"Don't ask, don't tell" is a national security risk & has wasted >$200MM

[paineinthearse]

Last year, Rep. Marty Meehan (D-Massachusetts 5) requested the GAO to analyze the cost of the 1993 DoD "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The report was released last Friday, but due to weekend weather, did not get posed to my Rep's website until yesterday. There are two significant findings (details below):

1) Discharging military personnel on the basis of sexual orientation is costing the US taxpayers >$200 million in recruiting and training replacements.

2. More significantly, the policy is detrimental to national security as many discharged are in highly trained technical positions, such as translators. This has contributed to a huge backlog of untranslated intelligence intercepts. More than 400 dismissed under the policy had critical language skills (Farsi, Persian and Korean).

So the * administration once again shows its cowardly true self. It holds that depleting the ranks of military personnal based on sexual orientation is more important that national security and tax dollar waste.

GAO-05-299, MILITARY PERSONNEL: Financial Costs and Loss of Critical Skills Due to DOD's Homosexual Conduct Policy Cannot Be Completely Estimated United States Government Accountability Office GAO Report to ...
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d05299.pdf - 774.8KB - GAO Reports

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/necn /

(2/24/05 6:30 p.m.) Massachusetts Rep. Martin Meehan says he's hoping to reverse the military's 1993 "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Meehan can now use a congressional report to his advantage -- as a new study Thursday suggests the military's policy on gays is cause for the departure of hundreds of highly skilled troops...

MEEHAN INTERVIEW (VIDEO)
Go to http://www.boston.com/news/politics/necn / and scroll down.
Search: Video Clip('plV360410')

Meehan Releases New GAO Report on Don't Ask, Don't Tell:

Hundreds of Millions Spent on Discharging Gay Soldiers,

Hundreds of Critical Skilled Soldiers Purged

February 24, 2005

WASHINGTON -- Last year, Congressman Marty Meehan (D-MA) requested that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) study the costs of the systematic discrimination against gays and lesbians in the military under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy (DADT) enacted in 1993. Today, we have the results: DADT has cost U.S. taxpayers over $200 million and brought about the discharge of hundreds of servicemembers with critical occupations and important foreign language skills.

Meehan, now a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, has fought DADT for 12 years. His first piece of legislation as a member of Congress was a challenge to the original DADT law in 1993.

Meehan said: "It is more apparent than ever before that, as we conduct a Global War on Terror and face tremendous personnel shortages, that the Don't Ask, Don't Tell law is undermining our military readiness."

"The conventional justification for Don't Ask, Don't Tell has been that allowing gays to serve undermines miltary readiness. Now we have the numbers to prove that the policy itself is undermining our military readiness.

"By discharging competent servicemembers at a time when our troops are already stretched thin, the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy incurs hundreds of millions of dollars in unnecessary costs and purges highly skilled, critical personnel from the service. It is as senseless and counterproductive as it is un-American. The policy of the United States should be to fight the war on terror, not to advance the agenda of discrimination."

LINK TO GAO REPORT:

http://www.gao.gov/docsearch/abstract.php?rptno=GAO-05-299

SUMMARY OF GAO REPORT:

A. GAO Finds at Least $200 Million In Costs, Additional Costs Hidden

1. Recruiting Costs To Replace Soldiers Discharged Under DADT Cost $95 Million. “Over the 10-year period, it could have cost DOD about $95 million in constant fiscal year 2004 dollars to recruit replacements for servicemembers separated under the policy."

2. Training Costs To Replace Soldiers Discharged Under DADT Cost $95 Million. “Also, the Navy, Air Force, and Army estimated that the cost to train replacements for separated servicemembers by occupation was approximately $48.8 million, $16.6 million, and $29.7 million, respectively."

B. GAO's Analysis Excluded Numerous Additional Costs

1. Excluded Commissioned Officer Recruiting And Training Costs Including Military Academies. “To determine the estimated financial costs associated with DOD's homosexual conduct policy, we obtained information on the estimated costs to recruit enlisted personnel from fiscal year 1994 through fiscal year 2003... DOD does not include per-capita recruiting costs associated with commissioned officers in its procurement resources report."

2. Excluded Marine Corps Training Costs. “The Marine Corps was not able to estimate occupation-related training costs."

3. Excluded Costs For Discharges By National Guard, Reserves, And Coast Guard. “This exclusion is consistent with DOD's reporting practice in this area, which reports only active duty personnel separated for homosexual conduct."

4. Excluded Investigation, Counseling, And Administrative Costs. “Other types of costs such as those related to inquiries and investigations of cases, counseling and pastoral care, separation functions, and discharge reviews are not estimable because DOD does not collect data necessary to develop such estimates."

C. Critical Soldiers Discharged For No Reason But Homosexuality

1. 757 Soldiers With "Critical Skills" Discharged. Approximately 757 servicemembers separated for homosexual conduct "held critical occupations, identified by DOD as those occupations worthy of selective reenlistment bonuses."

2. 322 Soldiers With Skills in "Important Languages" Discharged. 322 separated servicemembers had skills in "an important foreign language such as Arabic, Farsi, or Korean."

D. Volunteers To The All-Volunteer Military Turned Away

1. 9,488 Men And Women Proudly Serving Their Country Discharged. “In 1993 Congress enacted a homosexual conduct policy statute... During the 10 years following this declaration, the military services separated about 9,500 servicemembers for homosexual conduct under the statute."

Source: http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ma05_meehan/NR050224DADT.html

Yesterday I gave this to a reporter in SF. Except for the NECN (New England Cable Network) coverage, as of yesterday there was no MSM coverage. It's starting to grow legs.

[paineinthearse]

1. Military Gay Ban Under Fire

http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=7536

Military Gay Ban Under Fire
by Andrew Davis
2005-03-02

Members of the U.S. Congress have announced legislation aimed at repealing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on LGBT military personnel, according to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. Under the ban, enlisted personnel cannot disclose their sexual orientation to anyone. The measure, called the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, is scheduled to be introduced in the House of Representatives on March 2 by Marty Meehan, D-Mass.

The announcement came on the heels of a release of a Government Accounting Office ( GAO ) report that analyzed the ban. The report estimates the ban has cost at least $191 million since it was implemented in 1993. However, this only includes costs connected with recruiting and training enlisted personnel brought in to replace those discharged under the ban. The analysis does not count costs associated with discharging officers or the nearly 800 specialists who were let go because of their orientation; administrative costs connected with the discharges are also excluded. Since 1993, a total of 9,488 soldiers have been let go under the policy, according to the Boston Globe.

According to the GAO, the Pentagon has fired 322 language specialists who were skilled in foreign languages that the Department of Defense deemed “especially important,” including Arabic, Farsi, and Korean. The report, according to the Boston Globe, states that at least 54 of the fired group spoke Arabic, more than twice as many as previously thought. Additionally, more than 400 more soldiers discharged under the policy had “critical occupations.” These positions included Army intelligence specialists and interrogators; Air Force air traffic controllers; Navy code-breakers; and Marine Corps counterintelligence specialists.

In a written reply to the results, the Department of Defense asserted that despite the loss of skills because of the ban, the military has dismissed far more servicemembers since 1993 for other reasons. David Chu, defense undersecretary for personnel, maintained that there had been a “low discharge rate” under the policy. Chu said that out LGBT personnel only represented 1 percent of the total number kicked out for reasons including pregnancy, drug use, or failure to meet weight requirements. However, critics remarked that the analysis illustrates how the ban hurts military readiness when the armed forces are already stretched thin—especially when the discharged people fill jobs that the military consider to be the most relevant.

more......

http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=7536

‘Don’t Ask’ Discharges Down 2005-02-23
Military Harassment of Gays Continues 2005-01-19
Dc. 6 - SLDN Lawsuit Challenges Don't Ask, Don't Tell 2004-12-01
AVER Celebrates Veterans Day 2004-11-24
Census Looks at Gays in Service, Vets 2004-10-27
SLDN: BATTLE READY 2004-10-13
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network 12th Annual 'End the Witch Hunts' National Gala 2004-10-06
Military Ban Hurts Troops 2004-09-22
Military’s Sodomy Statute Stays ... For Now 2004-08-25
Clinton in Chicago 2004-07-07
Military Targets Online Gay Profiles 2004-06-02
As War Continues, Gay Discharges Plummet to Lowest Level Since 1995 2004-03-31
NewsWrap 2004-03-17
Generals Admiral Come Out Attack Don't Ask Don't tell 2003-12-17
Lt. Col. Who Didn’t ‘Tell’ Stands Up To Military Discharge 2003-11-19
Military Sodomy Code Challenged 2003-10-08
City Salutes GLBT Vets 2003-06-18
Gay Military Discharges Down, Harassment Severe 2003-03-26

[paineinthearse]

2. self-delete

[paineinthearse]

3. Generals and Admirals Call for Repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

Generals and Admirals Call for Repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

3/2/2005 8:28:00 AM


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

To: National Desk

Contact: Steve Ralls of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, 202-328-3244 ext. 116 or [e-mail]

WASHINGTON, March 2 /U.S. Newswire/ -- A group of retired military generals and admirals today announced their support for The Military Readiness Enchancement Act (MREA), which would repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the military's ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Marty Meehan (D-Mass.) in the House of Representatives today, along with more than 40 Congressional co-sponsors. Rep. Meehan is also a member of the House Armed Services Committee, as are 7 co-sponsors of today's legislation.

The flag officers are among the highest-ranking veterans to publicly support repeal of the military's gay ban. MG Vance Coleman, USA (Retired), RADM John Hutson, USN (Retired), LTG Claudia Kennedy, USA (Retired), BG Keith H. Kerr, CSMR (Retired), BG Evelyn "Pat" Foote, USA (Retired), BG Virgil A. Richard, USA (Retired), MG Charles Starr, Jr., USAR (Retired) and RADM Alan M. Steinman, USPHS/USCG (Retired) today called on Members of Congress to pass the MREA.

"Our national security depends on having the best and brightest Americans protecting our freedoms," said BG Foote, one of the first women to achieve the rank of Brigadier General. "As a commander, I know that lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans have served our country with honor and distinction. Our armed forces should be able to recruit every qualified, capable American to protect our homeland, regardless of their sexual orientation. 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is not only unnecessary and discriminatory, it is also detrimental to our military readiness. The law does not meet the common sense rule our military should abide by."

In December 2003, BG Kerr, BG Richard and RADM Steinman publicly acknowledged being gay in the New York Times. "I think the real issue is how soldiers do their jobs, not their sexuality," BG Richard later told CNN American Morning. "The policy is not working and it's not working because, as an example . . . the Army and the services are short many linguists and we kicked out (many) over the last couple of years that could have helped our Army." The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported last week that the military has fired 322 language specialists since 1993, including 54 who specialized in Arabic.

"These officers know first-hand the harm 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' inflicts on our armed forces and our nation," said C. Dixon Osburn, Executive Director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. "Our armed forces need more service members to fight the global war on terrorism. Our country cannot afford a law that jeopardizes the continued service of 65,000 lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans who now serve on active duty, in the guard and reserves. What truly undermines military readiness is disrupting units by discharging hard-working, skilled and patriotic Americans who happen to be gay. Congress should heed the advice of the generals and admirals today and pass MREA."

The introduction of MREA follows a report from GAO last week. That report concluded "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is costly to our national security. The report stated that taxpayers spent at least $191 million to train and replace the nearly 10,000 service members fired under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The GAO report also acknowledged that its cost estimates did not include training and replacement for officers or those with highly specialized skills.

The United States continues to be one of the last original NATO countries to ban gays from the military. Since "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was implemented, Great Britain and Canada have lifted their bans, joining Israel and other nations around the world. U.S. forces serve alongside openly gay troops from those allied nations in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Also today, a coalition of advocacy organizations issued a statement supporting legislation to repeal the ban. The American Civil Liberties Union, American Veterans for Equal Rights, The Human Rights Campaign, Log Cabin Republicans, Military Community Services Network, The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays and Stonewall Democrats endorsed a joint statement with SLDN which says, "Military readiness is enhanced when every qualified, capable American -- regardless of sexual orientation -- is welcomed in our armed forces and has their talents utilized in the best interest of our national security. We salute our men and women in uniform for their selfless service to our country, and we support the Military Readiness Enhancement Act. Every American in every community is impacted by the continued discharge of proud, brave Americans who want to serve and are trained to do so. The time has come to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'"

Biographical information on each of the officers, and the text of today's legislation, is available online at http://www.sldn.org.

------

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is a national, non-profit legal services, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and related forms of intolerance. For more information, visit http://www.sldn.org.

http://www.usnewswire.com/

[paineinthearse]

13. deleted

[Nothing Without Hope]

33. See this story of a gay military man's experience with our military

This was in a posted reply by swimmernsecretsea in this thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=221&topic_id=7944#8410

He writes of a friend:
I met someone that, under the other the other Bush administration, was imprisoned, grilled for 14 hours without contact to legal advice, food and water, or sleep. During this time he was repeatedly threatened with being outed to family and friends, and attempts were made to force him to name service men and women who he knew were homosexual. He was ultimately given a dishonorable discharge, then told that it would be upgraded to "honorable" or "general" if he would continue to use his specialized cryptography skills in the service of the military. Not wanting to have a dishonorable discharge, he continued to work. After his term ended, he was still given a dishonorable discharge. When I met him, he was attempting to get his life back together. We talked at an artists' group. He was living in a very bad part of South of Market in San Francisco.

I'm not surprised to see that when our military decides it needs a skilled person, it uses him up like a bottle of something then tosses him aside like garbage.

I imagine that at that time - the other Bush administration - there wasn't a resource like the SLDN for him to turn to for relief and justice. I am wondering if it is too late for people like him to speak up?

[paineinthearse]

4. Newsday Editorial: End 'don't ask, don't tell'

End 'don't ask, don't tell'
Stop discriminating against gay U.S. servicemen and servicewomen

March 1, 2005

With the military stretched painfully thin in the global war on terrorism, it's just common sense that the U.S. armed services should welcome any competent, willing American man or woman into their ranks. Unfortunately, common sense falters when it comes to homosexuality and the nation's "don't ask, don't tell" policy of officially-sanctioned discrimination. For practical and philosophical reasons, the nation should repeal the law that allows gays to serve in the military only if they stay in the closet. Rep. Martin Meehan (D-Mass.) has drafted legislation to do just that. Congress should enact it and President George W. Bush should sign it.

The United States military judged 9,488 people unfit to serve their country between 1993 and 2003 and booted them out of the service simply because they were gay, according to the Government Accountability Office. The cost? At least $200 million to recruit and train Army, Navy and Air Force replacements. And that doesn't include similar costs undoubtedly racked up by the Marines, National Guard and Coast Guard. Talk about a nation shooting itself in the foot.

The military's need for personnel is so dire that it has used a "stop-loss" program to keep people serving in Iraq longer than they expected, has called people up from the Individual Ready Reserve who thought their active duty days were long over, and is dangling big bonuses to entice critical personnel to re-enlist. At the same time, 757 service members who held critical occupations that the Department of Defense finds worthy of selective re-enlistment bonuses have been discharged because they are homosexual. The military also has a crying, unmet need for people fluent in Arabic, Farsi and Korean. Still, 322 service members who speak such languages have been pushed out because their sexual preference makes others uncomfortable.

The United States fancies itself the world's exemplar of freedom and equality, and in many ways it fits the bill. But while this nation discriminates, gays serve openly in the militaries of allies such as Britain, Australia, Italy and Spain. The British Royal Navy actively encourages gays to enlist and is developing specific strategies to retain their services. Discrimination against gays is wrong and when it comes to the military, it's an indulgence the nation can no longer afford. The "don't ask, don't tell" experiment should end.

[MuseRider]

5. It will be interesting

to see what they do with this information. Keep us posted.

[paineinthearse]

6. GovExec.com - 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' costs military nearly $200 million

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=30636&printerfriendlyVers=1&

'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' costs military nearly $200 million
By Daniel Pulliam
[e-mail]

The Defense Department's policy on homosexual conduct has cost the government about $191 million and 9,488 service members, according to a Government Accountability Office report. President Clinton signed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue" into law in November 1993 after promising during his election campaign that homosexuals would be allowed to openly serve in the military. The law allowed homosexuals to serve as long as they did not openly disclose they were gay, lesbian or bisexual, in exchange for the military not asking about sexual orientation.

About 750 of the service members forced out of the military during the past 12 years because of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" held critical jobs, including those skilled in languages such as Arabic, Farsi or Korean, the report (GAO-05-299) stated. Nearly 60 percent of those separated for homosexual conduct had completed a little more than two years of service, according to GAO. Four years is the typical length of a military service contract.

The Army discharged 3,307 service members for breaking the policy, while the Navy discharged 2,970, the Air Force discharged 2,413, and the Marines, 798, the report stated. More than 6,800 or 73 percent, of those discharged were male; about 2,500 were female. Defense discharged 322 service members for homosexual conduct who were skilled in important foreign languages; 209 of those had attended the Defense Language Institute, auditors reported. Ninety-eight were considered proficient in reading, listening or speaking in foreign languages. Fifty-four discharged were training in Arabic, 50 in Korean, 42 in Russian, 24 in Spanish, 20 in Chinese and nine in Farsi, the report stated.

Eighty-three percent of the separations occurred because the service member said that he or she was homosexual, 16 percent because they engaged in homosexual acts and 1 percent because they married or attempted to marry a person of the same sex.

more......

[paineinthearse]

7. Hallejulla, we are finally getting some blog and MSM coverage

Google news "Meehan GAO"

Move To Repeal Gay Military Ban Gains Support From Retired Brass
365Gay.com - 20 minutes ago
... Meehan is also a member of the House Armed Services Committee, as are 7 co ... The GAO report showed that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” has cost taxpayers more ...

Military Gay Ban Under Fire
Windy city Media Group, IL - 3 hours ago
... of Representatives on March 2 by Marty Meehan, D-Mass. The announcement came on the heels of a release of a Government Accounting Office ( GAO ) report that ...

Generals and Admirals Call for Repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
U.S. Newswire (press release), DC - 5 hours ago
... Meehan is also a member of the House Armed Services Committee, as are 7 co ... could have helped our Army." The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported last ...

Military's policy on homosexuals cost $191 million
GovExec.com - Feb 28, 2005
... conduct had completed a little more than two years of service, according to GAO. ... Marty Meehan, D-Mass., is expected to introduce a bill Wednesday that would ...

Report: Hundreds of skilled military leave because of "Don't Ask ...
Santa Fe New Mexican, NM - Feb 25, 2005
... Marty Meehan of Massachusetts, who requested the GAO study, is working on legislation that would repeal the policy enacted under the Clinton administration. ...

Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Costs Taxpayers Hundreds of Millions
Morons.org - Feb 25, 2005
... The GAO was unable to quantify the cost of discharging those trained in ... Massachusetts Representative Martin Meehan has drafted (but not yet introduced at the ...

REPORT: MILITARY GAY POLICY COSTS TALENT
Out In America, OH - Feb 25, 2005
... Marty Meehan of Massachusetts, who requested the GAO study, is working on legislation that would repeal the policy enacted under the Clinton administration. ...

REPORT: MILITARY GAY POLICY COSTS TALENT
Out In America, OH - Feb 25, 2005
... Marty Meehan of Massachusetts, who requested the GAO study, is working on legislation that would repeal the policy enacted under the Clinton administration. ...

REPORT: MILITARY GAY POLICY COSTS TALENT
Out In America, OH - Feb 25, 2005
... Marty Meehan of Massachusetts, who requested the GAO study, is working on legislation that would repeal the policy enacted under the Clinton administration. ...

REPORT: MILITARY GAY POLICY COSTS TALENT
Out In America, OH - Feb 25, 2005
... Marty Meehan of Massachusetts, who requested the GAO study, is working on legislation that would repeal the policy enacted under the Clinton administration. ...

......84 total

Please get this into your local newspaper's hands.

thanks

[Capn Sunshine]

8. Just peanuts compared to The great treasury looting

Not to hijack , or minimize the amount we are discussing, but just offering up a perspective. Aside fromm the fraud, msmanagement and waste, there's NINE BILLION DOLLARS flat out missing in Iraq.

NINE BILLION DOLLARS.

The 200 million you mention is 2.2% of that.

Yet not much from MSM about this.

[paineinthearse]

9. Point taken

But I would order the waste as 3rd in order of precidence behind...

1. Human rights / privacy.
2. National security.

[Nothing Without Hope]

10. This is EXTREMELY important for many reasons. Recommended.

This GAO report and the statements being made about it are at the epicenter of multiple major issues:

1. GLBT rights and the injustices done with the encouragement of government and "religious" leaders who distort scriptures to pursue their own bloody-minded hate campaigns

2. On a larger scale, the whole administration-supported hate- and fear-mongering campaigns, not against the true enemies of this country but against innocent people who are designated "enemies" in order to distract from the truly important issues this country faces. As long as they can continue to encourage persecution and whip citizens up with fear and hate, they have great power to blot out the truth. WE MUST COUNTER THIS WITH REFRAMING CAMPAIGNS.

3. Military readiness and the deadly-stupid military policies that undermine it. This is the primary point of the GAO report, and it must be emphasized publically. Not only are skilled people being lost, but the "don't ask, don't tell" policy encourages gays to remain closeted, which directly increases the risk of blackmail and thus the security risk. This is well documented -- a basic tool of espionage -- and common sense as well.

4. Goverment accountability for their own policies

5. Media bias in reporting, in which facts and major stories are ignored or distorted to fit administration propaganda preferences.

Please see the comments, especially the one made by DUer swimmernsecretsea, made on the issues in a related thread posted in the GLBT Forum here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=221x7944
Title: "Now there are numbers: Pentagon anti-gay policy forced out skilled troops"

Again, don't miss swimmernsecretsea's story of the experience of his gay friend in our wonderful military. It isn't just about excluding vital skilled people or promoting blackmail-prone closeting of gays, it's also about the horrifying treatment of military people who are discovered to be gay. We cannot shut our eyes and hearts to these people and call ourselves progressives.

[Enquiringkitty]

19. Your #3 is the best one. Some time ago the government said that companies

could not discriminate against gays at industrial plants which require a security clearance because being gay and open about it isn't grounds for blackmail. So! Now we are going to make it grounds for blackmail by the present government by turning back civil rights for one segment of the population.

[Nothing Without Hope]

23. Wow! Do you have a link or some searchable lead for more info

on that? It definitely needs to be in the fact portfolio!

Some time ago the government said that companies
could not discriminate against gays at industrial plants which require a security clearance because being gay and open about it isn't grounds for blackmail.

I DEFININITELY want to know all about that and would love to have some way to find out the specifics on it.

Thank you!!!

[Enquiringkitty]

39. I don't have the documentation for it but I have worked in security

controlled industrial sites since 1988 and I was at the site that got sued and followed to court case through my friends and the plant had to hire the guy but the issue stayed hot and EEOC of into it so now there are many gays in the industry. I will look to see if I can find a news link or DC link related to it.

[Nothing Without Hope]

49. That would be excellent

Good documentation on that industrial law, I would think, might provide good ammunition for the people fighing to pass HR1059 to overturn the military don't ask/don't tell rule. Thanks for looking into this!

[Nothing Without Hope]

11. Another kick - It's as though many people don't want to hear about this

...and yet it is very important to all, whether gay or not.

We can't turn our backs and call ourselves progressives. Simple as that. These hateful policies not only undermine national security, they poison the heart of our country.

[Nothing Without Hope]

12. Kick - where are you all, people? n/t

[NYC]

27. Reading.

Some of us read without responding. :hi:

[Nothing Without Hope]

50. Thanks! That's good to hear.

Sometimes, when there aren't any responses for a long tiime in a thread one cares a lot about, it's hard to believe anyone is seeing it. Thanks for the reminder.

[paineinthearse]

14. WT/UPI: Bill submitted to allow gays in military

http://www.washtimes.com/upi-breaking/20050302-065604-3210r.htm

Bill submitted to allow gays in military

By Pamela Hess
Pentagon correspondent

Washington, DC, Mar. 2 (UPI) -- Fifty-two Democrats and a single Republican Wednesday sponsored a bill that would allow homosexuals to serve openly in the military, and give those who left under the policy banning gays a chance to rejoin the armed forces. At least six other Republicans are considering joining the list of co-sponsors on the Massachusetts Democrat Rep. Marty Meehan's Military Readiness Enhancement Act, he said Wednesday. Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., is the only Republican on the list so far.

"Over our country's history, there have been tens of thousands of American soldiers who lost their lives in service to our country and happened to be gay," Shays said Wednesday. "It seems to me our military's readiness is enhanced when every qualified American who wants to serve is allowed to do so. I support Marty in his endeavor to repeal the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy and replace it with one that is non-discriminatory."

In the wake of a presidential election that many analysts believe was heavily influenced by the issue of gay marriage, signing on to the bill will be an act of political courage, Meehan acknowledged. He thinks the national security of the country is at stake, however, and believes he can convince a majority of Congress to believe the same.

Meehan is buoyed by a Government Accountability Office report last week that said it has cost the military more than $200 million to replace the 10,000 gave service members who have left the armed forces under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Of those, more than 700 had specialties the military is trying desperately to keep with generous bonuses. Among them were 322 with linguistic skills in critical languages like Arabic, Farsi and Korean. "In a time of war it is outrageous our military continues to discharge courageous service members ... for reasons that have nothing to do with their conduct in the military," said Meehan. "We have a problem with retention and recruiting. The evidence is overwhelming we need to change the policy," Meehan said.

much more.......

[paineinthearse]

15. Gay.com - U.S. House bill aims to repeal 'don't ask'

The bill is not yet in Thomas, but I am getting a copy from Rep. Meehan's staff and will post ASAP.

======================================================

U.S. House bill aims to repeal 'don't ask'
Christopher Curtis, PlanetOut Network
http://www.gay.com/news/election/article.html?2005/03/02/1

On Wednesday Congressman Marty Meehan, D-Mass., introduced the Military Readiness Enhancement Act to repeal the Pentagon's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Meehan, the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Terrorism, Conventional Threats and Capabilities, was joined by 55 other Democrats and one Republican as co-sponsors of the bill by Wednesday afternoon, according to Meehan's office. His staff expected the number to grow later in the day.

Last week a Government Accounting Office (GAO) report claimed the 1993 anti-gay policy has cost the military nearly $200 million to train personnel who replaced lesbian, gay or bisexual soldiers removed from the military after their sexual orientation was revealed.
For about the same amount of money, the Pentagon could have purchased a dozen Blackhawk helicopters or 800 sidewinder missiles. The GAO study showed that nearly 800 specialists with critical skills have been fired, including 322 linguists, 54 of whom specialized in Arabic.

According to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), more than 10,000 gay and lesbian Americans have been discharged from service under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Steve Ralls, SLDN's director of communications, admitted passing the bill would be tough. "We know we have a challenge ahead of us," he said. "It will be an uphill battle in this session in Congress, but it does have bipartisan support. And we expect more Republicans to come on board in the next few weeks. If it doesn't get passed in this session, we'll reintroduce it in the next session."

Several retired military generals and admirals joined SLDN in supporting the legislation. "As a commander, I know that lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans have served our country with honor and distinction," said Brig. Gen. Evelyn Foote, one of the first women to achieve the rank of brigadier general. "Our armed forces should be able to recruit every qualified, capable American to protect our homeland, regardless of their sexual orientation."

more.....

[Nothing Without Hope]

16. More thoughts on this, a helpful book, and some recommendations

I strongly believe that a broad, deep REFRAMING CAMPAIGN is called for that would strike at the basis (whatever it is) of the whole gay hate/fear thing that is going on inthis country. Why are people so easily whipped up into this frenzy? What is the best way to counter it? But this is a wider issue than determining how to respond specifically to the GAO report; I see that report as an important addition to the portfolio of facts that counter the lies that are used to demonize gays and other politically useful targets.

I've been talking here and there around DU about the desperate need for a comprehensive reframing program, for example in two of my replies just now in an thread about a book that I think sheds light on some of the issues at the heart of the matter.

Here is the thread I’m referring to:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3204942#3209135
The thread has a title ("Reason for Dubya's 'strutting'") that unfortunately does not express the true subject, which is a new book about the psychology of the ultra-macho-posturing, "femiphobic" neocon mind and how it explains this administration’s disastrous policies and the susceptibility of too many people to them. The title of the book, by Stephen Ducat, is "The Wimp Factor: Gender Gaps, Holy Wars, and the Politics of Anxious Masculinity," and it is the subject of an excellent interview at Buzzflash here:
http://www.buzzflash.com/interviews/05/03/int05011.html.

I replied twice in the thread on the "Wimp Factor" book, outlining what I think needs to be an urgent priority for the Progressives of this country, a reframing campaign to counter the neocon and fundie fear- and hate-mongering that are most obviously being aimed at gays but poison the whole nation. I would very much like to have some feedback on what I say here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3204942&mesg_id=3209021
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3204942&mesg_id=3209270

I also discussed this need for a framing campaign with another DUer in another thread, also on the GAO Report:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=221x7944
(By the way, be sure to read the horrifying story reported by swimmernsecretsea in a reply in this thread – it gives another amazingly ugly vision of life in our military for men who are found to be gay. I’m betting that what swimmer describes is very common and goes a long way to explaining things like why sex-tinged torture came so easily to military people "interrogating" prisoners.)

For right now, my top four thoughts about all of this, summarized in no particular order, are:

1. We need to think through WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE re the GAO report. For this, we need to follow thoroughly the military response to the report, the response elsewhere in the government, and then determine how best to react and promote a sane and just policy in this military area.

2. On a broader scope, the lack of response so far to the multiple threads on the GAO report re the disastrous anti-gay rules is, I think, a symptom of a wider issue, the need to bring the whole homophobia thing into the consciousness of ALL progressives and then craft the right kind of campaign to counter it. I do recommend looking through the thread I replied twice to in the links above.

3. Very important and longer-term: A reframing campaign is urgently needed, and it will need to be carefully planned before its execution.

4. More needs to be done to spread awareness around DU, the web, and elsewhere about the issues discussed here. In the meantime, we need to flag and bookmark anything that impinges on anti-gay government policies, facts that expose them for what they are, info on potential spokespeople and supporters, and potential resources for a future reframing campaign.

As I said earlier somewhere, I don’t see this as a specifically GLBT issue, but rather as a broader PROGRESSIVE issue that is at the heart of so much that needs to be made right in our country. The neocons and their fundie allies have managed to tap into pre-existing anxiety and ignorance to fuel their political ambitions. We urgently need to frame a coherent, well-considered campaign to disconnect them from that source and to heal it.

[TaleWgnDg]

17. The military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy is

unconscionable. Blatant discrimination. U.S.A. government discrimination. Homophobia. Ignorance and stupidity.

And, it's a waste of military personnel, a waste of time, a waste of energy, a monstrous waste of money, endangers national security, and it causes devastation to military personnel who's only "crime" it is is to be of the minority sexual orientation. How stupid is this?

[Nothing Without Hope]

18. Yeah, that about sums it up. It's just an added fillip of insanity

that the policy actually encourages military or would-be military gays to remain closeted. As is very well known from long historical experience as well as common sense, it's the CLOSETED people who are the big security risks. They are, of course, vulnerable to blackmail, while an openly gay man is not. So an openly gay man is a lower security risk than either a closeted gay man or a hetero man who keeps a mistress.

But then, the GAO report shows that national security is nowhere on the list of priorities of the knuckle-dragging cretins that favor the "don't ask/don't tell" rule. Neither is logic, common sense, or fiscal responsibility, let alone justice or plain human decency.

By the way, I like the button-like slogan at the bottom of your post -- do you know if buttons and bumper stickers are available?

[paineinthearse]

20. Military Readiness Enhancement Act

Not yet in Thomas. Will post ASAP.

[paineinthearse]

21. HR 1059 - Meehan on CSPAN NOW

[paineinthearse]

22. Need webhosting help so this can get to DU.

I have the resolution in pdf format. If someone has a website where we can upload it, I will email it to you. Please PM me.

========================================================

Received from Rep. Meehan's office:

From: STAFFER <[e-mail]>
To: me
Subject: RE: Military Readiness Enhancement Act,
Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2005 09:55:34 -0500

With the introduction of a bill, it takes several days for it to show up electronically. I have attached the bill text. I just received word that the bill # is HR 1059.

[paineinthearse]

24. Meehan Introduces Legislation to Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Source: http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ma05_meehan/NR050302DADT.html

Meehan Introduces Legislation to Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

March 2, 2005

WASHINGTON -- Congressman Marty Meehan (D-MA), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, introduced legislation today to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) law and replace it with a new policy of non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in the Armed Forces.

Meehan, whose first piece of legislation as a member of Congress 12 years ago sought to strike the original DADT law, said that the legislation is "a matter of military readiness as we fight the global war on terror."

"The strain on our military personnel is one of the key national security challenges facing this country today. In a time of war, it is outrageous that our military continues to discharge thousands of experienced and dedicated servicemembers -- many with critical skills in the war on terror -- for reasons that have nothing to do with their conduct in uniform or their willingness to serve their country."

"'Don't Ask, Don't Tell is as senseless and counterproductive militarily as it is un-American.

“The Military Readiness Enhancement Act will strengthen our military by retaining valuable servicemembers. The American people recognize that there's no reason that people who have the courage to serve and the skills the military needs should be prevented from fighting in the war on terror."

Last week, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report at Meehan's request that determined that DADT has cost the government over $200 million to implement and resulted in the discharge of nearly 10,000 soldiers, hundreds of whom have critical skills for the war on terror, including over 300 linguists with skills in key languages such as Arabic and Korean.

The legislation is bipartisan and will be introduced this afternoon with 55 cosponsors.

The legislation was also endorsed today by the following retired generals and admirals:

Major General Vance Coleman, U.S. Army, Retired
Rear Admiral John Hutson, U.S. Navy, Retired
Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy, U.S. Army, Retired
Brigadier General Keith Kerr, CSMR, Retired
Brigadier General Evelyn Foote, U.S. Army, Retired
Brigadier General Virgil Richard, U.S. Army, Retired
Major General Charles Staff, U.S. Army Reserve, Retired
Rear Admiral Alan Steinman, U.S. Coast Guard, Retired

60% of the countries that make up the Coalition in Iraq allow gays to serve openly, including Great Britain, Australia, and Italy.
In addition, polls show that 50% of all junior enlisted troops, and at least 63% of the American public, support lifting the ban.

"Gay soldiers have served proudly in every American war including Iraq and Afghanistan," Meehan said. "There are an estimated 65,000 gay servicemembers in the military today. They are serving and they are risking their lives, and Congress should honor their service by allowing them to serve openly.

###

p.s. Did I say Marty is my Rep? :yourock:

==============

Note: At the site is a large photo of the retired flag officers, too large to post here.

[trudyco]

25. OK - I had my posting on a similar thread

Here's what I posted (I think it puts Dem in a pickle):

How can the Dems not support Gay rights? Right?

Yet what they are doing is closing the door on people getting out of the soon-to-happen Draft by claiming they are gay. So then nobody can say they are Gay to get out of the draft. But no gay is going to admit it for fear that their comrades in arms will just make sure they don't come back home.

So no improvements for real gays, just making sure to slam the door on that loophole for the Draft.

Of course some of the righties may get upset, but I haven't heard of mass demonstrations about Gu-ga, the ultimate gay presstitute, so I bet the news will downplay this, too.

I think this is more of a pickle for the lefties (don't want to look like flip-floppers) then for the righties. The righties have always been good at weasling out of consequences of their actions. For one thing, most don't have any qualms about lieing.

At least the Dems should put in a rider that says no Draft shall be instituted without congressional approval where each vote is recorded or something to that effect. Then they can nail them at mid term elections.

Thats my pessimistic thoughts

[paineinthearse]

26. Lowell Sun - Meehan: End "Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

This is from the conservative paper in Marty's home town.

http://www.lowellsun.com/front/ci_2595208

==========================================================

Article Last Updated: 3/03/2005 12:58 PM


Meehan: End "Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

By EVAN LEHMANN, Sun Washington Bureau
Lowell Sun

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Marty Meehan stood with three generals and an admiral yesterday -- some of whom are gay -- when he unveiled legislation to abolish the military's rule prohibiting homosexuality in the ranks. The bill would reverse the military's so-called Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, initiated in 1993, stopping the “separation” of trained gay soldiers from the services at a time of growing personnel shortages within the military, Meehan said.

“In a time of war, it is outrageous that our military continues to discharge thousands of experienced and dedicated service members -- many with absolutely critical skills in the War on Terror -- for reasons that have nothing to do with their conduct in uniform or their willingness to serve their country,” said Meehan, a Lowell Democrat.

The government spent nearly $200 million in taxpayer money to replace them, the report says. The bill promises to send ripples through Congress and the Pentagon at a time when gay rights -- and opposition to them -- are in the spotlight in many states. Three generals and an admiral, all retired, lent their passionate support to Meehan's proposal. Sexual orientation plays no role in how effective a soldier is, they all said.

“When you're injured on the battlefield, you don't care if it's a gay soldier or a straight soldier helping you,” said Brig. Gen. Virgil Richard, a 33-year veteran of the Army. “They've served in every theater in every conflict. So what's the problem?” Richard said homosexuals are treated as a “subclass” of people in the military.

more........

[paineinthearse]

28. Stanford Daily editorial - It's time for 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' to go

http://daily.stanford.edu/tempo?page=content&id=16413&repository=0001_article#

It's time for 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' to go

By Editorial Board
Friday, March 4, 2005

Last week, Rep. Martin Meehan (D-Mass.) proposed a bill to the U.S. Congress that would repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy for gays in the military. Initiated by former President Bill Clinton, the 12-year-old policy states that military personnel are not to be questioned about their sexual orientation or be permitted to acknowledge openly or participate in homosexual activity. If Meehan's bill is passed, homosexual soldiers would be able to openly acknowledge their sexuality and still continue serving in the military. Meehan, a gay-rights advocate and senior member of House Armed Services Committee, proposed the policy change in response to the Department of Defense's latest report on the recent decline in recruitment and retention.

Rather than criticizing the "Don't Ask" policy because it sanctions discrimination, proponents of the measure are calling for its end because it has caused 10,000 military personnel, some with vital language skills, to be discharged because of their sexual orientations over the past 10 years. According to the Government Accountability Office, the recruitment and training of replacements has cost at least $200 million for the Army, Navy and Air Force. Nevertheless all sectors of the armed services are below quota.

This bill is highly problematic because it is not based on a recognition of the innate violation of rights, but rather on the temporary need for more troops. Not only does Meehan's proposal harken back to Civil War legislation allowing African-Americans to enlist in exchange for the promise of freedom from slavery, but it also shows how little progress has been made towards America's ideal of true equality.

Nonetheless, for practical and democratic reasons, the nation should repeal the "Don't Ask" policy -- any voter should be allowed to voluntarily serve their country free from discrimination based on sexual orientation. While the motivation for the bill may have had more to do with the Bush administration's mistakes in the Middle East than a sudden realization of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy's inherent unfairness, the bill would still remove a discriminatory practice from the books.

more.....

[paineinthearse]

29. BILL HAS BEEN NUMBERED - HR 1059 - not yet in Thomas.

Received from Rep. Meehan's office:

From: <[e-mail]>
To: me
Subject: RE: Military Readiness Enhancement Act,
Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2005 09:55:34 -0500

Thanks, Jeff. ....... With the introduction of a bill, it takes several days for it to show up electronically. I have attached the bill text. I just received word that the bill # is HR 1059.

[Nothing Without Hope]

31. What's the link to Thomas? I checked Congress.org and didn't see it

there either.

Kick!

[Nothing Without Hope]

30. Kick! This is developing rapidly. n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

32. a kick to keep it visible n/t

[paineinthearse]

34. DU homepage article

http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/05/03/05_gays.html

On the DU Home page.

Military Policy on Gays is Costly and Dangerous
March 5, 2005 · The military spent over $200 million to recruit and train personnel to replace service members discharged over the last decade for being openly gay, according to a Congressional report that was just released. By Gene C. Gerard

[paineinthearse]

35. DU in Google News

Results 1 - 10 of about 136 for meehan gay. (0.24 seconds)

Military Policy on Gays is Costly and Dangerous
Democratic Underground, DC - Mar 5, 2005
... Part of this effort includes allowing gay couples to live in housing ... Congressman Marty Meehan of Massachusetts is scheduled to introduce the Military Readiness ...

[paineinthearse]

36. DU in Google News

Results 1 - 10 of about 136 for meehan gay. (0.24 seconds)

Military Policy on Gays is Costly and Dangerous
Democratic Underground, DC - Mar 5, 2005
... Part of this effort includes allowing gay couples to live in housing ... Congressman Marty Meehan of Massachusetts is scheduled to introduce the Military Readiness ...

[leesa]

37. Closing the loophole before they start the draft.

[paineinthearse]

38. Military Policy on Gays is Costly and Dangerous

http://www.freepress.org/departments/display/7/2005/1184

Military Policy on Gays is Costly and Dangerous
by Gene C. Gerard
March 4, 2005

The military spent over $200 million to recruit and train personnel to replace service members discharged over the last decade for being openly gay, according to a Congressional report that was just released. The report found that over 10,000 troops were discharged for violating the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that was instituted in 1993 under President Clinton. The policy allows military personnel to serve only if they do not disclose their homosexuality to anyone, including family members.

The estimate of $200 million was conservative, at best. The report only reviewed enlisted personnel who were discharged, and did not include the figures for replacing officers. Additionally, the report only contained the estimates of the Army, Navy, and the Air Force. The Marines declined to participate in the study. The report also did not consider the costs of investigating and discharging the personnel, nor did it contain the costs of processing legal challenges and reviews of the dismissals.

It has always been known that the military’s policy on gays was illogical at best, and discriminatory at worst. But this new report shows that it has also been extremely costly. But the cost of discharging gays is not just in financial terms. Some of those discharged have held skills sorely needed in today’s military. Over 90 nuclear power engineers, 150 rocket and missile specialists, and 49 nuclear, chemical, and biological warfare specialists have been discharged.

Since last summer, the Pentagon has called up over 5,600 specially trained members of the Individual Ready Reserve, former soldiers who have completed their military service and do not participate in ongoing training. Requiring these service members to re-enlist has accurately been called a “back-door draft.” The Defense Department said this is necessary because of the shortage of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. But to some extent, this necessity has been created by the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

more.....

[Don1]

40. Don't Believe the Hype (that means you--read this!)

These types of enflamed posts about DADT are more or less just parroting the Congressional statements about DADT.

The real fact is that sodomy and homosexuality were both against military regulations for decades prior to DADT. So, it makes no sense to parrot the GOP and Dem statements that DADT banned homosexuals from the military. In fact, the law stated explicitly that homosexuals could be in the military.

Below is a more accurate representation of regulations and laws before and after DADT:

Before (Situation A)
(1) sodomy disallowed.
(2) homosexuality disallowed.
(3) military asked intrusive questions about sexual orientation of every soldier upon signing up and potentially at any other time.
(4) gay soldiers had to lie to answer those required questions.
(5) gay soldiers had to keep it a secret or lose job.

After (Situation B)
(1) no change to disallowance of sodomy.
(2) homosexuality allowed.
(3) military could not ask intrusive questions about sexual orientation of anyone ever.
(4) gay soldiers no longer had to lie.
(5) gay soldiers still had to keep it a secret or lose job.

So, basically, Situation B has improvements over Situation A in parts (2), (3), and (4). On the other hand, Situation A has no improvements over Situation B. A repeal of DADT, puts military regulation back at Situation A by default!

It amazes me that liberals want to blindly get DADT repealed without knowing if it will be replaced by anything else. No citizen in this forum knows any details of the MR.E.Act. It makes no sense to support it yet. Support might make sense after we learn that the bill will improve any of the parts (1) thru (7), but until that time the lies about DADT need to be pointed out. And it has to be said that a mere repeal of DADT is bad for gay rights.

[Don1]

41. BS

"Since last summer, the Pentagon has called up over 5,600 specially trained members of the Individual Ready Reserve, former soldiers who have completed their military service and do not participate in ongoing training. Requiring these service members to re-enlist has accurately been called a “back-door draft.” The Defense Department said this is necessary because of the shortage of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. But to some extent, this necessity has been created by the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy."

I was in the I.R.R. Saying that the I.R.R. is "former soldiers who have completed their military service" is a lie. Being in the I.R.R. is the last part of your service. After it is done is when you get the honorable discharge. Just like I got. It is known by anyone in the I.R.R. that they could get called due to a national emergency.

[Nothing Without Hope]

42. Kick - this is still the definitive thread on this subject n/t

[Don1]

43. Right On

I am eagerly awaiting a post of the actual MR.E.Act. Until that time, my default is to not support it. However, if it is true that it represents an improvement over DADT, then I will in fact support it.

Anyone have an estimate on when the bill will be available online?

[Nothing Without Hope]

44. I just checked Thomas and it still wasn't there

Here's the Thomas site:
http://thomas.loc.gov

I put "1059" in the bill number search on the front page and got a "invalid bill number" response. Don't know when it will be up. Paine, the poster of the OP in this thread, will probably be checking his contacts as well as Thomas for the info.

[paineinthearse]

45. The text of H RES 1059 has not yet been received from GPO - BUT....

I have the bill in pdf format.

Can anyone convert pdf to text and/or upload to a website where we can all read it?

=========================================

This is all I can find in Thomas:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?r109:2:./temp/~r109FIAXZE::

MILITARY READINESS ENHANCEMENT ACT -- (House of Representatives - March 03, 2005)


GPO's PDF
---
(Mr. MEEHAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)

Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1059, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, bipartisan legislation to repeal the military's senseless Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy.

With our troops spread thin in Iraq and Afghanistan, our military is having serious problems meeting personnel requirements. The Army missed its February recruiting goals by 27 percent. Yet under the Don't Ask, Don't Tell, we are discharging thousands of experienced, dedicated servicemembers simply because of their sexual orientation.

Hundreds of people let go under the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy have skills that are critical to the war on terror, including translators and linguists. These soldiers have the courage to fight and the skills our military needs. There is no reason we should not allow them to serve their country. It is time for Congress to put national security interests first. It is time to repeal the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy so we can keep the United States military the strongest in the world.

[Nothing Without Hope]

46. Unfortunately, I can't do that. It's something DU should be abale to do

We should talk to Skinner about adding this capability. Any estimates about when it will be on Thomas?

[Don1]

47. PaineInTheArse Gave Me the Document

Uploaded to Link
http://pages.cthome.net/marks/MEEHAN_018_xml.pdf

Additionally, I would like to say that after finally being able to read the bill, I support it.

[Nothing Without Hope]

48. thanks for your help with the PDF, Don1! And of course, Paineinthearse

And welcome to DU!

And of course thanks to Paineinthearse, who has been all over this issue from the start of the story and has been pipelining the best info to us in this thread!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Nothing Without Hope]

51. I think the HR1059 info should also be posted in the Legislative Forum

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=308
with links back to this definitive thread on the context.