Posted for your convenience: The Washington Post, May 19, 2009
Pentagon: No plans to end don't ask-don't tell
WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon says it has no plans to repeal the don't ask-don't tell policy for gay troops.
Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said Tuesday that the military's top leaders have only had initial discussions with the White House about whether gay troops should be open about their sexuality.
Under current rules, openly gay troops can be discharged from the U.S. military.
Morrell said the White House has not asked for the 1993 policy to be scrapped.
"I do not believe there are any plans under way in this building for some expected, but not articulated, anticipation that don't ask-don't tell will be repealed," Morrell told reporters at the Pentagon.
President Barack Obama committed during the 2008 presidential campaign to moving to end the Clinton administration-era policy.
The 1993 law was enacted as a compromise between openly gay people serving in the armed forces and those opposed to gays in uniform.
Morrell said Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen both have discussed the issue with Obama.
"They're aware of where the president wants to go on this issue, but I don't think that there is any sense of any immediate developments in the offing on efforts to repeal don't ask-don't tell," Morrell said.
i think it's really upsetting that at this day and age, DADT is still enacted. it's crazy! first of all for the obvious reasons. but also, it's a war - they defend torture as any means necessary to protect the country but easily dismiss valuable soldiers and even translators? i do think obama will eventually get to it though. anyway i think this article was pretty neutral but is it me or was it just awkardly written?
ReplyDeleteThis article contains the usual boilerplate pap from a DOD "spokesman" who is delivering the message. With two shooting wars, several in the pipeline and 700 or so military bases to maintain around the world, this issue is a slightly annoying itch for the Pentagon. They have bigger fish to fry and probably resent that this issue has to be played out on their turf instead of in the larger civilian society.
ReplyDeleteI think we all take this kind of issue too seriously
ReplyDeletesomething is definately wierd about the way this article is written.
ReplyDeletei also believe that at this day and age no-one should be juged according to his sexuality.
i think there was somthing "dry" in the article, as if the reporter does'nt really want the way things are to change.
I find it unsurprising that the first campaign promise that President Obama reniggs on is the one to the LGBT community over DADT. It's amazing to me that opposition from the military is halting progress on the issue and that there hasn't been a larger outcry from the gay community after the announcement.
ReplyDelete