Ex-Joint Chiefs Head Changes Mind On Gays

Retired Gen. John Shalikashvili Reverses Opposition To Homosexuals Serving, Says 'Military Has Changed'

(AP)  The Army general who was Joint Chiefs chairman when the Pentagon adopted its "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays says he no longer opposes allowing them to serve openly.

John Shalikashvili, who retired in 1997 after four years as the nation's top military officer, had argued that allowing homosexuals to serve openly would hurt troop morale and recruitment and undermine the cohesion of combat units. He said he has changed his mind after meeting with gay servicemen.

"These conversations showed me just how much the military has changed, and that gays and lesbians can be accepted by their peers," Shalikashvili wrote in an opinion piece in Tuesday's New York Times.

His view could carry weight at a time when advocates of lifting the restriction on gay service members argue that the military — under the strain of fighting two wars — can ill-afford to exclude any qualified volunteers.

It's not clear, however, how much enthusiasm Congress will have for pressing the matter. While many Democrats have denounced the policy as discriminatory, many Republicans have supported it, and members may be reluctant to revisit such a divisive issue. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a possible presidential contender in 2008, recently called the military policy "very effective."

Rep. Marty Meehan, D-Mass., on Tuesday hailed Shalikashvili's article and said he would try this year to revive legislation forcing the military to eliminate the policy. In 2005, Meehan introduced a similar bill, which eventually attracted 122 co-sponsors, including Republican Chris Shays of Connecticut and Independent Bernard Sanders of Vermont.

"There is no place in this country for discrimination, be it on the basis of race, creed or sexual orientation, and there is certainly no place for institutional discrimination codified in federal statute," Meehan said in a statement.

The current policy, based on legislation passed by Congress in 1993 after a firestorm of debate, states that gays and lesbians may serve in the military only if they keep their sexual orientation private. Commanders may not ask, and gay service members may not tell. Over the years, thousands have been dismissed under this policy.

Shalikashvili, who now lives in Steilacoom, Wash., is not the first former senior military officer to change his mind about gays in the military — though he is perhaps the most prominent. John Hutson, a retired two-star Navy admiral who was the Navy's top lawyer, said Tuesday he thinks the nation has undergone so much cultural change over the past decade that allowing gays to serve openly in the military would enhance rather than weaken the cohesion of fighting units.

"I think it will absolutely happen," Hutson said in a telephone interview, but probably not during the Bush administration.

Shalikashvili said he expects fierce debate over gays in the military this year as Congress considers President Bush's call for expanding the size of the Army, which is stretched thin by wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Shalikashvili cautioned, however, against pushing for repeal of the ban early in the new Congress, which he said should be focused on urgent priorities like developing a better strategy in Iraq and healing divisions over the war.

"Fighting early in this Congress to lift the ban on openly gay service members is not likely to add to that healing and it risks alienating people whose support is needed to get this country on the right track," he wrote in the Times article.

In explaining his shift on the issue, Shalikashvili also cited a new Zogby poll, commissioned by the Michael D. Palm Center at the University of California at Santa Barbara, of 545 U.S. troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. It reported that three quarters said they were comfortable around gay men and lesbians.

The poll, published in December, also said 37 percent opposed allowing gays to serve openly, while 26 percent said they should be allowed and 37 percent were unsure or neutral. Of those who said they were certain that a member of their unit was gay or lesbian, two-thirds did not believe it hurt morale.

C. Dixon Osburn, executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, an advocate for gay rights, called Shalikashvili's article "enormously significant." Osburn said it reflects a growing trend of military leaders supporting repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

[sasseycap85]

there are so many *** in the military fighting and dieing for this country
we should be ashamed that it is taking us so long as a nation to get over different ways to hate each other
theres more than one way to live your life, theres more than one way to express yourself but theres only on way to truly serve and thats proudly. *** should have tohe ability to serve and stand tall proudly serveing fighing and dieing for there country
as themselves

[waltonrp]

Ever think that this might just be an opener to accepting *** in the military or getting rid of reasons for people to opt out in case of a draft?

[randalds]

A little bit late to drop his objections, but still it's nice to see him lend his endorsement to something that should have changed decades ago. When I was in the Air Force during Vietnam the military was more then happy to look the other way. Most of the ga*ys I knew were actually fairly open or at least it was just a given to most other people like myself who was and was not g*ay. It certainly wasn't an issue for most of us and it shouldn't be. The majority of western military's have no problem with ga*ys serving openly and I don't see why we should.

[pudd54]

santo_marco

If we allow open ***...we may as well allow co-ed berthing arrangements.

I hope your comment was sarcasm, because if you have been in the Middle East lately, you would realize we are currently using co-ed open bay sleeping quarters. In fact it has been that way in most co-ed units since the 80's.

[agnim]

He's called a 're-tired general for good reason; he's gone senile!
Obviously more able bodied and able minded men won't have mush for brains.

[getcentered]

Agnim:

Wow!
You are very angry!
Did a homosexual steal your lover?

[getcentered]

Of course this guy thinks ALL people should be let in now!!
Our military needs all the people it can get. They cannot afford to turn anyone down.

Oh and by the way Mr. Retired Gen. John Shalikashvili:
The "Military" doesn't change, PEOPLE do.

[bluestardad]

he should say " I once was a yes man now I can speak"

[rafterman1]

I love the leaps some of you make. It's like "if we allow *** to serve...THE PLANET WILL EXPLODE". Good grief. Letting *** serve in the military will lead to people shacking up on base? Huh?

[santo_marco]

Of course...now that he is out of the picture. If we allow open ***...we may as well allow co-ed berthing arrangements.