Mullen Advises 'Measured' Approach To Gay Policy

WASHINGTON — The nation's top military officer said Sunday he has advised President Barack Obama to move "in a measured way" in changing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that bans gays from serving openly in the military.

Obama as a candidate pledged to end the ban. As president, he has not said when or how he will take steps to do so, drawing criticism from gay rights activists and others. The president has pointed out that Congress in 1993 made into law a policy begun by President Bill Clinton.

"It's very clear what President Obama's intent here is. He intends to see this law change," Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on CNN's "State of the Union."

"I've had conversations with him about that. What I've discussed in terms of the future is I think we need to move in a measured way," Mullen said.

Mullen said he has discussed with his staff what steps might be taken to implement a change in the policy.

"I haven't done any kind of extensive review. And what I feel most obligated about is to make sure I tell the president, you know, my _ give the president my best advice, should this law change, on the impact on our people and their families at these very challenging times," he said.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said last week that he has lawyers studying ways the law might be selectively enforced as part of an effort to find "a more humane way" to apply the law until it is changed.

Comments

[gnomic]

So Chairman Mike thinks that we should move them from 3/5 of a person to 4/5, then maye to a whole person in a generation or two?

Mighty decent of the chap, don't you think? Its good to see a man this smart at the helm.

Gag.

[PlaceboStudman]

Let's face it, folks, the "measured pace" excuse is just that. People really think that this issue hasn't been studied repeatedly at least since Clinton set DADT into motion in the first place? As I've said before, the brass are simply afraid that allowing gays into the military would reduce recruiting in a volunteer military that takes a lot of its recruits from red states where blind faith is valued over education and diversity

And I have yet to see anyone show me evidence to the contrary. There aren't overwhelming numbers of stories of people staying in college and getting their PhD in something before going into the military, and there won't be many stories like that because of the number of people who get their educaitons in the military.

I wish it were different, but that doesn't seem to be the evidence I've seen

[eternalkerri]

i dont know whats worse. homophobia, or a homosexuals dislike of anyone religious or southern.

[PlaceboStudman]

Oh so we should just embrace people who spew hate speech such as telling us we're going to h3ll, or people who condone the actions and behaviors of those parents who, for religious reasons refuse to seek medical treatment for their critically ill infant? Sorry, but those are 2 factors of religion that I can not and will not forgive because they are factors of life that I have faced in my daily life.

And more importantly, you didn't include anything to counter my argument

[Agent420]

It's not just homosexuald that dislike the South and religion pretty much everyone I know feels that way..

[JumpDownTurnAround]

We don't dislike anyone who is religious or southern as long as they're not preaching their hate, asking for repentence, or pushing their homophobic agenda on to us. There are many accepting, tolerant southern and religious and some southern religious people. Those we are tolerant of. The only time gays are intolerant, is of intolerance itself.

[eternalkerri]

In 1948 President Truman signed Executive Order 9981 that integrated the US Military and Civil Service. The final segregated unit disappeared in 1956. It took the military that long to simply move black men into white men's barracks. How quickly do you think the US military could openly allow gay people to serve (which they rightly have the ability to do)? The military would have to develop a "sensitivity program" (or HR program for the non-military types out there). They would have to change the functioning of TriCare (the insurance program), they would have to allow for gay spouses, housing allowances, dependant care, etc. etc.
The military has to figure out how much money it spends every year ahead of time. The military would have to completely re-write regulations which requires an army of lawyers. They would have to budget for the changes. They would need to have training and doctrine put in place before the policy change takes official place (the army does nothing on a whim, they need plans to do anything).
Simply put, you have to prep the military to do it. A change on this scale...wh­ich would require the federal government to change some of its policies in employment and contracting (since the military cannot do business with discriminatory agencies).
They will do it. It takes time. Executive Order 9981 was the result of a year long study on the effects and reasons behind integration.

[Disuberence]

You think people that serve alongside gays in the military don't know they're gay?

[Douglas90723]

If you're gay and in the military you can be sure that your fellow comrads know it.

[Douglas90723]

Executive Order 9981 was not the result of a one year study. That's pure baloney. The issue had been studied since the Civil War.

Truman finally had the guts to just do it.

[eternalkerri]

President's Committee on Civil Rights.Dec­ember 1946 to December 1947.
Truman Library link: http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/desegregation/large/index.php?action=chronology

It was an effect of the study.

[robertsandimas]

This "sensitivity program" and "prep" things are asinine. This isn't 1950. Gays aren't a new entity on the effing planet, man. Mullen advises a "measured approach." I think 2000 years is measured enough. Let's get on with it. I need to calm down. :)

[eternalkerri]

its new to the military. it has to build a support infrastructure. regulations, rules, codes of conduct, policy.

you think that happens overnight?

[OliverTwist]

Too bad Adm. Mike Mullen is quick thinking or quick acting on this issue.

[OliverTwist]

Too bad Adm. Mike Mullen is NOT quick thinking or quick acting on this issue.

[Mysticalsister]

dear general mullen: how man skinheads, gang members and criminals
are serving in the military right now,

and how are they affecting moral?

[Disuberence]

Obviously not nearly enough. They need a new policy of just sending people directly to the Army instead of prison. How else will they learn to handle explo.sive­s and firearms for when they come home to rock out to some domestic terr0rism?

[runjohnrun]

Thank you!

[eternalkerri]

i wonder how all those inter-racial marriages and senior leaders who are demographically minorities doing?

[frantaylor]

Admiral Mullen, exactly what is it that you want to measure?

[BoiledFishlips]

What's the rush? Let's wait until Saudi Arabia and Uganda have open gays in their militaries.

[Waiting4Hope]

He said:

1) he'd close down Guantanamo, it's still open.
2) said he'd get rid of the "don't ask don't tell", it's still there.
3) said he'd get our troops out of Iraq, they're still there.

[We-Are-The-Ones]

He did not say he would do all these things in 5 months.

Gitmo is scheduled to close in the 1st year.

DADT cannot be repealed by President Obama. Congress must act.

Troops left cities and towns in Iraq on June 30th, and draw down continues.

[CigarGod]

Talk about BS. Admit it. You are being paid to tr0ll support for the Whitehouse.

1. Prisoners are being transferred to other prisons and still will be held indefinately.

2. DADT can be immediately suspended in several ways...and all discharged service members can be given a constitutional reprieve.

3. Thousands of troops are still in the cities...t­hey have just been renamed...­to exclude the "combat" in their duty status.

[PlaceboStudman]

I just hope we won't have to wait til the October march on Washington to see some real grass roots efforts from citizens to stand up and voice our frustration and disappointment that so many of us are feeling. Hopefully the march will be the impetus for the movement to really jumpstart and get Congress to open their eyes and take notice of our strong objections

[SamKnause]

This is just so outdated and ridiculous. I have to remind myself of the date when I read this antiquated stuff. What is wrong with our military? Any one who is willing to lay their life on the line for this country deserves the same respect as anyone else.

[PlaceboStudman]

blame the geniuses who decided that the military should be allowed to follow different rules than general society by allowing ignorance and bigotry to pass, while the drives of a person's soul in who they love are told they aren't worthy

[We-Are-The-Ones]

Before DADT, gays were hounded out of the military, being investigated and discharged. DADT was a purported compromise that prevented officials from asking and did not require gays to tell.

Things were worse prior to DADT. DADT needs to be repealed, but do not forget the history that brought it into being.

[PlaceboStudman]

Hmmm...it appears my previous comment was deleted

[We-Are-The-Ones]

Comments are deleted all the time. Don't make a conspiracy out of it or take it personally.

[CigarGod]

Yeah, just pretend we aren't surrounded by BS and what we are smelling is really roses.

[libatheist]

If there was a draft they should let gays in ..but when you volunteer they make the rules..

[We-Are-The-Ones]

Gays already are "in," serving this country honorable. Having said that DADT is the law. Until it is repealed by Congress, it must be complied with.

[CigarGod]

But the military and the country are not honorably serving the Gays.

No, we don't have to wait for congress..­.and you know it.
Why do you repeat this l.ie in endless posts...da­y after day, week after week?

[Asinistra]

"And what I feel most obligated about is to make sure I tell the president, you know, my _ give the president my best advice, should this law change, on the impact on our people and their families at these very challenging times," he said.

What a load of crap! Who, Admiral, pray tell are OUR people...a­nd what in the hell does impact on their families have to do with this? I mean you are The frickin' Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. You are sending people's spouses and kids into harm's way every stinkin' day. What? You think that has no impact on families? Listening to b.s. artists like this, it is no wonder Obama is losing his way more and more every day.

[godlessdem]

General Mullen, the times are ALWAYS very challenging when it comes to our military adapting to changes in the world around them. How many years did it take to de-segregate our military? It was done by President Truman after years of trying to "convince" the general staff to do it.

The military did not fall apart when it was integrated or when women were allowed to serve.

General, you are blowing smoke.

[Sundei]

Obama should not yield to pressure..­.

The military should not end this ban...the first step is ending the don't ask don't tell...the next step is marriage and adoption for homosexuals in the military..­.WON'T FLY...

I've seen first hand, how gangs and all sorts of deviant behavior had to be reigned in...

[Balancement]

Well, I see the bus from the Home for the Hopelessly Bewildered has arrived...

[We-Are-The-Ones]

If heteros can adopt, marry and speak about their lives, then gays in the military can as well.

DADT will be repealed. Bigotry must be destroyed.

[BarryS]

and let's stone adulterers. After all, it is explicitly stated in the book to do that.

[We-Are-The-Ones]

And no eating shrimp and no divorces.

LOL