Four Twenty Eight [ by Michael T] [News You Can Abuse]
February 02, 2010The number of service members discharged due to the failed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy” has been revealed. Last year, it was 428. While almost 200 people lower than 2008’s figure, that is still a lot of people trying to do their jobs only to have their lives ruined.
I’ve always been amazed at the number of gays in the military since they have to live in secret and cannot have open personal lives. Yet, year after year, gay soldiers, seamen and airmen continue to do their jobs, often in harms way. Sometimes, it is a thankless, yet critical job - remember all those Arabic translators who were kicked out to the detriment of our efforts in Iraq? That was plain stupid.
Finally Obama has pushed the Defense Department to act and it’s about time. Fewer people will be dismissed and enforcement of the law will be a lot less strict under new DOD policies. Of course these are Obamian half measures in place of real change - the usual B.S. we get from the administration.
Of course, the world has changed a lot since 1993 when Bill Clinton imposed this horrible policy on the military. It will take time to undo, not least of all because a law to repeal must be passed, no easy feat these days. But the wheels of change have started to turn. Sec Def Bill Gates is on board and that is the kind of support we need. For a former Bush appointee, Gates has shown good leadership under Obama (who it must be said I am very disappointed with in terms of military budgeting) but the Left will need to keep pushing to get the change through.
Here’s to finally killing off this policy in 2010.
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