[Vision2020] Ex-Generals, Admirals: Repeal Policy on Gays

[Tom Hansen]

>From the Army Times at:

http://www.ArmyTimes.com

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Ex-generals, admirals: Repeal policy on gays

By Brian Witte - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Nov 18, 2008 5:43:13 EST
   
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — More than 100 retired generals and admirals called Monday 
for repeal of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on gays so 
they can serve openly, according to a statement obtained by The Associated 
Press.

The move by the military veterans confronts the incoming administration of 
President-elect Barack Obama with a thorny political and cultural issue 
that dogged former President Bill Clinton early in his administration.

“As is the case with Great Britain, Israel, and other nations that allow 
gays and lesbians to serve openly, our service members are professionals 
who are able to work together effectively despite differences in race, 
gender, religion and sexuality,” the officers wrote.

While Obama has expressed support for repeal, he said during the 
presidential campaign that he would not do so on his own — an indication 
that he would tread carefully to prevent the issue from becoming a drag on 
his agenda. Obama said he would instead work with military leaders to 
build consensus on removing the ban on openly gay service members.

“Although I have consistently said I would repeal ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’ 
I believe that the way to do it is make sure that we are working through a 
process, getting the Joint Chiefs of Staff clear in terms of what our 
priorities are going to be,” Obama said in a September interview with the 
Philadelphia Gay News.

Tommy Vietor, a spokesman for Obama’s transition team, declined comment.

The issue of gays in the military became a flash point early in the 
Clinton administration as Clinton tried to fulfill a campaign promise to 
end the military’s ban on gays. His efforts created the current compromise 
policy — ending the ban but prohibiting active-duty service members from 
openly acknowledging they are gay.

But it came at a political cost. The resulting debate divided service 
members and veterans, put Democrats on the defensive and provided cannon 
fodder for social conservatives and Republican critics who questioned 
Clinton’s patriotism and standing with the military.

Retired Adm. Charles Larson, a four-star admiral and two-time 
superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy who signed the statement with 104 
other retired admirals and generals, said in an interview that he believed 
Clinton’s approach was flawed because he rushed to change military culture.

Larson said he hoped Obama would take more time to work with the Pentagon. 
Joining Larson among the signatories was Clifford Alexander, Army 
secretary under former President Jimmy Carter.

“There are a lot of issues they’ll have to work out, and I think they’ll 
have to prioritize,” Larson said, noting that the new administration will 
immediately face combat-readiness issues and budget concerns. “But I hope 
this would be one of the priority issues in the personnel area.”

The list of 104 former officers who signed the statement appears to signal 
growing support for resolving the status of gays in the military. Last 
year, 28 former generals and admirals signed a similar statement.

Larson, who has a gay daughter he says has broadened his thinking on the 
subject, believes a generational shift in attitudes toward homosexuality 
has created a climate where a repeal is not only workable, but also an 
important step for keeping talented personnel in the military.

“I know a lot of young people now — even people in the area of having 
commands of ships and squadrons — and they are much more tolerant, and 
they believe, as I do, that we have enough regulations on the books to 
enforce proper standards of human behavior,” Larson said.

The officers’ statement points to data showing there are about 1 million 
gay and lesbian veterans in the United States, and about 65,000 gays and 
lesbians currently serving in the military.

The military discharged about 12,340 people between 1994 and 2007 for 
violating the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, according to the 
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a military watchdog group. The 
number peaked in 2001 at 1,273, but began dropping off sharply after the 
Sept. 11 attacks.

Last year, 627 military personnel were discharged under the policy.

Political observers say that even though the issue may not be as 
controversial as it was when Clinton addressed it, it’s impossible to 
forget what happened then.

Larry Sabato, a political scientist at the University of Virginia, said 
Obama is unlikely to tackle the issue early on. Sabato said he expects 
Obama to focus on economic recovery and avoid risking the spark of a 
distracting “brush fire” controversy at the outset.

“I can’t imagine that he will do this right in the beginning, given the 
Clinton precedent,” Sabato said.

Aaron Belkin, who has studied the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy as 
director of the Palm Center at the University of California at Santa 
Barbara and organized the officers’ statement, said how Obama addresses 
the issue will be the first test for the new president on gay rights.

“Everyone is going to be interested to see how he responds,” Belkin said.

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Seeya round town, Moscow.
 
Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho
 
"Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the 
tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime." 
 
-- Adlai E. Stevenson,
Jr.

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