Posted on 12/04/2010 12:07:59 AM PST by Jet Jaguar
WASHINGTON — The chiefs of the Army, Marine Corps and Air Force do not support a repeal of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” law, telling lawmakers Friday that such a move could add unnecessary stress to the force.
“The potential for damage is there,” said Gen. James Amos, commandant of the Marine Corps. “A repeal would absolutely have an impact on combat units … so my concern goes back to their issues of cohesion and the burden on those units.”
The chiefs spoke during the second day of hearings before the Senate Armed Services Committee, one day after Defense Secretary Robert Gates urged the same lawmakers to act now on a repeal. On Tuesday the Pentagon released details of its review of the issue, recommending a slow but deliberate pace of training and policy changes to allow gay troops to serve openly.
But the Army and Marine Corps leaders in particular said they did not agree with the assessment that a dramatic policy change would have only limited impact on troops’ morale and mission effectiveness. Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey said a repeal would “add another level of stress to an already stretched force” and “be more difficult for the Army than the report suggests.”
All four service chiefs said they believe a repeal of the 17-year-old law will take place in coming years. But while Adm. Gary Roughead recommended Congress act on a repeal now and Air Force Gen. Norton Schwartz pushed for a repeal no sooner than 2012, both Casey and Amos said lawmakers should wait until the pressures of combat operations overseas are not weighing on troops’ minds.
A survey conducted as part of the repeal study showed that fewer than a third of troops believe repealing the law would hurt the mission focus or effectiveness.
But among troops from Army combat units, 48 percent predicted a repeal would negatively affect their team’s ability to “work together to get the job done.” That number rose to 58 percent among Marine combat units. Sixty percent of the combat Marines and 49 percent of combat soldiers said they would not be able to trust an openly gay colleague.
Amos said he could not support the change in military policy “as long as we have forces involved in combat,” because of the demands already placed on those units.
“The message to me is that the potential exists for disruption to the successful execution of our current combat mission,” he said. “Based on what I know about the very tough fight on the ground in Afghanistan … my recommendation is that we should not implement repeal at this time.”
Gay rights groups said they were not discouraged by the service chiefs’ opposition, noting that both Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen argued forcefully for a repeal this year during their appearance before the senators on Thursday. Mullen testified that making such a change during a time of war may actually mitigate the impact, since troops will be focused on their missions more than the external controversy.
But opponents seized on Amos’ and Casey’s comments as proof that Congress should not vote for repeal in the waning days of this legislative session. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who has lead Republican efforts to block a repeal, said the disagreement among the service chiefs and other Pentagon leadership was proof that more research and polling is needed on the issue.
The House passed repeal language in May, but the measure has been stalled in the Senate since September because of Republican opposition to the idea.
Democrats, who currently control 58 votes in the Senate, will have to gain support from at least two Republicans to avoid a filibuster on the measure, but so far no Republicans have publicly stated they will switch sides to help the repeal effort.
shanel@stripes.osd.mil
As we were setting out to sea,
We spied a German warship,
The Captain paced the quarter-deck,
Parading, in his corset.
"What ho!" we cried, "We'll sink your ship!"
And so we up and sinked her,
But the cabin boy was saved alive,
And buggered in the sphincter.
Yes, but our very own expert Scott Brown Caokley is all for DADT.
The President and the Democrat Congress set the political agenda. That means that the issue of "Don't ask, don't tell" is at the top of the list of what is important to Americans, according to their twisted and warped view of our world.
DADT is more important to the Democrats than dealing with issues like higher taxes, murders and rapes committed by illegal aliens, open borders and attendant drug traffic and incursion by terrorists, our miserable economy and increasing unemployment, an examination of our questionable war in Afghanistan, are all less important to Democrats. The most important item on the national and world stage is allowing homosexuals to serve openly in the military!
This is disgusting and why we must vote out the vermin in our government, including military political opportunists like Gates and Adm. Mullen!
Three out of four have the cajones to stand up to the politicians!
Some years ago there was news of a Naval Officer who when he discovered he had been wearing service ribbons he had NOT earned—he committed suicide. I do not endorse suicide as a reasonable response ever— BUT I will Laud that Naval Officer
for doing the right thing far sooner than I can forgive any
Navy man who pushes this evil plan to force the Military to allow homosexuals serve openly. A low estimate cost to the Air Force to affect this “change” the Dems desire is 40-50 Million money that could provide a lot of beans and bullets.
NO to change in the Law.There is NO Constitutional right to serve in the Military.don’t be deceived by the reprobates.
Our men and women in Uniform have not been listened to by the Pentagon- By Congress- or by this enemy in the White House—WE MUST BE THEIR VOICE—WE MUST BE HEARD.NO change!
Did T.S. Eliot ever write limericks?
P.S.:
“(Laws against sodomy are honored in the breech.)”
That is very clever
And for good measure, ANY officer who supports repeal of DADT should be view with justified suspicion.
I'm sure he did, but I don't recall ever having seen any. His published body of works wasn't extensive.
Speaking of limericks:
There once was a guy from La Jolla,
Who practiced the art of a volla,
But when peeping at night,
He was shocked by the sight,
Of a naked old hag in the folla.
Thanks for noticing my tagline!
Shame on the CNO for his comments. He knows not of what he speaks.
I think the troops will sort out whether they want openly gay members in their units.
Of course the sorting out could get nasty since some men react violently to homosexual approaches.
It is Robert Gates that is at the root of this, Mullen is just a tool. It was Gates who recommended Gen. Pace not be renominated as Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff because of his outspokenness on Christian values and his aversion to open gays serving. That is when we got Mullen, who is doing what the masta tells him. Disgusting!
I really don’t mean to be offensive, but Gates served 2 yrs. in the AF as a commissioned officer, I am sure it was a cake walk compared to what the combat arms are used to and what they train for.
When I went to my son’s Turning Blue Ceremony it was extremely religious, but then again, and infantryman knows he is going into the belly of the beast on foot face to face with the enemy. I am not ashamed to say that I cried listening to those prayers.
I have a picture of my son with Gates when he visited Ft. Benning, it is in a drawer now. I will leave it up to my son as to what he wants to do with it. I think it is pretty pathetic, that I would not be proud to display it.
It is like Mullen is losing his mental capabilities! This man is responsible for the well being of our military, our families and what does he say?????
Adm. Mike Mullen, who as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the individual service chiefs’ boss, testified Thursday that wartime is actually a good time to repeal the ban, because troops are too focused on the mission to get distracted by the change.
Are you freaking kidding me????????????
Will ping this later. Our military servicemembers do NOT want homosexuals in the military. Even DADT is too much. Our military deserve our support. Homosexuals DO NOT BELONG IN THE MILITARY!
In the meantime:
Ten Reasons to Oppose an “LGBT Law” or Policy for the Military
The Center for Military Readiness ^
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2608259/posts
Senate Testimony: European Militaries Are Not Role Models for U.S.
The Center for Military Readiness ^ | 3/22/2010
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2608228/posts
Rates of Homosexual Assault in the Military Are Disproportionately High
FRC ^
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2608306/posts
In Support the 1993 Law Stating that Homosexuals are not Eligible to Serve in the Military
CMR ^ | July 23, 2008 | Elaine Donnelly
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2608370/posts
“THE REAL PENTAGON POLL: 91% OF SERVICE MEMBERS REJECT HOMOSEXUAL LEADERS - 1 IN 4 WOULD QUIT”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2635458/posts
“MILITARY: Marines lead opposition to repeal of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2635350/posts
“Mullen: Troops Who Balk at Change in Gay Service Policy Can Find Other Work”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2636350/posts
If the repeal is not done, and the court challenges successfully repelled, count on Ø still making the policy de facto dead through more monkeying with the military through exec orders. Already, expulsions have been halted, or have been made hard to effect. How much more they could do with DADT still intact.
It is these normal men that homosexuals most want to subdue and excoriate.
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