Posted on 02/03/2010 5:06:41 AM PST by markomalley
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates yesterday outlined the Pentagon's plans on gays in the military, telling Congress he will scale back enforcement of the law that bans open homosexuality in the ranks and has launched a yearlong review of how to handle the ban's repeal, which the Obama administration will seek.
The announcement prompted advocates for lifting the ban to complain that the review is unnecessary and too long.
Mr. Gates said in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday that military policy will be reviewed and that gay troops will be treated "in a fairer manner," suggesting that the military will no longer discharge service members accused of homosexuality by former partners or other third parties.
"The question before us is not whether the military prepares to make this change, but how we best prepare for it," Mr. Gates said. "We received our orders from the commander in chief, and we are moving out accordingly."
President Obama had promised to end the 1993 policy of "don't ask, don't tell" during the first year of his presidency and announced during last week's State of the Union speech that the law should be repealed.
A yearlong delay is likely to complicate efforts to change the law, as Republicans and some centrist Democrats are wary of political backlash. Many gay groups that supported Mr. Obama during the presidential campaign have expressed disappointment at delays in efforts to lift the ban.
Current and former military officers who oppose lifting the ban, including retired Gen. Carl E. Mundy, former Marine Corps commandant, have said that such social engineering should not be carried out while U.S. military forces are stressed from fighting wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Gates is an example of the lack of leadership. And a traitor to boot.
there is no “gay ban”
there is a “telling everyone in the world you’re here,
you’re queer and deal with it” has been banned
The homos will start to harass the straight men and then accuse them of homophobic actions to the command structure and the straights will automatically be guilty until proved innocent.
This is going to be nasty and completely degrade the quality of our military across the board.
As usual Johnny McCain was getting his conservative creds in. A real vomit fest. Like he really believes any of it.
From retired Navy - here it goes folks!
Be ready for “openly” gay NCOs, uniformed gays in gay pride parades, at any promo ceremony or award or whatever, Adam and Steve sharing a hug and kiss, any disciplinary action against a gay being a “hate crime”, gay, lesbian and transgender dances at the academies,....I could go on...this spells the doom of our greatness as a military force. The promoters say, look at Canada and the UK and the (ahem) Netherlands - but I don’t see them as leading forces in winning wars.
Gates and Mullen (who is a CATHOLIC, by the way!) will go down as the destroyters of our great military - all for the love of Obama and political correctness...
We weep.....
When I first went in the military, homosexuality was prohibited, then later it was tolerated. I’m glad I retired before it became mandatory.
This whole thing is PC run amok. Open homosexuality in the military will degrade our capabilities.
Diversity is the aim here and ignoring the fact that homosexuals commit history's serial killings should prove they're combat ready.
In the 1930's it was 'a chicken in every pot,' while in the 21st century it will be 'a queer in every foxhole.'
This is yet another deliberate attempt by the leftist demonRats to undermine our military.
When one of “them” comes between you and the enemy.....Just sayin’
This is just another way that the islamist in Chief is destroying our nation.
“This is going to be nasty and completely degrade the quality of our military across the board.”
Such has always been the goal of the Left. They despise the military and always have. The only one — ironically — who ever admitted it was Clinton when he whined to Fulbright about not wanting to be drafted.
Commie elitists like Obummer haven't a religious bone in their bodies. They scoff at religion. "Black Liberation Theology" (reverend Wright's thing) advocates communist revolution. It is an entirely concocted/bogus religion.
Correction: "Such has always been the goal of the Left. They despise the [AMERICAN] military and always have."
They love Castro, Che and Mao. So they can't despise military people in general. It's only the American military that they don't like. They root for leftist uprising and right-wing government overthrows whenever and wherever they take place.
I believe this requires passage by Congress and I doubt that they have the votes to repeal ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’.
I used to work in a job where I reviewed reasons for job separations. For every gay harassed off the job by straights, five straights were harassed off the job by a gay. The military will soon become an intolerable place to be once the gays work their way up the ranks.
Do we care about the lives of our sons and daughters?
Then we will fight this with everything we’ve got.
It’s time for political scorched earth.
Same here.
“Correction: “Such has always been the goal of the Left. They despise the [AMERICAN] military and always have.”
They love Castro, Che and Mao. So they can’t despise military people in general. It’s only the American military that they don’t like. They root for leftist uprising and right-wing government overthrows whenever and wherever they take place.”
You are absolutely right. Shoulda specified “American.” In addition to Castro, Che and Mao, the Left also loved all things Soviet as well.
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