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Right: a conversation about the absurdity.
Number one, it’s hard to take anything Secretary of Defense Robert Gates says regarding repeal at this point, since he’s been part of the foot-dragging maneuvers to begin with. Number two, for him to cite legislative repeal as giving the military more “flexibility” in handling implementation of repeal only raises more questions about what the Pentagon’s “needs” are related to rollout. (The Advocate):
In making his case, Gates referenced a two-week period in October when the Pentagon went through “four different policy changes” after a federal judge issued an injunction on the law and then denied a stay request until she was overruled by a higher court.“So I, I think we have the least flexibility – we have the least opportunity to do this intelligently and carefully and with the kind of preparation that is necessary, if the courts take this action as opposed to there being legislation,” Gates concluded.
What does he mean? What flexibility in implementation and preparation would be hampered by the courts? Does he want to leave asinine ideas like separate-but-equal quarters on the table for the homophobes in the ranks at the Pentagon’s disposal? Left alone, Gates’s remarks leave much to be desired (and that’s being charitable).
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Flexible response = bullshitIt’s all as obvious as Bush’s invasion of Iraq was from the first day they said all options are on the table and war was a last resort. DADT will not be repealed, and we will stay in Iraq, because now we have a great excuse: “If they ask us to stay.”
Gates absolutely wantsa “separate but equal” solution which the court decision would not allow. And, if the lame duck session passes the DADT compromise it will be because the republicans are convinced that this “separate but equal” solution will be better than what will happen if we prevail in the courts.
Gates is a liarWhy should anyone presume he’s acting in good faith when he tells blatants lies like this:
Heterosexism defined here:
How awful the Def Sec should be held accountable in a court of law for violating civil rights of Americans! Oh, that’s just the WORST!
So much better this old straight homophobe gets to be the one to decide when, how or if the gays get to be treated as equals.
retrograde maneuver?“Flexibility?”
The idea might be that if Congress simply repeals the statute (10 USC § 654), DOD is free to write any regulation whatsoever on the subject — perhaps revert to pre-1993. The sodomy statute — Art. 125 UCMJ — is still on the books in any event. Witch hunts, other-than-honorable discharges, no pretense of “don’t ask”, all possible if there’s no statute and the Pentagon can write what it pleases.
Especially if the OWH just sits there.
Maybe that’s on the overt menu — just watch the repeal bill sail through Congress if that conspiracy theory is in place — but once DADT is repealed and the services are “flexible”, the potential for mischief is there.
Short answerYes, they want segregated barracks, gays barred from combat MOSs, and the ability to discriminate. Which is why they are so against court action, because a court decision in favor would mean none of the above could happen.
This has been another edition of “simple answers.”
DADT is NOT Going To Be Repealed !LIVE WITH IT!!!!!
Also please spare me the “If only Hillary had won” nonsense. She and Obama are two peas in the same giant Invasion of the Body Snatchers seed pod.