Army to oppose immediate suspension of gay firings

[IndianaGreen]

Army to oppose immediate suspension of gay firings

By ANNE FLAHERTY, AP

WASHINGTON — The Army's top uniformed officer said Tuesday that he has "serious concerns" about overturning a 17-year policy that bans gays from serving openly in the military and supports a yearlong study into the matter before any changes are made.

The carefully crafted comments by Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey to the Senate Armed Services Committee indicate reluctance by some within the military's senior ranks to President Barack Obama's plan to repeal "don't ask, don't tell."

Obama says the policy is wrongheaded and should change. Defense Secretary Robert Gates agrees but wants to move slowly, and has tasked a lengthy assessment on how to lift the ban without affecting the force.

Casey's testimony as a service chief is considered crucial to the debate. As the top uniformed officials in each service, a service chief is in charge of recruitment and preparing troops for deployments. If the policy on gays is overturned, the chiefs would have to decide how to implement the changes.

"I do have serious concerns about the impact of a repeal of the law on a force that is fully engaged in two wars and has been at war for eight-and-a-half years," Casey told the Senate panel. "We just don't know the impacts on readiness and military effectiveness."

http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-politics/20100221/US.Military.Gays/

Casey is making the same argument made decades ago by those that supported a segregated military.

[Thrill]

1. Just curious what difference it makes if they are fighting two wars

.

[Arctic Dave]

2. Funny, when it comes to illegally invading another country all but few didn't say a word.

When it comes to everyone being able to serve equally these pieces of shit can't keep their fucking mouths shut.

All Obama has to say is, make it happen and if you don't like it tell it to the unemployment office.

[gateley]

3. Casey is in the minority on his views regarding this. Probably a homophobe. nt

[DavidDvorkin]

4. Soon we'll be Prussia

The army that owned a state.

[Jersey Devil]

5. "impact" of....what?

Just exactly how will it "impact" all of our wars if some of our soldiers no longer have to hide the fact that they are gay? What the hell is he talking about?

[freddie mertz]

6. The Commander in Chief can order this to stop, and should.

We DO still have civilian control of the military, right?

[IndianaGreen]

7. Obama has a problem with LGBTs

He doesn't quite accept us as equals.

[Paulie]

8. Fire a 4 star... PUBLICALLY

Then the BS will end.