promoted to flag rank during the Clinton administration.
I say this as an AF Academy grad from '77 who has many peers wearing stars.
Scratch that "out" ... S/b "our military"
That was a really unfortunate error for this thread. Yuk!
See my post #58.
In the Navy, Rear Admiral will have new meaning and resonance.
Clinton's 'don't ask, don't tell' policy and Clinton's dumbass General.
I do.
Guess he too will be coming forth to champion openly homosexual men in the military.
CAMP IT UP!
Great quotation on your page. I have not read that before, but I agree completely with it.
I remember when I was in Vietnam our Sergeant Major was a queer. He didn't appear to be outwardly queer, but after awhile everyone knew what he was. Just about everyone in the company felt uncomfortable around this pervert, and it wasn't unlike him to try to get close to the guys, in his perverted, sneaky way. The only way I believe "gays" should be allowed in the military is to make them into human mine sweepers.
Can they swap uniform items? Like if I wanted to wear a skirt and pumps? Also would I have to shave my legs and butt?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.