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Loading ...Gates: Pentagon looking at halt to gay military ban
07.18.2009 12:00pm EDT
(Chicago) The Pentagon’s chief said Thursday he could send more U.S. troops to Afghanistan this year than he’d initially expected and is considering increasing the number of soldiers in the Army.
Both issues reflect demands on increasingly stressed American forces tasked with fighting two wars.Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ comments came during a short visit to Fort Drum in upstate New York – an Army post that that he said has deployed more soldiers to battle zones over the last 20 years than any other unit. Two Fort Drum brigades are headed to Iraq in coming months, and a third is currently in Afghanistan.
Gates stopped at Fort Drum on his way to Chicago, where he gave a feisty speech Thursday evening hammering Congress for trying to tack on billions of dollars for additional F-22 fighter jets to the Pentagon’s 2010 spending plan.
Troop safety remained on Gates’ mind, however, as he told a friendly audience of the Economic Club of Chicago that high Army suicide rates “are a reflection of the stress on the force.”
He also took about 15 minutes of questions from the friendly audience, during which he repeated his belief that the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, will be closed as President Barack Obama has promised. He also said anew that Pentagon lawyers are looking at whether gay troops who are outed by hostile colleagues can be protected from military discharge until Congress changes the controversial “don’t ask, don’t tell” law.
SO,,,,,,,,, WHAT DONT THEY ALREADY KNOW? QUIT JERKING US AROUND AND GET RID OF IT!
What’s up with all this, “we’re looking into it,” bullsh*t? What is there to look into? What do these people have to study? I suppose it’s just code for, “we don’t want to offend religious bigots, because they’re more important than a bunch of queers.”
Whenever I hear the words “greatest country” associated with the U.S. I could vomit.
Hopefully our commander in chief will grow a set of ***** and reverse DADT. This policy only leads to diviciveness, promotes hatred and violence, weakens our military and makes us look hypocritical to the rest of the world; since we always bash other countries over human rights while we encourage prejudice, homophobia and violence, against minorities in our own country…look who is calling the kettle black…our nation is loosing it’s credibility!
Truman wasn’t black. Truman ended segregation in the armed forces. Congress could’ve fought it, but notice they didn’t–and that was in 1948, when the Dixiecrats were in their glory. Obama can’t muster the same courage as Truman did 61 years ago. He could issue an executive order which would also be a challenge to Congress. He’s so “busy” not building a nonexistent consensus when he could issue an executive order and thereby establish the parameters of discussion. What kind of politician refuses the opportunity to establish the terms of discussion AND look like a true leader with public support, all with a minimum of risk?
They keep trying to reposition the issue as though its the fault of Congress… I could have sword it was a Presidential order.
Funny how he tries to make it someone else’s fault.. Clearly Obama doesn’t want to move on it.
I think Obama is afraid of the generals. Makes one wonder who is really running the country.
Maybe the heterosexual community will get sick of burying their family members, and decide that everyone should have a chance in fighting for their country. This ban truly sickens me.
Obama is a damn weaking, not to mention an incredible disappointment. It seems like he’s afraid of his own shadow. Get with it already. What a milquetoast.
Sure! Now that our military is hurting lets consider “getting around” DADT. I served in the Army and fought in Vietnam. I only knew of one soldier whose life was ruined by military anti-Gay policies. But that is one too many. I say screw the military. Today I would not serve and personally do not believe any GLBT person should either, not until we are recognized as full first class citizens of this country.
End Gay Apartheid Now! Or ask Congress to change the Star Spangled Banner to “O’er the land of the straights and home of the homophobes” Let’s get on with our lives and stop treating gays like people that aren’t in everyone’s family.
If DADT were ended, I am 99% sure I would rush to enlist. I hope that everyone else that is fighting for the end of this ban will consider doing likewise.
Obama should recognize efficiency. It’s much more expedient to just end the damn ban, rather than spent time, money and political trick-capitol to come up with a “workaround.”
Jesus effin Christ!
I just saw “Ask Not,” too. The most illuminating part was that President Truman integrated the Armed Forces in 1948 simply by signing an Executive Order.
The President could do the same thing and end DADT tomorrow, if he chose to.
I agree, Ian. It’s a stupid policy & should be repealed IMMEDIATELY! Recently I saw a film on PBS called “Ask Not” by gay documentarian Johnny Symons: http://www.asknotfilm.com/
Seeing it left me angry & in tears…this ban is so UNFAIR!
END the stupid ban already! It’s been long enough. Hey Dems in Congress, the gays voted for you last year. You said that you repeal the ban. So? Are you or aren’t you. Am I rights folks?!