Jay Bookman, AJC calls DADT nonsensical, unjust. Fehrenbach set to lose 50,000 a year pension.

madfloridian

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Wed Aug-05-09 06:50 PM
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Jay Bookman, AJC calls DADT nonsensical, unjust. Fehrenbach set to lose 50,000 a year pension.

Edited on Wed Aug-05-09 06:55 PM by madfloridian

Jay Bookman, editor of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, sounds off about the unjust unfair nature of Don't Ask Don't Tell. He points to the case of Air Force Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach, for whom time is running out.

Another nonsensical, unjust application of �Don�t ask, don�t tell�

Last year, after a civilian reported that Fehrenbach is gay, the Air Force began legal proceedings that will soon force the decorated colonel out of the service, two years before he is eligible for retirement benefits of nearly $50,000 a year.

Aren�t we past this yet? Isn�t it a gross injustice to oust someone two years short of retirement, someone who has served his country faithfully and put his life on the line for America, someone who clearly wants to continue doing so?

And why exactly are we doing this?

Stop the insanity.

Bookman links to the Washington Post article of August 3 about Fehrenbach.

Decorated Airman Anxiously Awaits New Policy on Gays

Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach, an 18-year combat veteran, faces discharge after a civilian reported to authorities last year that he is gay. (Courtesy Of Victor Fehrenbach)

The weapons system officer -- who during 18 years of service has flown combat missions in F-15E fighters and other aircraft over Afghanistan, Iraq and Bosnia, and now serves as assistant director of operations for an Air Force squadron in Idaho -- faces discharge after a civilian reported to authorities last year that Fehrenbach is gay. After investigating, the Air Force charged him last September with damaging its good order and discipline. The "don't ask, don't tell" law, passed by Congress in 1993, prohibits gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals from serving openly in the U.S. armed forces.

Fehrenbach, who has nine Air Medals, including one for heroism under fire during an enemy ambush near Baghdad in 2003, intended to resign. But he changed his mind last fall with the prospect of a Barack Obama presidency.

Nothing has been done about DADT by this administration so far.

In April, a review board ruled against Fehrenbach, and unless Air Force Secretary Michael Donley rejects the recommendation, he will be dismissed. If he is unable to retire with 20 years of service, Fehrenbach will lose nearly $50,000 a year in retirement pay as well as medical benefits. More disappointing, Fehrenbach said, is being unable to serve the country in a time of war.

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates told reporters last month that he has asked his general counsel to look for ways to apply the law in "a more humane way" until it is changed. Bryan Whitman, a Pentagon spokesman, said Friday that no recommendations had been made in connection with the request. "There isn't a timetable," he said.

Gates wants to look for ways to apply the law more humanely until it is changed.

Well, let's see now. We have a Democratic president, a Democratic Senate, and a Democratic House. Is that not enough for change? Maybe they are waiting for a larger majority?

I assume Lt. Dan Choi of the National Guard is still waiting for this ridiculous policy to be overturned.

Courtesy of Dan ChoiNew York National Guardsman Lt. Dan Choi talks to children in Baghdad in 2007.

A four-officer panel meeting at Hancock Air Base notified Choi at about 5 p.m. that it would recommend he be discharged because he has publicly said he is gay.

..."Choi, an Arabic-speaking officer who served for 15 months in Iraq as a member of Fort Drum's 10th Mountain Division before joining a New York National Guard unit based in Manhattan, said he would appeal to the higher-ranking officers to stay in the National Guard.

There is no deadline for a final decision in Choi's case. The fate of Choi and other gay and lesbian military personnel may ultimately lie with the White House and Congress, however.