Shalikashvili Calls for End of DADT
“Studies have shown that three-quarters of service members say they are personally comfortable around gays and lesbians. Two-thirds say they already know or suspect gay people in their units. This raises important questions about the assertion that openly gay service would impair the military. In fact, it shows that gays and lesbians in the military have already been accepted by the average soldier.
“Additionally, at least twenty-five foreign militaries now let gays serve openly, including our closest ally, Britain. Although we lead rather than follow these militaries, there is no evidence suggesting that our troops cannot effectively carry out the same policy change as those nations did.
“In 2008, a bi-partisan panel of retired General and Flag officers carefully reviewed this matter for a year and concluded that repeal would not pose a risk to the military's high standards of morale, discipline, cohesion, recruitment, or retention. Interestingly, an increasing number of active-duty officers who have reviewed “don’t ask, don’t tell” indicate that the policy, not the presence of gays, is detrimental to the armed forces’ need for skilled personnel who are able to serve without compromising their integrity and, by extension, that of the armed forces as a whole.
“As a nation built on the principal of equality, we should recognize and welcome change that will build a stronger more cohesive military. It is time to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell” and allow our military leaders to create policy that holds our service members to a single standard of conduct and discipline."
[emphasis mine; excerpt from former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General John Shalikashvili's statement, from "In Message To Pentagon Leadership, Gillibrand, Former Joint Chiefs Chairman Say It’s Time To Repeal 'Don’t Ask Don’t Tell'", press release from Kirstin Gillibrand's Senate office, 27 January 2010.]
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I welcome comments -- even dissent -- but I will delete without notice irrelevant, rude, psychotic, or incomprehensible comments, particularly those that I deem homophobic, unless they are amusing. The same goes for commercial comments and trackbacks. Sorry, but it's my blog and my decisions are final.
on Wednesday, 27 January 2010 at 23.58
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Obama just called for DADT repeal in his speech this evening — high time he did. I cheered.
Now I read this potent bit of advocacy from Shalikashvili. Having a former JCS chairman pushing the right way should add a lot of clout. I hope it will give some who know it's the right thing to do both courage and comfort to speak up as well.
on Thursday, 28 January 2010 at 00.14
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I wasn't able to listen tonight. Thanks for doing the cheering for all of us, SW.
on Thursday, 28 January 2010 at 22.44
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Canada is another of those close allies of the United States that accepts gays and lesbians in the military. Actually, "accepts" isn't quite the right word. Members of the Canadian Forces regularly march in gay pride parades, and afterwards there will be a CF information and recruiting booth in the post-parade party area. The Canadian Forces recognizes all marriages, legal or common-law, including same-sex marriages. There are same-sex marriages where both partners are serving in the military, and the wedding was solemnized in the base chapel. It would be nice to see our neighbour to the south catch up!