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U.S. may look to other nations for lessons on gays in military
Gazette ^ | David Crary | July 12, 2009 - 8:22 PM

Posted on 07/13/2009 12:04:33 PM PDT by Red Steel

NEW YORK (AP) — When it comes to dealing with gay personnel in the ranks, the contrasts are stark among some of the world’s proudest, toughest militaries — and these differing approaches are invoked by both sides as Americans renew debate over the Pentagon’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

In the United States, more than 12,000 service members have been dismissed since 1994 because it became known they were gay. Current targets for discharge include a West Point graduate and Iraq war veteran, Army National Guard Lt. Dan Choi.

In Britain, on the other hand, uniformed gay and lesbian service members marched in the annual Pride London parade July 4. Gay Australian soldiers and sailors had their own float in Sydney’s Gay Mardi Gras parade. In Israel, the army magazine earlier this year featured two male soldiers on the cover, hugging one another.

America’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy — which prohibits gays from serving openly — is the target of intensifying opposition, and President Barack Obama says he favors lifting the ban. But he wants to win over skeptics in Congress and the Pentagon, and a fierce debate lies ahead that will inevitably touch on the experiences of allied nations that have no bans.

U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Pa., the first war veteran elected to Congress, has just launched a campaign for a bill to repeal “don’t ask.” He observed British troops in operating smoothly with a serve-openly policy and bristles at the contention that American forces would suffer morale and recruiting problems if they followed suit.

“I take it as a personal affront to our warriors,” he said. “To say that other countries’ soldiers are professional enough to handle this and American soldiers aren’t is really a slap in the face.”

(Excerpt) Read more at gazette.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: agenda; bhodod; bhohomosexualagenda; dontaskdonttell; homosexualagenda; militaryreadiness; obama; uktroops
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A poll at link:

"Gays in the military

Should openly gay men and women be allowed to serve in the U.S. military?"

1 posted on 07/13/2009 12:04:33 PM PDT by Red Steel
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To: Red Steel

Cannon fodder?


2 posted on 07/13/2009 12:05:25 PM PDT by xcamel (The urge to save humanity is always a false front for the urge to rule it. - H. L. Mencken)
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To: Red Steel

How many of those countries are defending the world? How many of them are serving voluntarily?


3 posted on 07/13/2009 12:05:40 PM PDT by GeronL ( Patriotic Insurrectionist at http://tyrannysentinel.blogspot.com)
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To: Red Steel
Advocacy piece from the AP’s David Crary
4 posted on 07/13/2009 12:06:35 PM PDT by Pete
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To: Red Steel

65/35 YES.....GO VOTE....only 26 have voted so far


5 posted on 07/13/2009 12:07:17 PM PDT by goodnesswins (For lease)
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To: GeronL

The larger question they are avoiding. Are we not capable of deciding for ourselves? The leaders of the free world and we can’t even come to a decision on this issue.


6 posted on 07/13/2009 12:07:18 PM PDT by RC2
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To: Red Steel

How to handle gays in the military?

Through education, of course, just like we do in grammar school. Have everyone read “Daddy has Two Sergeants.”


7 posted on 07/13/2009 12:07:35 PM PDT by Pearls Before Swine (Is /sarc really necessary?)
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To: Red Steel

I am glad I retired 20 years ago.


8 posted on 07/13/2009 12:08:10 PM PDT by askrenr (Slightly to the right of Attila the Hun.)
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To: Red Steel

they ought to ask lumberjacks - they’re OK...


9 posted on 07/13/2009 12:08:20 PM PDT by camle (keep an open mind and someone will fill it full of something for you)
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To: Red Steel
I'll tell you this, those German soldiers in Afghanistan,
running around in their hair nets and house coats are enough to scare the pants of those crazy Arabs.
10 posted on 07/13/2009 12:08:37 PM PDT by Hans
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To: Red Steel

Let them serve in the EU military.


11 posted on 07/13/2009 12:10:56 PM PDT by Vigilanteman (Are there any men left in Washington? Or, are there only cowards? Ahmad Shah Massoud)
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To: GeronL

And there you have it. Militaries that can selectively engage and only on a very limited basis have made the leap to all queers are welcome.

And to all those who let themselves be put down on their knees in mimicry of homosexual behavior, to suck down and swallow this bullcrap, need to be reminded that homosexuals CAN serve in the US military unless they make their homosexuality an issue.

The only homosexuals barred from military service are those who would be openly disruptive in their behavior.

Service in the US military is high enough pressure to deal with without throwing all this useful idiocy social engineering into it.


12 posted on 07/13/2009 12:11:08 PM PDT by Grimmy (equivocation is but the first step along the road to capitulation)
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To: Red Steel
I wonder what would happen to them if one fell into the hands of the Taliban or Iranians?? Whatever it is probably would comply with the Geneva Convention.
13 posted on 07/13/2009 12:16:06 PM PDT by colorado tanker ("Lastly, I'd like to apologize for America's disproportionate response to Pearl Harbor . . . ")
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To: Red Steel
U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Pa., the first war veteran elected to Congress

Really?

And the liberal media wonders why newspapers and news organizations are dying... they don't even know what editing is.

14 posted on 07/13/2009 12:16:54 PM PDT by Anitius Severinus Boethius
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To: Red Steel

paahleeeze.

Other countries have militaries that are a joke.

They also have CONSCRIPTION rather than volunteer armies.

They also divide their military into a social welfare group (cannon fodder) and a serious military elite group.

There are reasons the US is unmatched in superiority. Being clumsy with the soap in the shower is not one of them.

is this “D” a light in the loafers district congressman?


15 posted on 07/13/2009 12:17:03 PM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: GeronL
How a person enjoys their sexuality or with whom, is nobody's business, and ought never to become an issue for discussion in any situation whatsoever.

The US has the finest military force on earth....why can't the natural cowards in our Congress, leave them the flock alone?

16 posted on 07/13/2009 12:17:49 PM PDT by katya8
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To: Red Steel
U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Pa., the first war veteran elected to Congress

We don't need no steenking editors or fact checkers!

17 posted on 07/13/2009 12:18:11 PM PDT by steve-b (Intelligent design is to evolutionary biology what socialism is to free-market economics.)
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To: Red Steel

What, no barf alert? Sorry, there’s a reason why we have the policies we do, and one can draw a correlation between them and the quality of our military. Ya see, libs? “Good order and discipline” DO mean something!


18 posted on 07/13/2009 12:20:43 PM PDT by OCCASparky (Steely-Eyed Killer of the Deep)
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To: Red Steel

1) Are other nations actively using their military to help the world?
2) Why is this so hard? The answer is simple: show up, do your job and keep your private R&R business to yourself. But do your damn job!


19 posted on 07/13/2009 12:22:58 PM PDT by Clock King
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To: Red Steel

Yet another biased article from the Associated Press.


20 posted on 07/13/2009 12:23:15 PM PDT by Tired of Taxes (Dad, I will always think of you.)
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