[knighthawk]

Ping

[jjm2111]

I don't like the references about gays. Gays don't belong in the military. Period.

[marron]

The Defense Department, under its "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, continues to discharge lesbian, gay and bisexual linguists - despite an even more urgent need for translators

Are all Arabic speakers gay?

Can't be authoritative about it, but after a year or so in the region, my impression was, well, never mind. But there are some sick puppies over there.

[browardchad]

The Defense Department, under its "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, continues to discharge lesbian, gay and bisexual linguists - despite an even more urgent need for translators in the aftermath of 9/11 and the Iraq war.

As I recall, these "translators" were "telling" -- in words and deeds.

LOS ANGELES (AFP) Nov 15, 2002

Two of the soldiers were discharged after they were found together in a barracks after curfew, while the other seven admitted their homosexuality because their "integrity was compromised by not being honest with their heterosexual colleagues," said Steve Ralls of the Servicemen's Legal Defense Network.

All nine translators received discharge papers stating that the reason for their dismissal was their sexuality.

Lieutenant Colonel Wayne Shanks, a spokesman for the army's Training and Doctrine Command, said it was US policy to discharge any soldier who was either discovered engaging in homosexual conduct or admitted being homosexual.

"We just enforce that policy," he said.

It's interesting that the Daily News includes this topic under a headline about "Iraq's Dirty Secrets."