Marine Corps Commandant: Don't Change 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

[sabra]

Source: ABC News

Senior Military Officer Gen. James Conway Said Current Policy Works Just Fine

One of the military's senior officers did not shy away from telling Congress this week that he thinks the current "don't ask, don't tell", law barring gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military should not be repealed.

Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Conway told the Senate Armed Services Committee Thursday that he does not think the law should be changed.

"At this point, I think that the current policy works," Conway said. "My best military advice to this committee, to the secretary, to the president would be to keep the law such as it is."

Conway said he looks at the issue strictly from the point of view of whether changing the law would "enhance the war-fighting capabilities of the United States Marine Corps by allowing homosexuals to openly serve."

Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, presented the administration's proposal that Congress repeal "don't ask, don't tell". At the time, Mullen said he supported changing the policy because letting gays serve openly in the military would be "the right thing to do."

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/marine-corps-commandant-james-conway-works/story?id=9948516

[tularetom]

1. So what happened to the chain of command?

His superiors have already expressed support for repeal of this policy.

So why is anybody even asking him what his opinion is? It doesn't matter.

[joeybee12]

2. To give cover to the scum, ie., Republicans in the Senate to

oppose it.

[Thothmes]

10. The folks in Congress asked him.

They have a legal right to do so. He has a right to his opinion, even if it runs counter to what the SecDef or JCS think.

[saigon68]

11. Another Homophobe

[OHdem10]

3. At that time, I heard a report (CNN?) that the Marines were not on

board at this time. I had just deducted that was why they
needed the time prescribed to study how best to implement.

[Journeyman]

4. Ah, yet another reason to be thankful our military is civilian-controlled . . .

and for all its imperfections, we live in an ostensibly democratic society.

[bowens43]

5. I really can't think of anyone whose opinion

I would value less........

[greiner3]

6. "Marine Corps Commandant: Don't Change 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell''

He's gay!

[msongs]

7. lotta closet gays in the marines who joined thinking it would cure them lol nt

[alarimer]

8. Sit down and shut up, you bigoted asshole

Nobody cares what you think. You just have to do what they tell you to do.

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

9. If Senior Military Officer Gen. James Conway doesn't like it then HE needs to get out!

Time to retire Sir!

[defendandprotect]

12. Obama should do what Bush would have done...change the commandant!!

[seeinfweggos]

13. not surprised

from what i have heard it the marine corps is the only branch pushing back on this behind the scenes.

[keopeli]

14. I think they may be concerned that it will impact their "tough guy" brand the most.

We've seen this countless times.

The Univ. of Hawaii changed their mascot from the "Rainbows" to the "Warriors" and their color from the full spectrum rainbow to just green and white, all because they were made fun of by an opposing team at an away football game as being gay.

The truth is that I know many, many, many gay marines. They are BUTCH men that I would WANT on my advertising for the Marines. The problem is that these higher-ups have no idea how many gay marines there really are. They probably think they have a tiny percentage when in fact, I believe it's much larger.

In any case, their fears are unfounded. It's their own homophobia that terrifies them. Everyone else out here in the real world is just fine...

[No Elephants]

15. "All we need is a few good men," which means, not Conway

[tabasco]

16. Not your call, General.

But thanks for your input Mr Helper!

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[pipoman]

21. Dupe

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[wmbrew0206]

18. A lot of you need to chill on Conway and the Marines

First, I completely disagree with Conroy on this issue. DADT needs to go.

Second, in the military you are allowed to express your opinion up until a decision is made. There has been no formal decision made and Conway as the service chief of the Marine Corps is completely within his right to express his opinion, as he is the subject matter expert on the Marine Corps' ability to implement the repeal of DADT.

Third, Conway was not expressing his personal views on DADT, he was expressing it for his position as the head of one of two branches of the military that responsible for land warfare. In the OP's post Conway said "looks at the issue strictly from the point of view of whether changing the law would "enhance the war-fighting capabilities of the United States Marine Corps..."I disagree with this, but I would like to know if Conway but a qualifier or time horizon on his comments. Simply put, repealing DADT will take a lot of effort for the military in all manner of ways. Ultimately the force will be stronger for it, but for a while it will cause some upheaval. BTW, this is what the Army and Air Force chief both said and I don't see the hate spewed at them that Conway is receiving. I'm willing to bet Conway personally would not mind to see DADT be repealed.

Finally, to the poster who referred to the Marine Corps as the mental wasteland of the US military, get a F-ing clue. The Marine Corps expects more, gives more tactical freedom to, and has accomplished more with less due to the mental abilities of their junior NCO's and officers. This is also why the Army is now imitating the Marine Corp in how they organize and fight. It is also the only service that encourages respectful dissent of established policies in its official professional publications. If you tried that in any other service publication, it would be the end of your career.

[optimator]

19. this is the consequence of not firing McChrystal

Conway knows he can be insubordinate and Obama will not do a damn thing about it.
You never show weakness to the war chiefs, now they own his ass permanently.

[wmbrew0206]

20. Please explain how Conway was insubordinate...

and define what you think insubordination is in relation to the US Military.

[Hippo_Tron]

27. Apples and Oranges

McChrystal had a press conference and gave his unsolicited views on foreign policy which is out of line for somebody in the military to do since foreign policy is supposed to be made by civilians and not the military.

Conway was invited to a hearing and asked for his opinion about a matter of military policy, something that congress does routinely. In those circumstances he was perfectly entitled to express an opinion that differs from that of his commander-in-chief, even if his opinion is wrong.

[activa8tr]

23. We CERTAINLY don NOT want any U. S. Marines openly admitting to

being gay, do we? I mean, if ONE Marine is gay, that means they ALL must be gay, or, at least, they are, as a group, not as MANLY as they want to be!!!

:sarcasm:

[leftynyc]

24. Can President Obama fire or demote this clown?

The law is going to be changed and I don't feel this man is going to do all he can to make it an easy transition. Get rid of him and get someone who the President can count on to follow his orders.

[classysassy]

25. Once upon a time in america

the commanders followed the orders of their commander in chief.Where is Harry Truman when we need him?Remember the fate of General MacArthur?

[wmbrew0206]

26. A LOT OF YOU NEED TO GET A F-ing CLUE

I'll try to make this as clear as possible: NO DECISION ON DADT HAS BEEN MADE!

Until there is, the Service Chief as being asked for their input about changing the policy since they will be the ones to implement it. Conway is not being insubordinate and I dare any of you to prove he is.

Whether you agree with Conway or not, and I don't, to ignore his opinion, question his ability to serve, or call him a homophobe is ignorant and makes you look like a stupid. Once a decision is made, Conway will do his best to implement it to the fullest of his ability because that is what Marines do.

[classysassy]

28. A marine

tossing the word stupid around,I was in the navy and we always thought that jarheads were stupid.

[wmbrew0206]

29. Well, Marines apperciate the service of our shipmates and

refrain from making sweeping judgments of the intelligence of other service members.

[pipoman]

30. I spent a week on Pendleton

in Dec. Hung out in the barracks and with a bunch of 'jarheads', not one disparaging comment about any other service member, even while hanging out in San Diego and encountering bunches of sailors..class..