Tag Archives: military

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 James Conway says that if DADT is repealed, gays will have to be placed in separate barracks.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.

Gen. David Patraeus, who has previously said that he doubts that rank and file soldiers “even care about DADT,” today testified before Congress that the repeal should be “done in a thoughtful and considered manner” that includes its possible impact on recruitment and retention.

I spotted this on somebody’s Facebook page the other day. (Can’t recall the name, sorry.) I know there’s a DADT joke in here somewhere.

According to Rep. Barney Frank, the reason the DADT repeal wasn’t attached to a defense appropriations bill is that the White House doesn’t want it repealed this year. Kerry Eleveld at the Advocate: As Rep. Barney Frank told me Friday, “I’m disappointed with the administration talking about delaying legislation for a year. But I’m working with Patrick Murphy [the lead …

A lesbian sergeant in the Air Force has been fired under DADT after local police in South Dakota reported her to base commanders. Police were at Rene Newsome’s home seeking her wife on a warrant when they saw the couple’s marriage certificate from Iowa. Newsome and the American Civil Liberties Union filed a complaint against the western South Dakota police …

Eric Massa, the gift that keeps on giving. According to shipmates from his days in the Navy, Massa had a well-known habit of hitting on his fellow sailors, information that was supplied to the Congressional ethics committee. Massa resigned the next day. According to Peter Clarke, a Navy shipmate, Massa was notorious for making unwanted advances toward subordinates. He tells …

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case of the man who sued Westboro Baptist Church for picketing the funeral of his son. The Supreme Court will review whether anti-gay protests at funerals of American soldiers are protected by the First Amendment, taking up the appeal of a Maryland man who won and then had reversed a $10 million …