Pace should be forced to resign

[bigtree]

He needs to go find a hole to live in where he won't be exposed to the rest of the world. (and we won't have to tolerate his bullshit)

[Double T]

1. Pace needs some diversity training; leaders with these positions........

should not be in charge, specially military forces.

[Zenlitened]

2. Pace is running like mad from the VA hospital scandal.

I think he lobbed this "immoral gays" grenade out there just to cover his retreat.

Diversionary tactic, if I've learned anything from the vast military expertise I've gained by, er, um, playing video arcade shoot-'em-up games. :D

Seriously though, it seems pretty transparent, even to me.

Editors of a supposedly top-tier newspaper sit down with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs... and the big-buzz story the next day is NOT about the hospital scandal?

Oy. :eyes:

[Monkeyman]

3. Yep N/T

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. The idea that anybody so fundamentally stupid...

is in charge of soldiers' lives in Iraq is disconcerting.

[bdamomma]

9. wasn't he appointed by bush, that explains it all.

[H2O Man]

5. I was reminded of

when Queen Elizabeth II granted the Beatles the Member of the British Empire award (MBE). Among the protesters was a dehydrated old "hero" who snarled that he refused to be considered "on the same level with vulgar nincompoops."

Lennon responded that this fellow had been honored "for killing people. We received ours for entertaining other people. I'd say we deserve ours more. Wouldn't you?"

Pace has made killing human beings the focus of his adult life. That he makes "moral" judgements about adults who making loving one another the focus of their adult lives seems obscene.

[leveymg]

6. Why did TIME publish this story now?

Comes at exactly the same time AIPAC has managed to pressure Democratic Congressmen to excise the measure expressly forbidding Bush from attacking Iran without Congressional approval. I see this as an effort to try to isolate Pace from his base of support among progressive Democrats, and that has everything to do with his role in resisting White House efforts to escalate tensions against Iran.

I disapprove of expressions of bigotry, and wouldn't make much of a professional soldier, but I also see the bigger picture about what's going on here.

Tell me if you see it otherwise.

[H2O Man]

11. I think the story

comes from an interview he gave to a newspaper. I do not think it is TIME's story, but rather one they are reporting, along with many other media sources. If I understand it correctly, the media is reporting it because he just said it. If this isn't accurate, could you explain what other information you are aware of?

[leveymg]

12. TIME made it a feature story yesterday, and everyone picked it up

It's really not a major story. All he was doing was saying he agreed with an established policy, and trying to defend it.

This is a pretext to try to get rid of him, or at least to place him under a critical public gaze, particularly among liberals.

Here's the TIME piece: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1598653,00.html

Reexamining "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
Tuesday, Mar. 13, 2007 By MARK THOMPSON/WASHINGTON

Amid the turmoil of the Iraq war and the scandal at Walter Reed, the last thing the nation's top military officer should want to do is generate more controversy by renewing the debate over gays in the military. Yet that's just what Marine General Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has done in an interview with the Chicago Tribune, telling the paper that "I believe homosexual acts between two individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts."

[H2O Man]

13. It's from a

newspaper interview he did. TIME is merely one of many sources reporting on it.

[gollygee]

7. I don't trust him in a leadership position

especially because he is in charge of the welfare of people he considers immoral. He can't be trusted in that role.

[GreenZoneLT]

8. Uh, guys, he's just supporting the policy.

Saying that homosexual behavior is immoral isn't beyond the pale in the military; it's pretty much the party line and backed up by the UCMJ. Sodomy is a crime in the military, as is adultery, and homosexual behavior is grounds for discharge.

It's a stupid and wrong policy, but he didn't say anything outre.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

10. "It's a stupid and wrong policy, but he didn't say anything outre."

I disagree. If he had said "homosexuality is forbidden by UCMJ" or something similar, it might be different. But he had to go and insult thousands of servicemen. He's a bigot and unfit to wear the uniform.

He's a disgrace to this country.

[Squatch]

14. As I've heard ad infinitum on DU...

just because he's in uniform does not mean he surrenders his right to free speech.

[bigtree]

15. He has no business leading our soldiers, many who are gay and lesbian

He can spout off all he wants, just not in a position of authority in our military. That position is a privilege which he has disqualified himself for. If we accept that gays and lesbians serve with honor in the military, then they have been slandered by the man who has authority over them. How can he continue to lead men and women who he considers immoral?

What policies did he carry out which were influenced by his beliefs that gays are immoral?

[Squatch]

16. He is very qualified to lead our service members

Based upon the following, GEN Pace is extremely qualified to lead soldiers. What his opinions of homosexuality are bear no relevance to his ability to execute his job.

I don't agree with what he said, but asking for his head after his comments is ludicrous.

A 1967 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, he holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration from George Washington University and attended Harvard University for the Senior Executives in National and International Security program. The General is also a graduate of the Infantry Officers' Advanced Course at Fort Benning, Ga.; the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, in Quantico, VA; and the National War College, at Ft. McNair, Washington, DC.

In 1968, upon completion of The Basic School, Quantico, Va., General Pace was assigned to the 2d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division in the Republic of Vietnam, serving first as a Rifle Platoon Leader and subsequently as Assistant Operations Officer. He was later assigned to Marine Barracks, Washington, DC, where he served in a number of billets, to include Security Detachment Commander, Camp David; White House Social Aide; and Platoon Leader, Special Ceremonial Platoon.

General Pace has held command at virtually every level, and served in overseas billets in Nam Phong, Thailand; Seoul, Korea; and Yokota, Japan. While serving as President, Marine Corps University, then Brigadier General Pace also served as Deputy Commander, Marine Forces, Somalia, from December 1992 - February 1993, and as the Deputy Commander, Joint Task Force - Somalia from October 1993 - March 1994.

After an assignment as the Director for Operations (J-3), Joint Staff, Washington DC, then Lieutenant General Pace served as the Commander, U. S. Marine Corps Forces, Atlantic/Europe/South. He was promoted to General and assumed duties as the Commander in Chief, United States Southern Command in September 2000.

As the Vice Chairman from October 2001 to August 2005, General Pace served as the Chairman of the Joint Requirements Oversight Council, Vice Chairman of the Defense Acquisition Board, and as a member of the National Security Council Deputies Committee and the Nuclear Weapons Council.

General Pace's personal decorations include: Defense Distinguished Service Medal, with two oak leaf clusters; Defense Superior Service Medal; the Legion of Merit; Bronze Star Medal with Combat V; the Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal with gold star; Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V"; Navy Achievement Medal with gold star; and the Combat Action Ribbon.

[bigtree]

17. then I'm ludicrous, and possibly immoral for supporting folks he calls immoral

He forfeited his right to lead the men and women when he singled out the one group as immoral. He serves at the pleasure of the president. Bush should demand he resign to restore these folks' reputations Pace has so callously smeared.