Tag Archives: dadt

Repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell May Face Military Opposition

An Associated Press article on the recent back-and-forth over the policy known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” contained little new on the subject, save a heretofore untold observation by the Obama administration:

Officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because the administration’s path is still uncertain said the administration has never fully acknowledged that while a majority of Americans may want the ban lifted, a majority of the uniformed military might not. (emphasis added)

This supposition that members of the military may oppose open homosexual service — despite how the civilian society may feel — may have been the fear Read more

Appeals Court Stays DADT Injunction

After the issuing judge denied a stay, the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals granted the government’s plea for an emergency stay of her injunction against enforcing the current military policy/US law on homosexuals in military service.  The temporary stay can be challenged by the Plaintiff Log Cabin Republicans on Monday.

The short-term stay added more confusion to the military’s current policy, which the Department of Justice said was one of the reasons it sought the stay to begin with.

US Military to Accept Homosexual Applicants

According to an official release, the Department of Defense explicitly stated that openly homosexual men and women may now join the American military.  Notably, recruiters didn’t ask about sexual preference to begin with; however, the recent court ruling has apparently caused a spate of attempts to re-enlist by those previously discharged under DADT.  These “self-admitting” homosexuals apparently include former Army LT David Choi, among others.  The military is reportedly permitting homosexual applicants, while simultaneously cautioning them they may later be discharged if the ruling is overturned.

“Recruiters are reminded to set the applicants’ expectations by informing them that a reversal in the court’s decision of the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ law/policy may occur,” Cynthia Smith said.

Yesterday, the judge denied the government’s request to stay her injunction.

General: 95% of Marines Oppose DADT Repeal

In a ranging interview just before his retirement, outgoing Marine Commandant General James Conway said as many as 95% of US Marines would be uncomfortable serving with open homosexuals.

By and large, they say that they are concerned that it will cause potential problems with regard to their order and discipline — that it will impact their sense of unit cohesion, Conway said.

An offiical DoD news release says the Department of Defense will follow the injunction against enforcing the policy known as “don’t ask, don’t tell,” while the DoJ Read more

SecDef Opposes Court Injunction of DADT

According to an official DoD news release, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates reiterated his position that the status of the policy known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is one for Congress to decide.  Gates said:

I feel very strongly that this is an action that needs to be taken by the Congress, and that it is an action that requires careful preparation and a lot of training. We have a lot of revision of regulations that has to be done.

At the same time, Gates repeated his former statements that the DoD review Read more

District Judge Rules DADT “Unconstitutional”, Enjoins Enforcement

US District Court Judge Virginia Phillips has ruled the policy known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” violates the First and Fifth Amendments to the US Constitution and has issued an injunction prohibiting its enforcement.  According to reports, Judge Phillips made the following military analyses:

Phillips [said] the policy doesn’t help military readiness and instead has a “direct and deleterious effect” on the armed services by hurting recruiting when the country is at war and requiring the discharge of service members with critical skills and training.

Phillips’ ruling referred to both the US law banning Read more

Weinstein Calls on Military to Ban Christian Group

The Colorado Springs Independent, which previously reported on both Michael Weinstein’s declaration of “war” on the Air Force Academy and his letter to the Secretary of Defense, apparently obtained access to three cadets to discuss the religious climate at USAFA.

The members of the Cadet Interfaith Council had little negative to say: speaking of religious mistreatment, a Jewish cadet says “not much of that goes on these days;” a Buddhist has “not experienced any discrimination due to his faith.”  The Protestant of the three agrees.

All agree with a cadet’s statement that

Right now, I think it might be getting blown out of proportion.

(It is worth noting these cadets were likely provided by the Academy for the purpose of the interview.  Given the opportunity, Weinstein could likely produce cadets supporting his point of view.)

Superintendent LtGen Michael Gould is also quoted, and the article offers an intriguing look at religious “complaints” over the past two years.  Ironically, there Read more

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