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TO:
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Neal
Puckett |
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RE:
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Statement
(below) of Elaine Donnelly at today’s Military Culture Coalition News
Conference |
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Center
for Military Readiness
President News Conference – Military
Culture Coalition |
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The LGBT Law
for the Military: How Does This
Improve Military Readiness? The Marriott
Wardman-Park Hotel, Washington, D.C. February 18,
2010, 2:00 PM, Room 8216 Statement of
Elaine Donnelly, President, Center for Military Readiness President Barack Obama has ordered Pentagon leaders to promote his gays-in-the-military cause. On February 2, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates told the Senate Armed Services Committee, “We have received our orders from the commander in chief and are moving out accordingly.” Secretary
Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said
nothing about possible benefits for the military. Instead, Secretary
Gates promised to “minimize disruption and polarization,”
and to “mitigate” negative consequences for “unit
cohesion, recruiting [and] retention.” Adm. Mullen
admitted he did not know what repeal would mean, but spoke (for himself only)
in favor of policies known to be disruptive. Adm. Mullen called this
“leadership,” but it looked like letting down the troops to me. McClatchy
News reported yesterday
that Adm. Mullen aggressively solicited comments about his stand on this
issue while speaking with a group of two dozen troops in Amman, Jordan. It
is not surprising that none of the troops put their career at risk by taking
issue with the military’s top officer in the presence of the media. It
is surprising that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff would try
to use subordinate troops as props in support of his personal opinions. Activists and
allies in the media keep suggesting that repeal of current law will not cause
any complications in military life. The attached
set of charts, highlighting how the new LGBT Law would work in actual
practice, indicate otherwise. Most of the small graphic boxes and points
highlighted on the flow charts represent complicated problems that will be
loaded on the backs of countless mid-level officers and NCOs. They should
not have to pay the bill for political promises that President Barack Obama
made to the LGBT Left. By definition,
a Defense Department task force producing a pre-determined paper on
“how” and not “if” Congress should repeal the 1993
Eligibility Law (Section 654, Title 10, U.S.C.) will not be an objective
“study.” And a 45-day search for excuses to suspend enforcement
of the 1993 law suggests that the Executive Branch can pick and choose which
laws to enforce and which laws to ignore. This is worse than
pointless—it is irresponsible. We are
counting on members of Congress to join with House Armed Services Committee
Ranking member Howard P. “Buck” McKeon in asking questions about
the proposed LGBT Law. Responsible members on both sides of the aisle should
join Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Sen. John McCain in
reminding Pentagon officials that the American people have a Congress for
good reasons. On issue after issue, the most fundamental question about the
proposed LGBT Law is this: “How Does This Improve Military
Readiness?” If the LGBT Law does not benefit the All-Volunteer
Force—the only military we have—it should not be passed. * * * * * Elaine
Donnelly is President of the Center for Military Readiness, an independent
public policy organization that specializes in military/social issues. More
information is available on the CMR website, www.cmrlink.org..
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