Air Force Times: Don't Ask, Don't Tell talks must move slowly so as not to "stress" military

[Bluebear]

Any discussions on repealing the military’s ban on open service by homosexuals must proceed in a “measured and deliberate way” that does not increase stress on a force stretched by two ongoing wars, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs said Wednesday.

“I think it’s important, as we look to this change, that it be done in a way that doesn’t disrupt the force at a time where it’s under a lot of stress,” Adm. Mike Mullen told Military Times reporters and editors. “And that, to me, means in a measured, deliberate way, over some time — to be determined. And I don’t know what that would be.”...

Mullen’s comments fall in line with those of Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who said of the policy during a March interview on “Fox News Sunday” that “the president and I feel like we’ve got a lot on our plates right now, and let’s push that one down the road a little bit.”

Gates said at the time that he’d discussed the issue with Obama “briefly.”


http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2009/05/military_mullen_dont_ask_052709w/

[Raineyb]

1. They're trained to kill people but THIS will stress them?

Do these people realize how idiotic they sound?

[Bluebear]

2. Also the President and Gates have "too much on their plates now"

Poor overworked things.

[Captain Hilts]

3. The Air Force kills at 35,000 ft., so, no it doesn't. nt

[bdab1973]

15. Really? You must be highly educated in delivering weapons from aircraft...

I guess no one in the Air Force ever is in harms way...either that or you really don't have a clue. I'm guessing it's that you don't have a clue.

The Air Force Times is essentially The National Enquirer for the military...take what they print with a grain of salt. It's hardly an official source of news. I think people would be surprised that many in the military wouldn't care at all if DADT is removed. There's a very vocal group within the military that is still against gays serving, and when I debate the issue with them it's apparent that they are quite homophobic...ie, they say they fear for the morale of a unit if everyone's worried about Steve pumping them in the butt in the shower...as far as I know, that would fall under sexual assault, which the military is dealing with as well, but it's heterosexual males assaulting females. I haven't heard of any cases of males assaulting males. I then ask "should we ban women from the military?" That usually draws a blank.

[Mari333]

4. jesus f christ

stress???? 2 occupations in foreign countries and some soldiers doing 4-5 stop loss deployments...THATS fucking stress you morons.

civil rights takes a back seat again!! and the gay folks are kept under the bus.
assholes.

[izquierdista]

5. Calm down Admiral

Here, take a couple of Pirin tablets.

(Honestly, he's worse than Starina when he gets into one of his moods!)

[4lbs]

6. There have been so many stress related issues our military men/women face but I doubt any were

result of them knowing that they had likely served with a gay or lesbian person in their unit.

Hmmm... which is more stressful....

The possibility of being killed by being shot at, or serving next to a gay person?

The possibility of being killed or permanently disabled by having your jeep run over an IED, or serving next to a gay person?

The possibility of seeing someone who you are talking to being ripped apart by a mortar, or serving next to a gay person?

The possibility of the plane or helicopter you are in being shot down in Iraq or Afghanistan by a missile, or serving next to a gay person?

Having your wife/husband/family call you and tell you that they are broke and are going to lose the house, so you have nothing to come home to, or serving next to a gay person?

Having your own marriage dissolve because you've been gone so often that you are now strangers, or serving next to a gay person?

Losing that good job you had before all the deployments started, because you've been gone so long that they can't hold it for you any longer, or serving next to a gay person?

Being told you must deploy yet again, just a few days after coming home from deployment, or serving next to a gay person?

The possibility of being electrocuted because some Cheney-owned contractor screwed up the plumbing and wiring of the quarters where you live, or serving next to a gay person?


Yup, I can see where knowingly serving next to a gay person would be the ultimate stresser that makes all other stress events pale by comparison. :sarcasm:

[Mari333]

8. great post ! nt

[leftstreet]

13. +1

:applause:

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

7. This is a lame reason.

The military is comprised of a cross section of society. They are not different or unique. The people in the service are well aware of this flap and probably wouldn't really care. Sonmeday maybe the human race will evolve to the point where we realize this is not really important... :shrug:

[msongs]

9. their bibles tell em glbts are not welcome in society at all nt

[Vidar]

10. We'd still have a segregated army if Truman had't ignored this type of bullshit.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Why does this bullshit remind me of... the late 1940s

and integrating Negroes into the force? (using the term in its historical contest)

Nah, couldn't be the same Southern Christian OFFICER corp fighting this tooth and nail like they fought integrating negros into the white southern led military? NAH we are not seeing history repeat itself.

Get a fricking clue... this needs an executive order, PERIOD.

[kenny blankenship]

12. They are like very delicate and sensitive flowers

If you so much as breathe on them they are apt to bruise and collapse in a sobbing heap.

[Bluebear]

14. --

:spray:

[Canuckistanian]

16. They're such delicate flowers, you can't shock them like that

Oh, and NEVER tap on the glass. They might stop feeding.

[Bluebear]

17. lol