Obama Plans On Giving Gays Military Victory
President Barack Obama will focus "at the right time" on how to overturn the "don't ask, don't tell" ban on gays serving openly in the military, his national security adviser said Sunday. "I don't think it's going to be — it's not years, but I think it will be teed up appropriately," James Jones said.
The Democratic-led Congress is considering repealing the 1993 law. Action isn't expected on the issue until early next year.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., recently wrote Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates asked to share their views and recommendations on the contentious policy. In Sept. 24 letters, Reid also asked for a review of the cases of two U.S. officers who were discharged from the military because of their gay relations with other men.
"At a time when we are fighting two wars, I do not believe we can afford to discharge any qualified individual who is willing to serve our country," Reid wrote. Reid did not address the effect overturning the ban would have on damaging troop morale, since the vast majority of the military is strongly against the change. It would also energize Muslim resistance to the military, as Homosexuality is considered a deadly sin in Islam.
As a candidate, Obama signaled support for repealing the law, but in a vague way that left most American unaware of his intentions. In fact, Obama made a big deal of being "against gay marriage", something most Americans thought signaled he would not be a gay activist.
Last year, 634 soldiers were discharged for being openly gay, or .045 percent of the active-duty U.S. force, according to an Aug. 14 congressional report. The largest number of gays who were ousted under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy came in 2001, when 1,227 were discharged, or .089 of the force.
The House is considering legislation to repeal "don't ask, don't tell" and allow people who have been discharged under the policy to rejoin the military. It would likely result in bonanza for lawyers as well, who would then sue for those discharged for damages and full back pay, plus interest and money for emotional distress. See Chick's SIN CITY.
The Democratic-led Congress is considering repealing the 1993 law. Action isn't expected on the issue until early next year.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., recently wrote Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates asked to share their views and recommendations on the contentious policy. In Sept. 24 letters, Reid also asked for a review of the cases of two U.S. officers who were discharged from the military because of their gay relations with other men.
"At a time when we are fighting two wars, I do not believe we can afford to discharge any qualified individual who is willing to serve our country," Reid wrote. Reid did not address the effect overturning the ban would have on damaging troop morale, since the vast majority of the military is strongly against the change. It would also energize Muslim resistance to the military, as Homosexuality is considered a deadly sin in Islam.
As a candidate, Obama signaled support for repealing the law, but in a vague way that left most American unaware of his intentions. In fact, Obama made a big deal of being "against gay marriage", something most Americans thought signaled he would not be a gay activist.
Last year, 634 soldiers were discharged for being openly gay, or .045 percent of the active-duty U.S. force, according to an Aug. 14 congressional report. The largest number of gays who were ousted under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy came in 2001, when 1,227 were discharged, or .089 of the force.
The House is considering legislation to repeal "don't ask, don't tell" and allow people who have been discharged under the policy to rejoin the military. It would likely result in bonanza for lawyers as well, who would then sue for those discharged for damages and full back pay, plus interest and money for emotional distress. See Chick's SIN CITY.
posted by chickcomics | 7:52 AM
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