[Vision2020] Dont Ask, Dont Tell Policy Has Failed

[Tom Hansen]

>From the January 28, 2008 edition of the Army Times

-------------------------------------------

‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy has failed

On Nov. 30, I spoke on the Mall [in Washington, D.C.] at an event to honor 
the service of 12,000 patriots who had been discharged from our military 
under the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law. These 12,000 patriots had 
volunteered to serve their nation and place themselves in harm’s way so 
that 300 million other Americans could live free.

They were well trained and serving honorably but were rejected by their 
military services because of their sexual preferences, which are legally 
protected in every other segment of our society. DADT is a failed policy 
on three counts: moral, humane and national security.

It is morally wrong because it legitimizes a politically expedient lie of 
omission that violates military values, such as trust, respect and 
integrity. What’s the effect of justifying lies of omission in other 
military affairs?

It is inhumane because we ask gays and lesbians to endure the hardships of 
military service and be subjected to the emotional pressure of being 
outed — forced into the shadows as second-class citizens by the 
institution they serve. 

Finally, DADT is a threat to national security at the strategic level 
because one day, the 65,000 currently serving gays and lesbians might 
choose to out themselves, thus devastating military capabilities and 
readiness, to say nothing of a recruiting and training nightmare. At the 
tactical level, it creates a threat in that foreign agents could use the 
threat of outing gays and lesbians holding high security clearances to 
secure their cooperation.

Many of our senior leaders defend DADT by saying that “it’s working,” and 
that having gays and lesbians openly serve would hurt morale and unit 
cohesion.

I counter that it didn’t work for the 12,000 patriots discharged because 
of it, nor does it for the 65,000 currently serving. To the unit cohesion 
and morale argument, I counter that gays and lesbians serve openly and 
honorably in the militaries of all our major allies. Why does it work well 
for them?

I doubt that it’s because young American service members and their junior 
leaders lack the maturity, humanity and intelligence to serve with and 
lead gays and lesbians. Perhaps it is because we have a senior leadership 
that lacks the skill and/or the will to lead an all-volunteer force that, 
in fact, includes all.

Major General Dennis Laich (ret.)
Dublin, Ohio

-------------------------------------------

Pro patria, 

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the 
tranquil
and steady dedication of a lifetime." 

-- Adlai E. Stevenson, Jr.



---------------------------------------------
This message was sent by First Step Internet.
           http://www.fsr.com/