I guess statistics was not the General's long suit.
We are going in the wrong direction. We should extend the "don't ask, don't tell" policy to the civilian sector as well.
Don't forget about the female equation in this...There are some "practicing" lesbians serving our country with distinction in the armed services...
We just don't know who they are...
And with that said, from a veterans viewpoint...I would say that it may be a good thing we don't make a big deal out of this...again...
This is another attempt to bring down, from a certain political agenda's efforts, to errode the American military as a cohesive and viable force of this countries policies in the future...
This story was nothing but a bubble being put out there for some to pop...Thats just something to remember here...
Soldier to soldier transfusions are not uncommon in a war.
Just recently a young Iraqi child was saved by walk-in blood donations from soldiers.
What would be the consequence if that child then contracted AIDS.
This is a terrible idea and consideration should be given to removing the don't ask, don't tell provision to outright denial of the ability to serve in our military in any capacity.
Yeah, right, let openly gay people into the military. For evey openly gay man (or woman) you recruit, I bet you'll lose five others. Part of the attraction of the military is that its a macho organization--one of the last places in our society where men can literally be men. Change that, and you will make it a lot less attractive to many--especially the warrior types! Also, people in the military tend to be more Southern and religious than the norm. Watch how fast base housing will empty out when you let homosexual couples live right next door to married ones.
And lastly, there is the small matter of getting hit on by gay members in positions of power. Not that it doesn't happen among straights, but most are programmed to deal with that. People will just bolt when their gay sergeant or Lt puts the screws to 'em to put out.
Will there be enough gay people to fill the ranks to deal with a straight exodus? Of course not--since they are such a small percentage of the population and inclined to...other things. And most of those who join will not be warrior types. So, both quantity and quality will suffer.
The fact is that anyone with an ounce of common sense knows that letting openly gay people serve is a formula for wrecking the Armed Forces. The dishonest, the bad actors, and the MSM will strive to portray it otherwise, however. Unfortunately, it will probably come to pass within the next 20 year--especially if we get a Democratic Congress + President.
Prediction: If openly queer folks are OKd for military service we will have to re-instate the draft.
Not many gay men want to be in the military, but a lot of gay women do. I only served once in a unit with females in it, but almost half of them were lesbians.
Still, one interesting thing about "gay-friendly" organisations is that the more open they are to gays, the fewer straights are interested in them. At some undefined "tipping point" the institution itself becomes "gay" and heteros lose all interest in it (example one: Broadway, which focuses on themes about homophobia and AIDS, neither of which has much interest for the straight community. Example two: the Episcopal Church, which has lost all sight of Christianity in its attempt to raise buggery to a sacrament).
Shalikashvili is a Clinton general, and one who has been a dependable signature on the less extreme set of "generals against the military" letters that some ex-JAG generals are always sending to the all-gay-all-the-time MSM papers like the Times.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
I think they ought to scrap the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy and institute a 'Just Shut Up Already' policy with all possible haste.
Geesh....what REAL man would go into the military if there were open gays???? NONE!!! What REAL man wants to sleep in CLOSE QUARTERS with QUEERS??? NONE!! That ould END our fine military. Gen. Shalikashivi is a LOSER NUT!
A fag in every (fox)hole, eh? Shalikashvili is an idiot.
Like some retiring Chief from the Air Force supposedly said at his retirement ceremony,\" When I came in the Air Force, it was unacceptable to be homosexual and remain in service. Later, it was only unacceptable to admit being homosexual. I'm just glad to be getting out before they make it mandatory to be homosexual."
This a prime example of how wrong-headed that argument is.
A Giuliani-Pelosi-Reid social liberal triumvirate could be expected to make the US armed forces as gay friendly as the British army and navy.
This would not sit well with the conservative Scots-Irish from the southern states that disproportionately make up the core of our current military. As recruitment numbers plunge, the Giuliani-Pelosi-Reid social liberal triumvirate could expected to implement a draft. Thus, we would all be forced to participate in the lunatic left's grand gay social experiment.
harm recruitment ( from the article)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
We may have a situation that now exists in the Catholic Church.
Just as gays are now drawn to the seminaries, and dominating the culture there, gays could be drawn the military. We would not have an effective military if the armed forces become a gay playground that discourages the participation and advancement of straight men and women.
Does this mean Mark Foley and Ted Haggard would enlist?
4% my ass.... practicing homosexuals are about 1-2% of the population tops.
How will the miltary handle the influx of requests from straight men and women to co-habitate with their own partners? After all, few straight guys will want to bunk with a gay roomie, which means the gays will have to bunk together - instant karma!
Beyond the social issues, there are some staggering implications for intra-unit fairness and cohesion. (And by fairness, I mean the perceived unearned benefits gained by one soldier over another - one can reqard good behavior/performance, but one is in great trouble when simply being "something" gives one an advantage. Being homosexual in the military will become a plus, except for that whole fighting thing, IMO.)
Complete disclosure: I was an O-3 in the army when I resigned my commission.
I know of no credible studies which would buttress this blowhard's opinion.
More like around 2.5 at most. And less for women.
Later pingout.