Tag Archives: military

Former DNC Chairman Howard Dean has written an open letter to the president demanding that a repeal of DADT be attached to a Department of Defense funding bill. An excerpt: While I understand the need to research how repealing DADT will affect members of the military, the law can still be repealed with an implementation timeline this year. The time …

Could this be part of the DADT repeal implementation study? A new online inbox that enables servicemembers and their families to comment anonymously about the impact of a possible repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law has gone live. The inbox will enable servicemembers and families to offer their thoughts about how a repeal of the law that prohibits …

JMG reader Bernard tips us that the Smoking Gun has all the dirt about the dancing soldiers in the Lady Gaga tribute clip that I posted yesterday. Your favorite’s real name is Aaron Melcher. The video was the brainchild of Aaron Melcher, a married 24-year-old soldier who graduated in 2004 from North Carolina’s Gramercy Christian School. Melcher opens the video …

Soldiers in Afghanistan interpret Lady Gaga in between missions. DADT must be working, clearly this was done without any gay help. Cute enough, though. (Tipped by JMG reader Ted)

Goaded on by the Family Research Council, a group of 40 retired military chaplains have sent a letter to President Obama calling on him to keep DADT in effect. The chaplains argue in a letter to the commander in chief and defense secretary, due to go out Wednesday, that allowing gays to serve openly in the military would discriminate against …

Ukraine’s parliament dissolved into fistfights, smoke bombs, and egg throwing as members argued over allowing Russia to extend their lease on a Ukrainian naval base. And you thought our health care debate was tough.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi has promised a House vote on the repeal of DADT sometime this year. “It is the Speaker’s intention that a vote will be taken this year on [‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’] in the House,” Drew Hammill, a Pelosi spokesperson, told DC Agenda in a statement Monday. The announcement is promising news for repeal advocates because Pelosi has …

JMG reader and Afghanistan veteran R.D. tells his story today on the blog of conservative columnist David Frum. “I had a very bad session with my workout partner tonight. He is the person I am closest to in Afghanistan yet even he knows very little about my life. He asked if I was married and I lied, telling him I …

Retired U.S. Army Gen. Paul Eaton, who lead the invasion forces in Iraq, has strongly endorsed the repeal of DADT. “Discrimination based on sexual orientation is inappropriate in our society.” Listen to the entire clip, the guy knows his stuff. Easton’s son is a third generation West Point graduate now serving in the infantry.

Secretary of the Army Gen. John McHugh is backpedaling on yesterday’s comment that he would cease ejecting soldiers over DADT. Army Secretary John McHugh apologized Thursday for mistakenly telling journalists the Department of Defense would place a moratorium on discharges of homosexual servicemembers while the Pentagon conducts a year long study on the impact of changing the Don’t Ask Don’t …

Retired Gen. John Sheehan has apologized to former Dutch Chief of Staff Van den Breemen for his U.S. Senate testimony that openly gay Dutch soldiers caused the Bosnian genocide. The ANP news agency reported that Sheehan apologized in an e-mail to Van den Breemen, saying his memory of discussions they had fifteen years ago about some social issues were ‘inaccurate.’ …

This weekend a British soldier followed his gay partnership ceremony with a reception in his regiment’s barracks. One groom wore ceremonial uniform with his Iraq medal, the other morning dress with an orchid. Surrounded by silverware and paintings commemorating great battles, Lance Corporal James Wharton, 23, and his new husband enjoyed their first dance to Tina Turner in the warrant …

Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Conway says that if DADT is repealed, gays will have to be placed in separate barracks. “I would not ask our Marines to live with someone that is homosexual if we can possibly avoid it.” Conway says unlike the other services, the Marine Corps “billets by twos” and that they’d be forced to spend money …

“A more humane enforcement and application”? It looks like third-party outings may be ignored going forward, but the new policy will not apply retroactively to those vindictively outed by others.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates is reportedly about to announce some changes in the way the DOD enforces Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. “I think he is prepared to offer a way ahead on that subject this week,” Geoff Morrell, the Pentagon press secretary, told reporters Tuesday. Gates will address “the changes that he is going to be making to the department’s …

Last week retired US Gen. John Sheehan ridiculously claimed that the Bosnian genocide of thousands of Muslim men and boys was the result of the homo-infested Dutch army. A group of openly gay Dutch soldiers has announced their plan to sue Sheehan for libel. “Gay reproach is world news,” reads NRC Handelsblad’s weekend headline. “The fall of the Balkenende cabinet …

Led by Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, the Dutch government today blasted retired U.S. Gen. John Sheehan over his claim that gay Dutch soldiers caused the Bosnian genocide. “The remarks were outrageous, wrong and beneath contempt,” Balkenende told a news conference. The Dutch Defense Ministry called Sheehan’s claims “absolute nonsense” and added that gay Dutch soldiers routinely cooperate with the …

Last night Rachel Maddow covered the DADT repeal testimony of retired Gen. John Sheehan, who outrageously claimed that openly gay soldiers in the Dutch military caused the failure of the NATO peacekeeping force in Bosnia, resulting in the genocide of thousands of Muslim men and boys. The second half of this clip is an interview with well-spoken former Air Force …

Retired Gen. John Sheehan testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee today, claiming that openly gay soldiers in the Dutch military were partially responsible for the failure of the NATO peacekeeping action in Bosnia, a failure which resulted in the genocide of thousands of Muslims. The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Carl Levin, pressed him to clarify his …

Click over for a live video stream of today’s DADT hearings with the Armed Services Committee of the U.S. Senate, where outed gay members of the military are testifying.