Defense Department Study Shows Few Problems with Ending DADT
Posted: November 30, 2010 Filed under: Civil Rights, GLBT Rights, Human Rights | Tags: Barack Obama, DADT, Defense Department, John McCain, LGBT rights, Robert Gates 58 Comments
Here is a summary of the report at DOD Live:
U.S. Army Gen. Carter Ham, commander of U.S. Army Europe, said the study found that 50 to 55 percent of people surveyed said there would be no major effect if the repeal passed, while 15 to 20 percent said they’d expect a positive change. Only 30 percent said repeal would have a negative impact.
Ham indicated that he doesn’t think repeal would be harmful, if handled properly and performed deliberately. He said the leadership today has the ability to implement a new policy and maintain unit cohesion.
There is still a lot of discussion required, Ham said, but the military should begin planning now. “The best way for us to think about this is as a contingency plan,” Ham said. “Our report lays out the groundwork for actions that we recommend, if repeal does come.”
You can read the full report here.
From The Boston Globe: Pentagon study finds overturning “don’t ask, don’t tell” will do little long-term harm.
A long-awaited Pentagon report released today concluded that overturning the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy would do little long-term harm to morale or military effectiveness, dispelling chief arguments opponents have had with allowing gay and lesbian service members to serve openly.
The report’s release shifts the focus on the issue to moderate members of the Senate, including Scott Brown of Massachusetts, who had said they wanted to read the report before voting on whether to end the policy.
The House has passed a bill overturning the policy, but a Republican-led threat of a filibuster halted a similar effort in the Senate in the fall….
The study, conducted over ten months, found that 70 percent of troops surveyed believed that repealing the law would have mixed, positive, or no impact. The other 30 percent felt there would be negative consequences if gays were allowed to serve openly, with opposition strongest among combat troops.
Secretary Gates is strongly recommending that Congress and the President complete the repeal of the law before the end of this year. He held a long press conference earlier today. Lynn Sweet at the Chicago Sun-Times published the transcript. Here is an excerpt:
Earlier this year, the House of Representatives passed legislation that would repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell after a number of steps take place – the last being certification by the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman that the new policies and regulations were consistent with the U.S. military’s standards of readiness, effectiveness, unit cohesion, and recruiting and retention. Now that we have completed this review, I strongly urge the Senate to pass this legislation and send it to the president for signature before the end of this year.
I believe this is a matter of some urgency because, as we have seen this past year, the federal courts are increasingly becoming involved in this issue. Just a few weeks ago, one lower-court ruling forced the Department into an abrupt series of changes that were no doubt confusing and distracting to men and women in the ranks. It is only a matter of time before the federal courts are drawn once more into the fray, with the very real possibility that this change would be imposed immediately by judicial fiat – by far the most disruptive and damaging scenario I can imagine, and the one most hazardous to military morale, readiness and battlefield performance.
Therefore, it is important that this change come via legislative means – that is, legislation informed by the review just completed. What is needed is a process that allows for a well-prepared and well-considered implementation. Above all, a process that carries the imprimatur of the elected representatives of the people of the United States. Given the present circumstances, those that choose not to act legislatively are rolling the dice that this policy will not be abruptly overturned by the courts.
At the San Francisco Chronicle, that was seen as a thinly veiled “warning to John McCain.”
[MABlue here]
BostonBoomer was much faster with her post. I wanted to add this video showing McCain bizarre behavior on DADT. What a creep!
Meanwhile, opponents of repeal are shifting their arguments.
The ball is now in the Congress’s court. What will President Obama do now to prevent gays from serving openly in the military? Or will he actually support repeal of this discriminatory and unjust law?
Stay tuned.
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Sky Dancing 
President Obama’s BFF Susan Collins still won’t vote for it, according to the Huffpo article.
This really puts Obama in the catbird seat, doesn’t it?
Yep, how will he get around it?
did you see this? WikiLeaks Using Amazon Servers After Attack and I’m researching the bank stuff. It is BOA. Minkoff Minx will be jubilant.
I told you so….
How about this:
Aiyee… crazy people with WMDS …
More than one corporation? From Assange’s interview in Time…
Yes, Happy Day! If it was not raining I would be out running down the street, screaming for joy…I have not finished catching up on the post below, but I heard that Interpol has issued a warrant for Wiki dude’s extradition to Sweden.
Thought it would be BOA too.
Does the happy dance with MM! 🙂
I hope these 2 Presidents from ME will get out of the Senate soon. There always talk nice and end up voting will all other Rightwing freaks on every major issue.
honk honk!!! And to think, I used to send them money!!!
I don’t know about you MaBlue, but I am going to the mirror to see if I have any spontaneous tattoos as a consequence of Civil Rights…nope can’t see any tattoos. Coast is clear, give the LGBT their Civil Rights!
The arguments these guys make against ending DADT are guffaw inducing.
I agree!
Oh, man, I’m so sick of these two Maine sisters. They are worse than demented Demint or ignorant Inhofe because as you say, they are two faced. Saying it one way and turning around voting with the nutzoids. Collins was also responsible for so many tax cuts in the stim by blackmailing Mr. O for her vote. And, now she’s holding out again not voting for repeal of DADT. Shame on her cowardice and Snowe’s.
Now that the tea party has scared Collins and Snowe into siding with the nutz for fear they will be primaried, they won’t vote for any legislation even with a hint of social justice in it, like they didn’t vote for the Paycheck Fairness Bill earlier in the month.
Where are the giants in the Senate? Now, all we’ve got are uninspired middle managers for the most part. Sad.
And, fasten your seatbelts kids, it’s gonna get real bumpy come January.
All these pols are on the wrong side of history.
To me Obama will always be “a lily liver little chicken pants that sleeps on plastic sheets”. I think if there is a repeal on DATA Obama thinks it’s his ace in the hole for re-election.
bingo
I don’t think Obama has much sense of theatre, which is hilarious, because it’s not like he’s good at anything else. Someone needs to explain to him that if you string things out too long, people tend to just shut down emotionally, and at that point you almost can’t get them back.
😯 A hemmm, excuse me, but how about first showing us the evidence that SHE did the executive order and if those rules/directives were in place prior to and were not removed by President Obama.
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/11/30/wikileaks-fallout-should-hillary-clinton-resign/ Well our favorite Obama lover David Corn says resign evil Hillary! Looks like the ball is rolling.
I think this is the key phrase and I simply do not believe the SOS is solely responsible for decisions made by the President in foreign policy. Besides, this has been ongoing for multiple administrations now.
Though in the British and Australian systems, government ministers have resigned over less.
Interesting thing is that Donna Brazile is acting as Hillary’s defender claiming she will go too…ha, she promised she would go after the primaries and didn’t and never stood up for Hillary even when Catellano called he a B@879 and Donna said NOTHING!
Alex Castellanos: It Can Be Accurate to Call a Woman a Bitch
Oh Jeez, Donna B is defending her. Now I’m starting to worry about her. 😉
I’m on a cable news fast (got to cleanse every now and then after listening to all that gunk). What’s Donna B saying?
it’s an old link
sorry I meant what is Donna B saying in defense of Hillary, not in the youtube
On Twitter,
Prompting haters saying that Susan McD, was in jail for 4 years because she feared for her life, not because she wouldn’t tell a lie and wouldn’t be made to lie.
Who’s Susan McD?
MacDougall
Thx!
(will have to google her.)
Thanks WV
Right, that’s as believable as Donna B saying she’ll quit the DNC if superdels decide the nomination.
I know it is from Hot Air, but just check out the comments, Hillary gained some respect in their eyes?
http://hotair.com/archives/2010/11/30/wikileaks-tool-hillary-must-go/
“My hunch: Knowing that he can’t afford to further alienate Clinton Democrats ahead of 2012 and fully aware that dumping her won’t do a smidge of good to improve U.S. standing in the eyes of rabid anti-Americans like Assange, he’ll pat her on the back and say she’s guilty of nothing more than being a bit too zealous in defense of her country’s interests. And pretty much every last voter in America aside from 20 percent on the far left fringe will agree with him. “
the fringe on the right and on the left hate her, but most people respect her now. My Republican aunt hates Sarah Palin and likes Hillary. Before 2008 she probably would have run from the room screaming at the thought of a Clinton back in the WH. The way Hillary carried herself through that election proved something very visceral to anyone who’s not blind. Hill’s a fighter.
O/T – from the naked capitalism – Scientists confirm use of dispersants in the Gulf clean-up causing increased contamination –
http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2010/11/14111.html
Now, the website of the prestigious Journal Nature is also reporting on the increase of PAH contamination due to the use of dispersants in the Gulf:
Peter Hodson, an aquatic toxicologist from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, presented his case on 9 November at a meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry in Portland, Oregon…
The problem, explains Hodson, is that the dispersed cloud of microscopic oil droplets allows the PAHs to contaminate a volume of water 100–1,000 times greater than if the oil were confined to a floating surface slick. This hugely increases the exposure of wildlife to the dispersed oil. …
Worse, the toxic constituents of oil hang around longer than other components, another speaker told the meeting. “This idea that there’s an oil biodegradation rate doesn’t hold,” says Ronald Atlas, a microbiologist at the University of Louisville, Kentucky, who has studied the aftermath of the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska. Alkanes, the simple hydrocarbons that comprise the bulk of oil, are degraded more readily than the PAHs, he points out.
Please delete if already discussed.
I noted back in June that I found on the FDA agency site – they had just approved a new test for PAH. Wonder if it will be used to test seafood.
More from the post:
As the Press Register notes:
“These chemicals, these are PAHs that are carcinogenic. … These items are not in any way appropriate for anyone to eat,” said Ed Cake, an environmental consultant from Ocean Springs. “There’s no low-dose level that’s acceptable to eat.”…
[William Sawyer], the [veteran] Florida toxicologist, said the government tests do not look for total petroleum hydrocarbons in the seafood. He said his tests of Gulf shrimp have shown unsafe levels of the compounds, which can cause liver or kidney damage in a matter of weeks.
It’s unbelievable to me how the press is ignoring the story again. There’s more oil today on LA shores today than there was six months ago.
Scientists, drilling experts say BP valued speed over safety in oil rig disaster
The stuff hasn’t gone away and neither has the after math down here. It’s just Bobby’s more interested in pushing his book than the lack of effort down here.
Last I heard rebuilding after Katrina wasn’t finished either. We never hear about that either. New Orleans needs a juicy missing young blonde case to get some attention from the news media.
Oh, the rebuilding is just stalled. Every time I drive to the Lake I’m still subjected to abandoned houses, lots and detritus. It’s depressing. If there’s no money in it for the private sector any more, no one cares.
EPIC blight.
but, hey the Saints are doing great and the Hornets are doing not so bad so no one cares!
Plus, the French Quarter still hauls in the tourists and they never see it unless they take a Katrina bus tour.
No more ‘Aints and that’s one good thing. 😉 It’s a good and bad thing that the Quarter is on high ground. Maybe Brad Pitt will build it all back in his spare time.
Speaking of Naked Capitalism, tomorrow at 9:30 AM, CSPAN http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2010/11/servicer-driven-foreclosures-the-perfect-crime.html
PC is big in the military, so the numbers who admit that they think it would cause problems and the number who think it will cause problems but won’t admit it are two different things.
Seems like the only person to get good news today is Obumbles –
Narcissism No Longer a Psychiatric Disorder
h/t to CH
Paranoid personality disorder was also eliminated, so I guess paranoia is no longer a psychiatric disorder either.
Just in case anyone miss this: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/nov/30/interpol-wanted-notice-julian-assange
WikiLeaks: Interpol issues wanted notice for Julian Assange
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange facing growing legal problems around world
Huckabee just called for execution of the leakers. What a wack job that man is …
I hope this man is never president or a heartbeat away. His folksy crap doesn’t fool me.
Huckabee must be channeling Beck, cause man was GB raging tonight. It was making me so damn sick just listening to him. “Execution of the leakers.” this guy is a menace. (And I was not listening to GB of my own free will, I must add that disclaimer. )
Huckabee and Glenn Beck both remind me of A Face in the Crowd
yeah, they sure do …
He says we shouldn’t cover sick people and compared people to houses and health insurance to fire insurance. What I want to know is what bible is he claiming to read, and WHAT JESUS is he following, because he doesn’t sound like a GOD LOVING and people caring man.
Yup, he is no different, a man out for the corporate interests.
Culture of life my moonbat ass
It looks like another “dump” has been taken over at Wikileaks…I just tried to get on the website, and it is down again. Guardian has some new cables. Also just saw this pop up:
US officials insist Clinton not ordering diplomats to spy
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/11/30/wikileaks.clinton/
Sounds like the website’s pooping.
Yeah, I had to have a little fun with it…all these headlines about dumps and leaks. I know it is infantile but what the hell….
Supposedly, octopuce and amazon are fortifying it. Some right winger hacker was saying he was trying to take it down. Funny if this winds up increasing right wing support of the white house.