Marine leads 'Don't ask, don't tell' fight - Resists efforts to lift ban

The Washington Times ^ | November 2, 2009 | Rowan Scarborough

[kingattax]

Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James T. Conway has emerged in internal Pentagon deliberations as the most outspoken opponent of permitting gay men and women to serve openly in the U.S. military, according to a former senior Pentagon official.

Most of the senior brass hold deep reservations about President Obama's pledge to end the ban on gays in the military, especially in the middle of two wars that have put extra stress on the military, down to the platoon level, where soldiers and Marines would be expected to bond with openly gay colleagues.

But Gen. Conway has gone further than others in stating his opposition to a change in policy, according to the former official, who has been privy to private conversations on the matter. "He feels very strongly that [removing the ban] would be disruptive, and he opposes it," said the former official.

Gen. Conway's private remarks stand in contrast to public utterances by other service chiefs, who have restricted themselves to repeating a well-rehearsed mantra: If Congress introduces a bill to repeal the ban, they will discuss it with the chain of command. If Congress changes the law, they will follow the law.

[kingattax]

may God bless our troops.

[Cindy]

Thank you Gen. James T. Conway.

[little jeremiah]

I gotta do some pinging tomorrow and this one will be the first one.

[ComputerGuy]

An early Happy Birthday to you, General.

SF

[Cindy]

Thank you very much little jeremiah.

[maddog55]

Thank you General.. never compromise on your principals.

[TXnMA]

Just heard from a friend (Major, U.S. Army, good looking lady) who is deployed in Iraq. She had a couple of dinner dates with a "nice, good-looking male fellow officer". Then he said the relationship could get no closer -- because he was just dating her as his "DA--DT cover image"...

What an insult!

Knowing this particular major pretty well, I'm surprised that she didn't lay him out with a karate kick, right then and there...

[A.A. Cunningham]

She should rat him out because he told without being asked.

[EnigmaticAnomaly]

"Thank you General.. never compromise on your principals."

I concur. However, it would be nice if the principal of the school in which I teach would adhere to his principles, too...:-)

[raybbr]

Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James T. Conway has emerged in internal Pentagon deliberations as the most outspoken opponent of permitting gay men and women to serve openly in the U.S. military, according to a former senior Pentagon official.

He's gone.

Obama's machine will somehow try to destroy him or Obama will ask for his resignation.

[Old Badger]

Semper Fi, General! Show the other weenies how to lead in the battle.

[Waryone]

God bless the Marines. God Bless General James T. Conway. God bless all servicemen in harm’s way.

[maddog55]

Spell check worked.. just the wrong word! Thanks for the caqtch !!

[maddog55]

Screwed that up as well “catch” !!

[EnigmaticAnomaly]

Lol...guess this just isn’t your morning, huh?

[whatisthetruth]

Gallup reported in June that 58 percent of the conservatives it polled favored allowing openly gay men and women to serve. Overall, 69 percent of adults support ending the ban, Gallup said.

Anybody interested in buying a bridge?

[TomasUSMC]

Happy 234th Birthday Marines.

[TomasUSMC]

Keep the military straight or you will have chaos and casualties. Just saying.