Posted on 03/31/2010 12:45:53 PM PDT by DesertRenegade
Treading into the murky area of the post-"don't ask, don't tell" era, the Army's senior civilian leader told reporters today that he has met with soldiers who revealed that they were gay.
Such a declaration, at least in theory, could be grounds for the service members to be discharged from the military.
Asked at a breakfast meeting with reporters in Washington whether he had met with gay members of the military to solicit their views on the changes to the law that bans them from openly serving, Army Secretary John McHugh, a former Republican congressman from New York, said, "I have reason to believe I have, yes."
Defense Secretary Robert Gates last week eased enforcement of the Pentagon's policy on gay men and women in uniform, making it significantly harder to initiate an investigation into someone's sexual orientation and to begin dismissal proceedings. But the law still prohibits openly gay men and women from serving in the military.
"Don't ask, don't tell" refers to the 1993 law signed by President Bill Clinton that requires openly gay members of the military to be discharged. Gates' new order includes line-by-line revisions to the legislation, but leaves in self-declarations as a basis for being removed from military service.
Gates also asked for a review of issues associated with gays serving in the military by Dec. 1, in preparation for what is expected to be a push to change the legislation banning gays from serving. In the meantime, however, current policy still allows for dismissal of serving members who are openly gay.
The irony of the situation was not lost on McHugh, who explained that he was interested in soliciting the opinion of soldiers about gays serving in the military, and in the course of the conversation, some of the people he met with revealed they were gay. Since the purpose was to solicit their honest views specifically on this issue, "I didn't feel it productive thereafter to initiate disciplinary action," he said.
The private discussions were meant to garner their views on the proposed changes, according to McHugh. "If there was a common theme, it was, 'I just want to serve my country,' " he said.
While many believe the repeal of the ban on gay men and women in uniform is inevitable, given President Barack Obama's stated commitment to changing the policy, there has already been controversy over a high-ranking general opposing the change. Army Lt. Gen. Benjamin Mixon wrote a letter earlier this month to Stars and Stripes urging soldiers to oppose the proposed changes, a move that was greeted with sharp criticism from top Pentagon officials.
McHugh told reporters that while he also thought the letter was inappropriate, the general would not be formally reprimanded. McHugh said he was scheduled to meet with Mixon today and expected the issue to be closed.
The first time I pulled mess hall duty in the Marines I was assigned to the salad room. Another assigned Marine held out a cucumber and asked me what it reminded me of. About 1/2 hour later, after my talk with the Mess Hall Chief, I saw the last of that guy. Never saw him again.... Good riddance!
No gays in the military.....never ever.......
While I wholeheartedly embrace the concept of civilian control of the military, I also have a real problem with a service secretary who has never spent a day in uniform.
My daughter was planning on entering the US Military after graduating high school this year. She has decided to wait and see what Obama does with the issue of homosexuals servingly openly. I have spoken to several young people in her school who are waiting to enlist, or abandoning enlistment altogether for the same reason.
Young people know what a terrible effect it will be, if open homosexuality is pushed upon the armed forces. They have seen the effect of it being pushed elsewhere in their world.
I suggest we assign the Muddy Helmet Brigade to exclusively running the ‘ detainee facilities’
Just as well. If she can’t handle the stress of possibly knowing an open homosexual, she probably can’t handle the stress of combat.
“cant handle the stress of possibly knowing an open homosexual”
I think that’s part of the problem. The vast majority of soldiers don’t want to “know” a homosexual in the biblical sense. It would be equivalent to requiring young male enlistees to shower with nude female cadets. How soon do you think that is going to happen?
The Army Secretary is an Obama appointee - nuff said!
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0bama wants to do two things with this - weaken the military by driving out the good guys and gals, and promote sexual perversion. 0bama must be tossed out ASAP and Repubs need a majority in November. Has to happen.
Bullshit.
Homosexuals do not belong in the military and normal men and women should not have to associate with sexual perverts while serving in the military.
Read a newer quote the other day and he’s changed his tune. Singing soprano now. Thinks “attitudes and cirmcunstances have changed” and now he wants “fairness” and the military ruined. I loathe, detest and abhor Powell.
Note my comment above.
No one serving in the military should be forced to associate with mentally ill sexual perverts. And that’s what homosexuals are.
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