NEWS RELEASES from the United States Department of Defense
A Statement From Gen. Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
“Yesterday, during a wide ranging interview with the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board, I was asked if I think the current policy as codified in U.S. Code, generally referred to as “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” should still hold.
“People have a wide range of opinions on this sensitive subject.The important thing to remember is that we have a policy in effect, and the Department of Defense has a statutory responsibility to implement that policy.
“I made two points in support of the policy during the interview.One, “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” allows individuals to serve this nation; and two, it does not make a judgment about the morality of individual acts.
“In expressing my support for the current policy, I also offered some personal opinions about moral conduct.
“I should have focused more on my support of the policy and less on my personal moral views.”
Or we could focus on this war going on …
– Ward
Gen. Pace is entitiles to his personal opinion, and therefore should not apologize. On the other hand, I do not support the current policy. It makes no sense to younger people, and therfore it will be changed after the older command structure departs. Anyone who makes it out of the battlefield alive earned the privilege to be, think, and say whatever they want.
On a more pragamtic note, the US needs as many bodies as possible, for this 30 year campaign.
I think the policy makes no sense to younger people, because younger people would want gays banned from the military entirely.
I think the older people are the more tolerant ones.
What is the reason that in the Military that there are facilities for both Men and Women? To keep the possibility of romantic relationships within a unit to a minimal. With the introduction of openly Gay men and Women into the military unit how do the administrative bodies prevent increasing the amount romantic relationships. Do they have the gay men share bunks with the straight women, or vise versa?
Younger people want gays banned from the military entirely? Unless you’re writing from Iran… okay, or from Missouri… you need to get out more.
Further proof that the US Armed Forces are not really on a war footing. The thing that is killing us is out of touch General Officers; maybe the Officer Corps in general. We are trying to fight the GWOT and people are worried about this stuff?
Give me a break.
Ok … here’s the what if?
What if Pace means to go into politics, post-retirement?
Maybe his stunt was calculated?
I know it’s crazy, but what if?
Clearly the military have a long way to go with dealing with homophobia, and until that’s resolved there will be all kinds of trouble.
At a time when recruiting and retaining enough bodies is a real problem, this kind of thing has to be addressed.
Out of touch with whom? The Armed Services? You might try asking around a barracks, wardroom, or dormitory (for the Air Force), and see what sort of responses “don’t ask, don’t tell” draws. My guess is that Pace’s opinion isn’t going to be all that different from the replies you get. Just less colorful.
General Pace is entitled to his own thoughts. However, when in a public position such as his, he is also obligated by duty and code to reserve his personal opinions and uphold the policies and values of the armed services. He has now offended at least 65,000 troops and many many more American Citizens!!! I call for his resignation as he has breeched his duty and postion with his own personal preferences. Under his leadership, people are not given an opportunity of fairness and he is leading others to ignorance and bigotry…I urge him to take responsibility and step aside. This is a SERIOUS MORALE ISSUE now!!!!!!!!
“Everyone has their own opinion” Until their opinion pisses you off! You people are such hipocrites, the general has spent his life fighting for what he believes. If he chooses to express his views openly that is his right. He and myself unlike most of you cry babies, fought for that right. If you don’t like what he said or has to say, change the channel or turn it off. I just happen to agree with him as do the other 85% of the free world. I will use my freedom to listen to him, you can use yours to not listen, or cry about it. Long live General Pace! Speak out! iT’S YOUR FREEDOM!!!!!!
I am glad that we have a Commandant of the Marine Corps who can tell who not afraid to take a stand for what is right. Not is what politically correct. We need leaders like that, not ones who waffle like the majority of Congressman, Congresswomen and Senators.
The reporters should not have asked the question, if they were not ready for the response.
Mr. Skinner, how can one possibly equate what the good general said to what the Nazis preached against the Jews? I suggest you read the One Book.
Mr, Haskins said, “…otherwise why would God have made man and woman!“
I would ask him why God also made so many vriations on man and woman. Don’t forget that we have Klinefelter’s Syndrome, Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, Androgen Insensitivity, Mosaic Chromosome, and Turner’s Syndrome babies, not to mention those born with both male and emale gonads and genitalia. One or more in 2000 babies born do not belong to either the male or female category. Since God makes no mistakes, there must be a reaon for this and for gay babies. Hmmmmm. Let’d try Christ’s second commandment, shall we? Love your neighbor as yourself. It’s caled unconditional love.
I work for the VA in the laboratory. We are working so short handed we can’t get the work done in a timely manner and be sides working under too much stress I am the patients are not receiving the quality of care they deserve. I don’t understand why, if we are spending upwards of 365 million dollars a day in Iraq, why we can’t get enough funding to hire more people to help with the work and care our veterans deserve.
I suppose it will take a congressman’s family member to be effected before the money is put where it is needed.