WASHINGTON, July 7, 2008
Military Gays Not A Hindrance, Study Says
4 Retired Military Officers Urge Congress To Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Policy
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The study was conducted by four retired military officers, including the three-star Air Force lieutenant general who in early 1993 was tasked with implementing President Clinton's policy that the military stop questioning recruits on their sexual orientation.
"Evidence shows that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly is unlikely to pose any significant risk to morale, good order, discipline or cohesion," the officers state.
To support its contention, the panel points to the British and Israeli militaries, where it says gay people serve openly without hurting the effectiveness of combat operations.
Undermining unit cohesion was a determining factor when Congress passed the 1993 law, intended to keep the military from asking recruits their sexual orientation. In turn, service members can't say they are gay or bisexual, engage in homosexual activity or marry a member of the same sex.
The study was sponsored by the Michael D. Palm Center at the University of California at Santa Barbara, which said it picked the panel members to portray a bipartisan representation of the different service branches. According to its Web site, the Palm Center "is committed to keeping researchers, journalists and the general public informed of the latest developments in the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy debate."
Two of the officers have endorsed Democratic candidates since leaving the military - Army Lt. Gen. Robert Gard, who supports Barack Obama, and Marine Corps Gen. Hugh Aitken, who backed Clinton in 1996.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Minter Alexander, a Republican, was assigned in 1993 to a high-level panel established by the Defense Department to examine the issue of gays in the military. At one point, he signed an order that prohibited the military from asking a recruit's sexual orientation.
Alexander said at the time he was simply trying to carry out the president's orders and not take a position. But he now believes the law should be repealed because it assumes the existence of gays in the military is disruptive to units even though cultural attitudes are changing.
Further, the Defense Department and not Congress should be in charge of regulating sexual misconduct within the military, he said.
"Who else can better judge whether it's a threat to good order and discipline?" Alexander asked.
Navy Vice Adm. Jack Shanahan said he had no opinion on the issue when he joined the panel, having never confronted it in his 35-year military career. A self-described Republican who opposes the Bush administration's handling of the Iraq war, Shanahan said he was struck by the loss of personal integrity required by individuals to carry out "don't ask, don't tell."
"Everyone was living a big lie - the homosexuals were trying to hide their sexual orientation and the commanders were looking the other way because they didn't want to disrupt operations by trying to enforce the law," he said.
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
If the best fighting force on the planet can handle homosexuals in its ranks, then the U.S. can too.
Can a guy wear a dress into combat?
The Army is all about surprising the enemy & would that not be a surprise for the enemy? And what could be more surprising than an entire division of guys in drag.
Can a guy wear a dress into combat?
The Army is all about surprising the enemy & would that not be a surprise for the enemy? And what could be more surprising than an entire division of guys in drag.
Posted by Questionnews at 06:56 PM : Jul 07, 2008
Klinger would be heartbroken (M.A.S.H.)
Can a guy wear a dress into combat?
The Army is all about surprising the enemy & would that not be a surprise for the enemy? And what could be more surprising than an entire division of guys in drag.
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Posted by Questionnews at 06:56 PM : Jul 07, 2008
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If you are going to try to be funny while bashing honorable serving soldiers, you need to at least get your terminology straight. (Pun intended)
Trans-sexuals don''t dress in drag, transvestites do. A large percentage of transvestites are straight. Trans-gender is a medical condition and a trans-gender will represent themselves as one ***. A male trans-gender doesn''t dress in drag. A female trans-gender would be wearing the same uniform as everyone else, so no problem.
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Thank God. Dumb, dumb, policy.
The liberals don''''t want this country to have morals for anything, we were blessed as a country when we kept god in out lives, we had morals, now we don''''t have morals and the liberals want us all to feel good for there corruption of this countries soceity, they will blow it off to think someone still beleives in god, there motto is evil is good and good is evil. I served in the military, and beleive me the homos and lesbians were hunted down and got rid of and they should stay out of the military, no way will I accept it and either will the rest of the military personel. The liberal media will always try to say different for there agenda. we need to get someone that is nuetral with tere study on this, not some CA firm, what a joke! morons!
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Posted by zgomer
Thank God you are no longer defending the USA''s rights to the pursuit of happiness. "Hunting down" people different than you tells us all a lot about you and the armed forces... Sad!
Talking about God and Morals is one thing, but to add hateful judgement is NOT what this country needs - nor does it say much about your morals or belief in a God that hates *** and lesbians....
First i would like to see the Catholic church fix the priests that are pedophiles. Being gay is a lifestyle that doesn''t hurt anyoine, Pedophiles is awhole different story.
God hates the SIN not the SINNER !!! And just for YOU, remember that you will NEVER find an athiest in he-ll, because they will believe when they get there.
Do you believe that being gay prevents a person from being christain ? Did God not make man in his image including *** ? Judge not lest ye be judged comes to mind.
Your choice is to accept them and live with them. The g-a-y-s are given the choice of staying "in the closet" or being open in this new society with few morals (according to many peoples viewpoints). Soon, due to judicial activism, they will have the choice of marriage.
If YOU have a choice and the g-a-y-s have choices, then why is it SO BAD for some people to exercise their choice NOT to accept that lifestyle and prefer not be around it or see it or to have their children subjected to seeing it or learning about it?
I do respect your point of view and understand it as i was the same way for many years. Some deny it on a christain faith. I respect all faiths now, and over the years havee come to the conclusion that they do not harm me in any way. I think we all have a right to our opinions as long as it does not harm or effect others. I also think we can agree to disagree and do so in a rational and civilized manner, such as you addressed my statement. Thank you for doing so.
When I was in high school and was getting harassed by all branches of the military by phone, I''d just tell them I was gay. Conversation over!
Seriously, though, the "don''t ask, don''t tell" policy was a really good compromise at the time; it''s the right time to just let it go. From experience, it''s a giant butt buddy fest in the Army for the straight guys anyway!
Its unacceptable. Do you people not realize the military is not about having sexual relations? Furthermore, how can you expect the military to responsibly serve when you force them to tear down the fabric of morality?
Homossexuality is a sick perverted choice. Anyone that thinks having ssex is not a choice has no room in the military. The military is for making war, not for making love! They should have never allowed women in combat roles either. These are things that distract one from the mission and endanger the force.
Thats great who do you think is responsible for putting thoes black boots with that camo outfit and boot laces together and making it look so good.
This is just to cover their fat ***** as they look to expand their recruit base by accepting ***
I thought hitler was dead ?
If you expect people to respect your choice, isn''t it also reasonable that you respect theirs. I am straight and have no desire to have a sexual relatioin with a guy, but i also respect those that do.
They try to keep the ladies out of combat but sometimes thigs happen. My daughter saw combat in Iraq when their convoy was attacked more than once. She was properly trained and did her job. I am very proud of her. She is a soldier in every way and she is straight, but i don''t think a persons sexual orientation has anything to do with how they perform.
''''Not A Hindrance'''' is such a label!
Posted by DaVicar2 at 08:26 AM : Jul 08, 2008
The issue is discrimination or bigotry. We can tolerate it, even accept it, when there is compelling justification. When none exists, it is a handicap that interferes with efficiency and a successful mission. Of course, there is also social justice but Republicans don''t care about that.
Its unacceptable. Do you people not realize the military is not about having sexual relations? Furthermore, how can you expect the military to responsibly serve when you force them to tear down the fabric of morality?
Posted by Hwy71So at 07:45 AM : Jul 08, 2008
Obviously, your opinion that homese*xuality is unwholesome isn''t shared in the many countries mentioned in the posts on this board where g@ys are allowed to serve openly in the military. The recourse of bigots is always to invoke their vision of morality which more and more people reject as being out of step with the times. Anyway, making war and winning it isn''t about morality so you''re just making trouble here.
They knew how to work it !
Are You in Kansas City ??????
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Posted by edintex at 09:57 PM : Jul 07, 2008
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I know you are proud to have raised such hateful children. Gay parent''s children are already serving in the military. There are thousands and thousands of gay men and women in the military. Always have been. They are serving and have served honorably in every war in history. For your children to disrespect their service and their sacrifice shows that they weren''t taught much by their parents.
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Posted by kansas1946 at 07:21 PM : Jul 08, 2008
Oh, what BS.
Homosexuality and soldiers are contradictory terms. This attitude with the libs is so twisted. Everyone screams, "hatred, hatred" if they say something IS WRONG. Bunch of BS
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Posted by noseonurface at 10:42 PM : Jul 08, 2008
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You are just showing your ignorance. Ask anyone in the military if there are *** serving honorably. Actually it is amazing that young gay Americans choose to serve their country the way they are maligned.
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by dmhphils
July 9, 2008 10:14 AM EDT
- Actually it is amazing that young gay Americans choose to serve their country the way they are maligned.
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Posted by kansas1946 at 11:43 PM : Jul 08, 2008
Sheesh....give me a break.....homosexuality is a wayward behavior just like being a liar and a cheat or a thief.....it is wrong. That is the point. Thieves may serve in the military, but without honor, because once they are caught, they lose all honor. You people have things so twisted up, you can''t discern what right and wrong anymore. Bunch of B S, just like I said.