The military evidence is clear

This ad from the Michael Palm Center advocates repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. So of course Fox “News” refused to air it. That doesn’t change a simple fact: Unlike the constant spin from the right, the presence of gay and lesbian soldiers has no affect on military readiness, as the experience of US allies clearly shows—that’s the point of this ad. It is and has been a non-event in other countries.

While New Zealand is—technically—not an ally of the US (just a “very, very, very good friend,” as Colin Powell put it), our defence forces have been officially integrated since 1993, after the Human Rights Act was passed. New Zealand’s military leaders didn’t oppose the end of discrimination.

The experience of all these countries shows how out-of-step US politicians are—so much so that one suspects it’s all about politics, and not military readiness. Take John McCain, for example: He was willing to listen to the generals and support repeal of DADT—until those generals started supporting repeal, and then McCain started grandstanding against it. Maybe it was too mavericky for him.

McCain wrote a letter to US Defense Secretary Robert Gates urging him to modify the survey of defense personnel to ask whether DADT should be repealed, not just what they thought of it. Gates wrote back with what McCain should’ve known: "I do not believe that military policy decisions — on this or any other subject — should be made through a referendum of servicemembers." Well, duh!

So, in the face of overwhelming evidence of allied and “friendly” countries and basic acceptance from US military leaders and personnel,  the opposition by US politicians must be based on nothing but pure politics alone, and that’s a clear and present danger to the safety and security of the US.

Tip o’ the Hat to Joe.My.God. for the links.