NY Times: Dithering on ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

[GodlessBiker]

The Obama administration professes to oppose the odious and misguided policy of banning gay soldiers from serving openly in the military. So it was distressing to hear that the Justice Department plans to appeal a federal court order that the military immediately stop enforcing the law that is used to drum out gay service members once their sexual orientation becomes known.

We believe the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law was wrong from the day it was passed 17 years ago. But, in any case, circumstances have changed radically. As Judge Virginia Phillips pointed out when she ruled it unconstitutional, the original premises for the policy have been proved wrong, and there is no longer any good reason for continuing to ruin people’s lives by enforcing it.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the policy should not be lifted abruptly because there are unresolved questions like whether straight and gay soldiers should share barracks and whether the military should pay benefits to partners of gay service members.

He said he wanted to wait until a review of practices and policies was submitted on Dec. 1.

There is no need to wait. The answer to both questions is: Yes. It would be a disaster if the military replaced this misbegotten policy with official segregation and discrimination.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/14/opinion/14thu1.html?_r=1&hp

[hendo]

1. Gates is right

why should a gay soldier have the same rights as a straight soldier. After all, it isn't as though gay soldiers are willing to fight and die alongside straight soldiers.
:sarcasm:

[RaleighNCDUer]

2. WTF?

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the policy should not be lifted abruptly because there are unresolved questions like whether straight and gay soldiers should share barracks and whether the military should pay benefits to partners of gay service members.

If you hadn't noticed, straight and gay soldiers already share barracks.

And the military should not pay benefits to partners unless those partners are legally married. They wouldn't have paid anything to my girlfriend when I was in the service. Same thing.

You're grasping at straws, Mr Gates.

[treestar]

3. Disagree with Obama on the methods, fine

But that is no reason to question his position or commitment on it.

[saracat]

4. No . His position has been clear.

[GodlessBiker]

5. I suppose this is one of the few cases where words speak louder than action.

Yeah, that's it.

[yurbud]

6. think about the way women are treated in combat. Maybe the generals are afraid of higher ranking

gays treating them the same way.

[yurbud]

7. similar to slave owners & southerners in general afraid of black guys raping white women

after generations of white guys raping black women, they knew there was a lot of karma built up.

[FlyByNight]

8. Gates is...

...full of shit and he knows it. A cursory examination of allied military forces proves everything opposite of what his "concerns" are.

Just another Beltway hack.

:banghead: