/PRNewswire/ -- Calling a proposal to award U.S. troops medals for holding fire in a war zone "misguided," the head of the nation's largest veterans organization voiced concern that overly restrictive rules of engagement would ultimately cost lives.
"Nobody likes to see innocent civilians killed in a war zone but the blame for these tragedies lies with the terrorists who caused the war in the first place," American Legion National Commander Clarence E. Hill said. "The proposal to award medals for holding fire is troubling because it is symptomatic of a growing culture in the military that will punish troops for making split-second decisions while they are expected to defend themselves and their comrades. This proposal is an insult to our men and women in combat who already do an extraordinary job of exercising restraint. Too much restraint will get our own people killed."
Hill also worried that rewarding those who don't use force sends the wrong message to those that do. "Vietnam veterans were outrageously slandered as 'babykillers,'" he said. "This was tragic because the overwhelming majority of those who served there tried to prevent innocent casualties. Now, by awarding those who supposedly practice restraint, we would be implying that our heroes who have to fire their weapons are somehow failing in their mission or coming up short. It's a bad idea and the Pentagon should kill it."
With a current membership of 2.5 million wartime veterans, The American Legion was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and youth programs. Legionnaires work for the betterment of their communities through more than 14,000 posts across the nation.
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Showing posts with label gay troops. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gay troops. Show all posts
01 July 2009
Gates Plan May Be Beginning of the End of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
/PRNewswire/ -- In the wake of yesterday's unexpected Pentagon announcement about gays in the military, experts say the "don't ask, don't tell" policy may be on the brink of irreversible change that would speed up its demise. After speaking with President Obama last week, Defense Secretary Robert Gates has asked military lawyers to explore how to modify enforcement of the policy in ways that are "more flexible until the law is changed." The President Monday reiterated his intention to end discrimination against gay troops, saying he is working with Congress and the military to do so.
Christopher Neff, political director of the Palm Center, said the remarks by Secretary Gates marked the first time the Defense Secretary has made clear that the Pentagon is onboard with the President's determination to lift the ban. "'Don't ask, don't tell' is a package -- both a law and a policy -- that hasn't been penetrated for fifteen years," Neff said. "This is a crack in humpty dumpty, and it gets the ball rolling for a political solution since it gives cover to lawmakers who have been waiting for a nod from the Pentagon."
Neff said that even a small change in how "don't ask, don't tell" is enforced could represent a seismic political shift, even if it does not have a substantial operational impact on most gay troops, who would still be subject to discharge. If the military stops applying certain provisions of the policy, as Gates says it is considering, it would send a signal to Congress about the inevitability of change. "That's why executive action is the key to unlocking the political stalemate," said Neff. "Even the statements themselves, although they do await follow-up action, have changed the political landscape."
Last month, the Palm Center published a report which outlined several legal and political rationales for executive branch discretion in regulating, and even halting, discharges provided for by federal statute. One of those rationales is closely linked to the new review announced by Secretary Gates. According to the Palm Center study, "the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy itself, as codified by Congress, also grants authority to the Department of Defense to determine the procedures under which investigations, separation proceedings, and other personnel actions under the authority of 10 U.S.C. Section 654 will be carried out ... The Secretary of Defense has discretion to determine the specific manner in which 'don't ask, don't tell' will be implemented." Prior to the release of the Palm Center's report, most observers had assumed that only Congress or the federal courts end the firings of gay troops.
Amidst mounting public pressure, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said this week that he thought "don't ask, don't tell" would be repealed by the end of the President's first term. Nathaniel Frank, senior research fellow at the Palm Center, said this week's developments were politically significant. "Serious discussions have been launched by the President himself," said Frank. "Obama has said this is a failed policy that harms national security, so these measures are not just fixes, but may be the beginning of the end." Frank added that any regulatory changes that fall short of halting all discharges will be "window-dressing," but he focused on the implications for further political change. "This means the hot potato party may finally be over, as the President understands where the buck stops."
In the wake of this week's developments, the Palm Center announced that it is preparing a more extensive legal analysis of administrative options for relaxing the application of certain provisions of "don't ask, don't tell." Neff said that the Defense Department should invite public input as the rules are re-drafted, which would be consistent with past processes when military regulations have been changed. "This review should be no different," he said.
Organizations and individuals who have endorsed or endorsed consideration of the use of executive action based on the legal theories outlined in the Palm Center's study include Secretary Gates, 77 members of Congress, the New York Times editorial page, Center for American Progress, Human Rights Campaign, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, Hendrik Hertzberg of the New Yorker, the political consultant Robert Shrum, and former White House aide Richard Socarides.
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Christopher Neff, political director of the Palm Center, said the remarks by Secretary Gates marked the first time the Defense Secretary has made clear that the Pentagon is onboard with the President's determination to lift the ban. "'Don't ask, don't tell' is a package -- both a law and a policy -- that hasn't been penetrated for fifteen years," Neff said. "This is a crack in humpty dumpty, and it gets the ball rolling for a political solution since it gives cover to lawmakers who have been waiting for a nod from the Pentagon."
Neff said that even a small change in how "don't ask, don't tell" is enforced could represent a seismic political shift, even if it does not have a substantial operational impact on most gay troops, who would still be subject to discharge. If the military stops applying certain provisions of the policy, as Gates says it is considering, it would send a signal to Congress about the inevitability of change. "That's why executive action is the key to unlocking the political stalemate," said Neff. "Even the statements themselves, although they do await follow-up action, have changed the political landscape."
Last month, the Palm Center published a report which outlined several legal and political rationales for executive branch discretion in regulating, and even halting, discharges provided for by federal statute. One of those rationales is closely linked to the new review announced by Secretary Gates. According to the Palm Center study, "the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy itself, as codified by Congress, also grants authority to the Department of Defense to determine the procedures under which investigations, separation proceedings, and other personnel actions under the authority of 10 U.S.C. Section 654 will be carried out ... The Secretary of Defense has discretion to determine the specific manner in which 'don't ask, don't tell' will be implemented." Prior to the release of the Palm Center's report, most observers had assumed that only Congress or the federal courts end the firings of gay troops.
Amidst mounting public pressure, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said this week that he thought "don't ask, don't tell" would be repealed by the end of the President's first term. Nathaniel Frank, senior research fellow at the Palm Center, said this week's developments were politically significant. "Serious discussions have been launched by the President himself," said Frank. "Obama has said this is a failed policy that harms national security, so these measures are not just fixes, but may be the beginning of the end." Frank added that any regulatory changes that fall short of halting all discharges will be "window-dressing," but he focused on the implications for further political change. "This means the hot potato party may finally be over, as the President understands where the buck stops."
In the wake of this week's developments, the Palm Center announced that it is preparing a more extensive legal analysis of administrative options for relaxing the application of certain provisions of "don't ask, don't tell." Neff said that the Defense Department should invite public input as the rules are re-drafted, which would be consistent with past processes when military regulations have been changed. "This review should be no different," he said.
Organizations and individuals who have endorsed or endorsed consideration of the use of executive action based on the legal theories outlined in the Palm Center's study include Secretary Gates, 77 members of Congress, the New York Times editorial page, Center for American Progress, Human Rights Campaign, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, Hendrik Hertzberg of the New Yorker, the political consultant Robert Shrum, and former White House aide Richard Socarides.
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02 March 2009
Creators of Military Gay Ban Tell Author It Was 'Based On Nothing'
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Military officials exaggerated the threat to unit cohesion and ignored research and data when formulating the current policy on gay troops, according to the much-anticipated new book, "Unfriendly Fire: How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military and Weakens America," out tomorrow.
The book, based on a decade of research and hundreds of interviews, was written by Dr. Nathaniel Frank, senior research fellow at the Palm Center, and one of the nation's most widely recognized authorities on gays in the military. Dr. Frank is appearing with Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher today at the Center for American Progress to discuss her proposed legislation to repeal the ban.
Publication of the book by St. Martin's Press falls on the 15th anniversary of "don't ask, don't tell." Frank spoke to key military and political architects of the policy, many of whom acknowledge in the book that it was "based on nothing" but "our own prejudices and our own fears."
General John Shalikashvili, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, tops the list of prominent leaders who have endorsed the "Unfriendly Fire," saying it "should be mandatory reading for anyone with an interest in the state of our society or the readiness of our military." Congressman Patrick J. Murphy, a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the only Iraq War veteran in Congress, said Frank's "timely book should put to rest any lingering doubt about whether 'don't ask, don't tell' is working--it's been a failure from day one and should finally be put behind us."
The Palm Center has launched "Send UNFRIENDLY FIRE to Congress!" which is an online campaign to put a book into the hands of every member of Congress by this spring.
Information about that campaign and about Frank's speaking tour that kicks off today to Washington, California, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, New York and Philadelphia is available at www.unfriendlyfire.org.
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The book, based on a decade of research and hundreds of interviews, was written by Dr. Nathaniel Frank, senior research fellow at the Palm Center, and one of the nation's most widely recognized authorities on gays in the military. Dr. Frank is appearing with Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher today at the Center for American Progress to discuss her proposed legislation to repeal the ban.
Publication of the book by St. Martin's Press falls on the 15th anniversary of "don't ask, don't tell." Frank spoke to key military and political architects of the policy, many of whom acknowledge in the book that it was "based on nothing" but "our own prejudices and our own fears."
General John Shalikashvili, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, tops the list of prominent leaders who have endorsed the "Unfriendly Fire," saying it "should be mandatory reading for anyone with an interest in the state of our society or the readiness of our military." Congressman Patrick J. Murphy, a member of the House Armed Services Committee and the only Iraq War veteran in Congress, said Frank's "timely book should put to rest any lingering doubt about whether 'don't ask, don't tell' is working--it's been a failure from day one and should finally be put behind us."
The Palm Center has launched "Send UNFRIENDLY FIRE to Congress!" which is an online campaign to put a book into the hands of every member of Congress by this spring.
Information about that campaign and about Frank's speaking tour that kicks off today to Washington, California, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, New York and Philadelphia is available at www.unfriendlyfire.org.
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