Gates hints at changes to ban on gays in military

Reporting from Carlisle Barracks, Pa. -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Thursday that the Obama administration would move cautiously in shifting policies on gays serving openly in the military, but he signaled that service members should prepare for possible changes.

In his most extensive remarks to date about the ongoing ban on gays who serve openly, Gates said he and other military leaders had "begun a dialogue" with President Obama about the issue.

Obama promised during last year's presidential campaign to end the ban on gays in the military, and the White House said recently that it was reviewing the issue. Gates said Obama had been clear with the military about his position.

"We will do what the president asks us to do," Gates said at the Army War College. "There is a law; we will uphold the law. If the law changes, so will our policies."

Reminds me of the sensitivity class on Rescue Me’. The video only showed the white guy was racist and when asked what everyone learned, Leary’s character stands up and says “only white people are racist?”

I had a friend in college who was caught underage drinking one time too many at a party on campus so they made him go to alcohol abuse group counseling. At the session they had everyone sit in a circle and brainstorm ways they could have fun without drinking. "Take a walk on the beach" and stuff like that were thrown around until my friend raised his hand and suggested "Smoke pot!" Sometimes ya just shouldn't open up the floor to comments!

Supporter of the gay agenda? Nope. Once again (for those with their own agendas) I’m just one pointing out that like it or not there is a real possibility that DADT might change. The discussions will be about the law, the body of law and the constitution and not over what the Bible says or doesn’t say, as many want to frame the legal debate.

When (and if) the law changes, then those who don’t support the change will have to figure out what they’re gonna do and think.

BTW: So, unless everyone in the military who disagrees changing the DADT law should resign and publically make their feeling known or they are all POS-es?

For your SA, here’s Gates’ question and the answer:

Q Sir, Glenn Ritchie.

In view of the president’s request to consider review of the Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell policy, what will be Department of Defense’s response, if that’s asked for?

SEC. GATES: Well, we will do what the president tells us to. (Laughter, applause.)

The — there is a law. We will uphold the law. If the law changes, so will our policies. We have begun a dialogue. The chairman and I have begun a dialogue on this with the president. Everybody in this room knows, this is a complex and difficult problem. We have a force that’s under considerable strain right now, with two wars.

The president has been clear about where he wants to go and what he thinks needs to be done. But I think that he is approaching this in a deliberate and cautious manner, so that if we do go down that road, we do it right and we do it in a way that mitigates any down sides, problems that might be associated with it.

From the time President Truman signed the executive order for integration in 1948, it was five years before that process was completed. I’m not saying that’s a model for this, but I’m saying that I believe this is something that needs to be done very, very carefully.

>>There is no ban on gays serving in the military.

Correct.

Gays just are not to brag about their sexual adventures.

And even that would already be covered by the code of conduct.<<

Those who happen to be gay but do not subscribe to the “contemporary gay lifestyle” are free to server in my opinion.

Those who live the lifestyle should only be allowed to serve in separate units. Call it the 69th Raging Queen division.

Those who happen to be gay but do not subscribe to the “contemporary gay lifestyle” are free to server in my opinion.

The problem with "Don't ask, don't tell!" is that it's nonsense, because it is unnecessary. When in uniform / on base proper behaviour is regulated by the code of conduct, which already regulates relations between straight soldiers of opposite sexes. Simply have a "no sex in the barracks showers" rule that applies to everyone. Problem solved.

"Don't aks, don't tell" is just like hate crime legislation, in that it's wrong: Don't look a group affiliation, look at individual behaviour (or individual culpability in the case of hate crime laws).

Why the hell are you posting to me on the comment in question? Are you afraid of a real man, Mr. pissant? He is the one that made the comment.

Not going to take the bait, but I do have one question for you? You said: (see, I know how to read comments on FR)
the law is the law and the military policy will be to uphold the law

What law is being discussed here. Did CONgre$$ pass the DADT as a law? I really don't know so this is a legitimate question.

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