Military tells Congress to keep gay ban for now

[davidinalameda]

Senior Pentagon leaders on Friday warned Congress not to tamper with the ban on gays serving openly in the military until they can come up with a plan for dealing with potential opposition in the ranks.

In a strongly worded letter obtained by The Associated Press, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen told the House Armed Services Committee that forcing policy changes on the military before it’s ready would be a mistake.

“Our military must be afforded the opportunity to inform us of their concerns, insights and suggestions if we are to carry out this change successfully,” Gates and Mullen wrote to the panel’s chairman, Missouri Democrat Ike Skelton.

Gay rights advocates want an immediate freeze on military firings of openly gay service members, and some senior Democratic senators have said they want to offer such a bill. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday said the Obama administration should suspend enforcement of the law until the Defense Department completes its study and Congress can act to change it.

http://www.365gay.com/news/military-tells-congress-to-keep-gay-ban-for-now/

[Catherina]

1. So much for civilian control of the military. For shame n/t

[sui generis]

2. "our military"

gotta love those exclusive clubs with secret members.

The stupidest thing of all is that the REAL military, not a bunch of retired panty-wad military officers, pretty much doesn't really give a damn already.

So what I want to know is this: "forcing policy changes on the military before it's ready would be a mistake" - let's go ahead and call his bluff.

I want to know exactly WHAT Robert Gates believes his ordered and in-control military is going to do that he lacks control over.

[Ian David]

3. I still think they should follow The Tuskeegee Airmen model.

Create all-gay and gay-friendly units of the military that people can volunteer to serve with.

It's how we've always taken the first steps to desegregate our armed forces.

[joeybee12]

4. And of course, when we saw the "compromise" as something set up to fail...

...we were told we were just negative nellies.

Well, once more, Obama can pass the buck...Gee, I tried, but it's so hard!

[Smashcut]

5. This is an old article. From 5/3/10

Embarrassing for the administration nonetheless, but it's pre-"compromise"

[Zenlitened]

6. Great idea. The military really should get some rules in place...

... for dealing with insubordinate soldiers.

:eyes:

[demigoddess]

7. military men especially the officers are not really forward

thinking men. They usually have their heads in the previous century, if not further back.