Obama Calls For 21,000 Additional Troops, Gates Calls For A No-Gay Military

“Pushing That One Down The Road A Little Bit” Isn’t Flying With Gays

Friday, President Obama laid out his plan “to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-Qaida in Pakistan and Afghanistan”, by sending $7.5 billion, 21,000 troops, and hundreds of civilians to those areas. Earlier last week, Obama announced his new “Overseas Contingency Operation.” That means that we are no longer calling it a “War on Terror” (thank God, I might add) but a rose by any other name… Which brings us to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. From the Obama WhiteHouse website:

“Repeal Don’t Ask-Don’t Tell: President Obama agrees with former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Shalikashvili and other military experts that we need to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Discrimination should be prohibited.

The U.S. government has spent millions of dollars replacing troops kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation. Additionally, more than 300 language experts have been fired under this policy, including more than 50 who are fluent in Arabic. The President will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure it helps accomplish our national defense goals.” 

And yet, on Sunday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said, 

“I think the president and I feel like we’ve got a lot on our plates right now and let’s push that one down the road a little bit” 

While I appreciate that the President has accomplished more than any other president in such a short time in office, this is not an issue that needs to take a great deal of time or money to correct. There is a great deal of support, including among the America people, to repeal DADT. And it would save the military millions of dollars a year. And, most importantly, allow hard-working men and women more time with their families stateside. 

“Pushing that one down the road a little bit” is kind of like replacing your tires the day before you buy a new car. Pointless and expensive. And the old ones work pretty damn well anyway.

Barack Obama is not one to say, “Oh, I’m a little busy right now.” Last week he dealt with a whole new policy toward Afghanistan and Pakistan, AIG bonuses, the Mexican border drug problems, met with top bankers, gave a prime-time news conference then two days later held a televised online town hall meeting, and handled who knows how many dozens of other issues. So, “pushing that one down the road a little bit” means, “We don’t want to upset the Right wing right now.”

It’s time to upset the Right wing right now, if need be. Because from what ‘m hearing in the gay community, the Left wing is starting to get a little upset too.

(photo: AV8TER)