Joint Chiefs Chairman Mullen: Military Ready To Accept Repeal Of 'Don't Ask Don't Tell'

For quite some time, U.S. troops have supported repealing the military's "Don't Ask Don't Tell" (DADT) policy. A December 2006 poll of servicemembers who had served in Iraq or Afghanistan found 73 percent of those polled were "comfortable with lesbians and gays." A 2004 poll found that a majority of junior enlisted servicemembers believed gays and lesbians should be allowed to serve openly in the military, up from 16 percent in 1992.

The military's leadership is finally catching up to its troops. On Sunday, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen told graduating cadets at the U.S. Military Academy that the military was ready to accept gay servicemembers if Congress repeals DADT:

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[mamacat]

There were gays in the service when I served. We just didn't push the issue. It was common knowledge, but we had more important things to worry about. There was a draft then, and any gays who didn't want to serve had an easy way out. They were automatically characterised as "unfit." And yet, there were many who chose to serve. I never asked someone why they served, it was a personal choice as far as I was concerned. As far as sexual orientation, it was obvious that that was not a matter of choice, to anyone who was paying attention. Gays could pretend to be straight, but it was harder to pretend to like it.

[Meatball1]

I have a question. If Barrack Obama is elected President of the United States of America, will you all still hate the United States of America? I know, "I don't hate America, I just hate it's policies". Don't say that. It's boring. I just pose this question.

Also, there are two websites out there that I find interesting. One of them has a page that is totally non-political and is asking for "Memorial Day Tributes" for service members who have lost their lives in combat or who have served honorably and who have passed on since. This website seems to get alot of hate mail. The other site seems to be where most of you get your information. It is non-political also.

The two sites, in order are:

http://www.djgoski.com

http://www.themoonismadeofcheese.org

[mamacat]

Unfortuneately, Republicans will go on hating America no matter who is elected. Next question?

[Meatball1]

Replying to two posts at one time,

First, my question was " If Barrack Obama is elected President of the United States of America, will you all still hate the United States of America?".

Mamacat, did not answer the question, only said something that makes no sense. Republicans don't burn the flag and protest the military that gives the protesters the right to do what they do.

Second, to 1differentdrummer,
Once the D party was a respected party of genuine patriotism but it was hijacked by anti-establishment hippies, peace at all cost hippies, military haters, democrat socialists / wanna be communists, npr, nptv, followers of the church of "Anything goes as long as it feels good and Global Warming", never deserving of any kind of respect. Your post falls into All of those categories! Get A Job!

Sorry if that offends. You probably get a government paycheck as a perpetual student, starving "Artist" or wellfare recipient.

Thanks and May God Continue To Bless The Unites States Of America,

[1differentdrummer]

Well, Meatball1, as Rovian posts go, that's not bad, but it could be more creative. For eight years I have been hearing and seeing posts about hate America and hate Bush and it is Republican garbage of the lowest order, or is it ordure? Once the R party was a respected party of genuine patriotism but it was hijacked by corporatist exploiters, military adventurers, neocon chickenhawks, radio blatherers, homophobics and churchian crazies, no longer deserving of respect. Your post falls into at least one of those categories.

[Gayrove]

Why, yes! We've been coddling these gay guys too long---protecting them from being maimed in body or spirit (or killedin the same) or captured by monsters, while the straight peons are expected to leave their families, jobs, safe and healthy life-styles in order to make the U.S.A. safe for gays. It's very noble of the straights, but a little too extreme for the man with children and so on.
We know, too, that, those who say our straight American fighting men are so fragile that they will go all to PIECES at just the thought of gay men seeing (and possibly DISSING!) their treasured private organs while showering, are slandering the American fighting man. Obviously, if the Israelis, British, Dutch, and Germans show a quiet equanimity about "exposure" to the view (and personal estimation) of the precious gays in their decades long experience of fighting shoulder to shoulder with them, why do we even allow the idea that our American fighting men are less secure in their manhood and manliness? I think that the next General (or lower officer) who even INTIMATES that the fighting unity of the American Army is a shrinking violet, tender lily, that can be absolutely destroyed by the Gay Bogeyman's breath should be given company punishment, PLUS a court martial, PLUS loss of rank, PLUS confinement at hard labor in a unit of the Federal Penal System.
Let's leave "don't ask: don't tell" to the Idaho Senator types, they NEED it.

[situationcritical]

I don't think we are going to see any great increase of gay men joining THIS military even if they do get rid of DADT.

For years my few friends who joined the pre-die-for-the-monkey-president military voluntarily would tell me it's the best place to find a partner. I know, hard for hets to process, but there's a kernel of truth in that.

[Beachrunner]

If this happens, those who declare openly that they are homosexual will end up patrolling the streets of Baghdad and fighting the good fight in Kandahar. Kind of like the old days when those who didn't sign up for SGLI were put on point.

[plages]

Military must really be short on sticks!

[MikeDu]

Years and years ago. I worked with an aging WWII vet. He served in the Pacific, claimed to have actually been with Ernie Pyle when he was killed (his version of the incident is much more awful than the 'official' account). He later went on the become a successful respected businessman and community leader. Oh, and by he way, he was gay.

Lets face it. The Pentagon's running out of volunteers willing to die for Iraq. They've already turned to highschool dropouts, ex-felons, and retirement villages. This is the last remaining pool of competent recruits that they've got. Only place left to go after this for more cannon fodder would be Boy Scouts of America.

[helonias]

But what will they do about adulterers?

[robXdion]

They're getting ready for President Obama.

[TimmySlagle]

DADT

Like the "Defense of Marriage Act" just another homophobic legacy of the Clinton Administration that is past its time.

[mamacat]

During the Clinton administration, it was controversial, and actually seen as a step forward - not a perfect solution, but a compromise that was better than the policy that existed before it. The DADT policy acknowledged that gays were in our society, and in our armed forces, but that society was not ready to accept them. Today, except for the base of the Republican party, our society appears to have moved further along the path toward accepting gays as full participants in our lives.

[LorettaSingbiel]

John McCain (R-AZ) has said repealing the ban would "elevate the interests of a minority of homosexual servicemembers above those of their units" and put the "national security of the United States" at "grave risk."

The national security of RAPED female servicemembers is at grave risk, when the "interests" of a minority of Halliburton heterosexuals are elevated with Bush's/McCain's protection of impunity!?

Stay safe, healthy and happy,
Love, Loretta

[DannyEastVillage]

and now, with the vets killing themselves at a rate of 120 a week...damn..watta legacy our chickenhawk prez is leaving us. And the GI bill is too expensive. And we sent $250,000 (yes THOUSAND) in aid to Myanmar...how can anyone NOT see what a sty this administration is?

[DannyEastVillage]

Loretta, it isn't just the contractors getting raped; there are plenty of such stories involving uniform personnel.

[awcbuddy8]

What the hell are you talking about?

[strifeknot]

Thick conservatives are expected to understand an observation so simple and self-evident. Here's a pat on the head and cookie.

[CFAmick]

I've often claimed that if it wasn't for gays and women serving in combat roles, there would have been a draft already.

[DannyEastVillage]

uh...HUH? Could you unpack that?

[cdnnewsjunky]

If this had of been done before the illegal invasion of Iraq, I would have called it progressive, now it looks like a cheap stunt to get more cannon fodder.

[aznurse]

I think its going to be the next controversy for Obama.

[mystic]

Right on the money.
Mullen can't bear the idea that it is because of this outrageous bigoted policy that those gays who were fired are living to day and not crippled or maimed or killed.

[awcbuddy8]

Now you can join.

[Mandy85]

I'm afraid Canada is not in the business of illegally invading foreign countries and slaughtering hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians.

[andyboy]

cdnews,

Bingo!

And I'll bet anything McCain will flip flop with the greatest of ease and act like he's all pro gay.

[DannyEastVillage]

good call!