The Honorable Admiral Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Speaks

[USArmyParatrooper]

http://www.jcs.mil/speech.aspx?ID=1322

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Mr. Chairman, speaking for myself and myself only, it is my personal belief that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do. No matter how I look at this issue, I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens. For me personally, it comes down to integrity – theirs as individuals and ours as an institution. I also believe that the great young men and women of our military can and would accommodate such a change. I never underestimate their ability to adapt.

But I do not know this for a fact, nor do I know for a fact how we would best make such a major policy change in a time of two wars. That there will be some disruption in the force I cannot deny. That there will be legal, social, and perhaps even infrastructure changes to be made certainly seem plausible. We would all like to have a better handle on these types of concerns, and this is what our review will offer.

We would also do well to remember that this is not an issue for the military leadership to decide. The American people have spoken on this subject through you, their elected officials, and the result is the law and the policy that we currently have.

We will continue to obey that law, and we will obey whatever legislative and executive decisions come out of this debate. The American people may yet have a different view. You may have a different view. I think that’s important, and it’s important to have that discussion.

Frankly, there are those on both sides of this debate who speak as if there is no debate; as if there’s nothing to be learned or reflected upon. I hope we can be more thoughtful than that. I expect that we will be more thoughtful than that.

The chiefs and I also recognize the stress our troops and families are under, and I have said many times before, should the law change, we need to move forward in a manner that does not add to that stress. We’ve got two wars going on, a new strategy in Afghanistan, and remaining security challenges in Iraq. We’re about to move forward under a new Quadrennial Defense Review. We still have budget concerns in a struggling economy. And we have a host of other significant security commitments around the globe. Our plate is very full. And while I believe this is an important issue, I also believe we need to be mindful as we move forward of other pressing needs in our military.

What our young men and women and their families want – what they deserve – is that we listen to them and act in their best interests. What the citizens we defend want to know – what they deserve to know – is that their uniformed leadership will act in a way that absolutely does not place in peril the readiness and effectiveness of their military.

I can tell you that I am 100 percent committed to that. Balance, Mr. Chairman – balance and thoughtfulness is what we need most right now. It’s what the president has promised us, and it’s what we ask of you in this body.

Thank you.
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No, thank you Admiral Mullen for having the courage, conviction and integrity to give your passionate plea to Congress to repeal the discriminating practice of Don't Ask Don't Tell!


http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/07/29/wikileaks.mullen.gates/?hpt=Sbin

Admiral Mullen: "Mr. Assange can say whatever he likes about the greater good he thinks he and his source are doing, but the truth is they might already have on their hands the blood of some young soldier or that of an Afghan family. Disagree with the war all you want. Take issue with the policy. Challenge me or my ground commanders on the decisions we make to accomplish the mission we've been given. But don't put those who willingly go into harms way even further in harms way just to satisfy your need to make a point"


READY... AIM.... SLIME THE SHIT OUT OF HIM!!!!!!!!!

[msongs]

1. nice try linking 2 non-related topics. nt

[USArmyParatrooper]

2. Not really

Is he a man of conviction and integrity or isn't he?

Admiral Mullen asserts, as I do, that the leaked documents puts the troops at much greater risk.

Are you going to assert that he's lying about his opinion, yes or no?

[msongs]

3. opinions are opinions, they are neither fact/fantasy or truth/lie, just opinions nt

[USArmyParatrooper]

4. The "opinion" of a subject matter expert vs. "activists" on DU

Let me ask you this. Do you honestly believe most members on DU will admit any leaked classified documents are harmful to troops, regardless of what surfaces next? I don't.

[EFerrari]

5. Yeah, Mullen. The torture apologist. He slimes himself. n/t

[Sebastian Doyle]

6. Well, apparently Admiral Mullen believes it would be difficult to end discrimination ....

..while in the middle of a war.

Well I'll make that easy for you. Mikey:

END THE GODDAMN USELESS WAR.

Then finish desegregating the military.


See how easy that is?

[HawkerHurricane]

7. Unfortunately, Admirals don't get to start or end wars.

Which is as it should be.

[Sebastian Doyle]

8. Well, one might assume the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff could get a meeting with

the guy who should end it.

[Change has come]

9. Somehow your formatting is screwy.

That is really hard to read. Oh, never mind. I see your talking point really stands out. Thanks for the effective use of exclamation points too! Now I know it's really important.