Ackerman's Lesbian Platoon
Congressman Gary Ackerman (D-NY) has an idea for Secretary of State Condaleeza Rice: Have the State Department hire all those gay linguists booted from military service. In fact, hire a whole platoon of lesbians!
Yesterday, during hearings on the State Department's 2008 budget request, Ackerman noted that Secretary Rice repeatedly emphasized the importance of recruiting qualified language experts to work in the agency. Remembering that the armed forces have fired more than 300 language experts (including at least 55 fluent in Arabic), Ackerman wondered, "Can we marry up those two — or maybe that's the wrong word — can we have some kind of union of those two issues?"
"I'm not aware of the availability of people, but I certainly will look [at] what we are doing right now," Rice responded.
"But maybe you might find some of those competent people among those who are recently unemployed," Ackerman replied.
But it was the Congressman's clear disguist for "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the military ban that led to those dismissals, that has everyone in Washington buzzing:
"Well, it seems that the military has gone around and fired a whole bunch of people who speak foreign languages — Farsi and Arabic, etc.," Ackerman said. "For some reason, the military seems more afraid of gay people than they are against terrorists, but they're very brave with the terrorists. ... If the terrorists ever got a hold of this information, they'd get a platoon of lesbians to chase us out of Baghdad."
Perhaps it is the United States that needs the platoon of lesbians, however, given recruiting problems, retention problems and mounting concerns about meeting calls for an even bigger military in the year ahead.
As we noted in our press release yesterday, Congressman Ackerman may be onto something. We have a few (in fact, more than a few) discharged linguist clients who'd be happy to talk with Secretary Rice.
- Steve Ralls
What do you think? You can join the discussion about Ackerman's comments at Pam's House Blend.
posted by SLDN at
8:28 AM
26 Comments:
The appropriate term would be Cunning Linguists.
Guy is the MAN!!!! *golf clap*
This is sickening. How can Rice even say "I'm not aware of the availability of qualified people..." what a crock. Perfectly wonderful Americans have been maligned in the most un-Christian way.
The corruption of this administration's policies is bearing fruit: moral decay.
condi rice would lead the
lesbian patrol.
she aint hiding anything behind those gapped teeth from this gaydar.
........first of all....
gay people are far to smart to get involved in a loosing situation like this fucked up war.
jack jett
www.jackejett.com
First, the Secretary of State is that, not the Secretary of Defense and not even Dep. Sec. Def. The long established regulations within the military, given force by Federal Law, prohibit Homosexual enlistments. The Clinton debacle, watered that down so one could not ask a person if they were a Homosexual, such as, asking a thief if they ever robbed a Gas Station or Liquor Store. So, in fact, Clinton tried to establish a limp wristed approach of denial and deception. Notwithstanding, and still, it is Federal Law, Clinton or not! The Federal Bench has ruled that Homosexuality is incompatiable with military service, which brings this full circle, why the heck is the Secretary of State asked about this? The politician involved is simply trying to denigrate Ms. Rice, further undercut the war effort by undercutting the integrity and the influence of the President. All to which I conclude, it is simply politics, or the politician in question needs to be referred for drug and alchohol testing, or, a psych eval.. The entire issue, argument, and inference is completely stupid.
David Edwards
Soldat48@yahoo.com
David Edwards, you're one of those people who never question laws or why they exist. You just follow them becase they're there.
Don't you just love the lying commentators who make comments like the one above? NOWHERE in the Clinton approach or any other ruling does it say you cannot ask about criminal past.
And for someone who lies to try and make some sort of connection between being gay and a criminal is just typical of the Neo Clowns who have worked their little butts off to ruin this country.
There is nothing but homophobia behind throwing otherwise competent language translaters out of their jobs, when all they are trying to do is serve their country.
Rice is a moron and a liar as well. She is fully aware of everything regarding the dismissal of translaters for no other reason than who their partners are.
Seems like our little poster and the Secretary of State have that those things in common; total denial and lying.
I've always asked and have yet to recieve an honest answer(which is hardly surprising) as to why Neo Clowns, and their GOP supporters cannot tell the truth under any circumstances. It's THEIR lies that have put this country in the position it is in.
Typical Neo Clowns.
So, nooo, Condi isn't the Secretary of Defense, but she's a part of this goofy administration that has placed loyalty to the admin. over the best interests of the U.S.
Please, no lectures about the integrity of the President. He ain't got none.
No...Dave Edwards, the "federal bench" has not ruled any such thing. What the "federal bench" has said is that they will defer to the military in these matters. There has been no "ruling" from the "federal bench" about this. That being said...so the hell what???!!! The "federal bench" once articulated that separate could be equal. The "federal bench" once said that you did not have a fundamental right to sexual relations in the privacy of your own bedroom. So...stop being a loyalist and, for ONCE, be a patriot. Laws are not necessarily just...and they are not just, they should be repealed. By the way, wiretapping as Bush did it required a warrant from the FISC...I KNOW you argued that that "was illegal."
Condaleeza Rice is a serial bald-faced lying monster from hell.
Why is anyone surprised by her continuing 100% lack of competency? The ice water running through her reptilian veins has slowed down everything but the Recoil Factor she evokes in all decent folk.
Here's the video of the remarks:
http://alternet.org/blogs/video/47807/"
Have any of the above served in the military?
I served 20 years. I was roomate with a guy that was put out because he was "seen" at a gay club, this was 1977. All I knew was that he gone when I came back from leave.
There are more gay and lesbian people serving right now than most would believe, many in command positions.
It is actually sad that this stuff happens, it really is, there are great people serving right now that would be cut loose if they were found out.
By the way I am not gay. But I fully support their open addition to the military.
hey condi... try some pre-emptive diplomacy for a change
The Media, under the approval of the FCC, and Colin Powell's son, then Director, now control 85% of of each of the 52 major markets.
You hear none of the Blog's or other critical information. In 1995 Bush, Cheney, met with the Oil companies to plan the take over of Iraq oil. Five years belore the Bush White house. That is how they bought an election, and the Supreme Court, and Florida.
Lets see isn't this the administration that stoodup and said if you willnot back us we will go it alone, isn't this the adminitration that sent in bolton to mudddy the waters to force the US to pull out of the UN,isn't this the same administration that has their goofy god talking to him as he says I hear the voices, DUH!
The same administration that says screw the American people Piss on the troops its my way or the highway. The same administration that ignores any and all advice given to it. Force a fillibuster let these morons defend their foolsih position on the floor of the Senate. Oh! make sure there are no gays or lesbians around because with these ineffective fools what one does in the privacy of their own home is much more important then putting the right people in the right job. IMPOEACH IMPEACH IMPEACH. Hey, condi go it alone you fool.
This just goes to show you that Kafka is alive and well. The military desperately needs speakers of Arabic, Farsi, Kurdish, Pashtun, etc... But they turn away or fire qualified people because of their sexual orientation. Indeed, the military is more afraid of gays than of terrorists. Also, why did the military, State Department, etc... not intensively train translators? This damn conflic has been going on for four years! It does not take longer than intensive, six-month of total immersion in Arabic or Farsi to gain a working knowledge of the language. Or did these imbeciles who run the country believe that the entire population of the Middle east spoke Eenglish?
Sorry Folks....... but that is the law, Federal Law, look it up under Federal Titles.... sorry if the world does not bend your twisted little preferred way... very simple, Reality, a New Concept, law, enacted by the representatives of the people, yes.... even you.... Stop your emotional spastic rant and do something positive, within the confines of the LAW and TRADITION.. instead of your hissy fits and unsubstantiated platforming.... 30 years military, now a proud public servant in Washington DC... working for you, all of you!
Dave,
The only "law" that is broken is that sodomy is against the law under the UCMJ. Any JAG will tell you that someone who is of a homosexual orientation will not be dismissed unless they have demonstrated a propensity to commit homosexual acts. (The two usually follow each other, but there is a difference. Having the orientation simply by itself is not "incompatible with military service", under LAW. Current law is sort of the same as the orientation vs. acts position of the Catholic church, as jacked up as that is.) But every day, the military sees fit to dismiss gays for the crime of sodomy, while every day, straight soldiers do the same thing...And, as the Supreme Court has ruled, outlawing sodomy is unconstituional. (That would be based in law.
So, the military on the one hand technically allows celibate gays to serve, thus admitting that they are not a threat to good order and discipline. But the moment they have sex, and break the same law straight soldiers break frequently, they're a threat. Because it's not the gay soldiers that are a threat and bad soldiers, it's gay soldiers having sex that are a problem. Tell me this policy isn't completely backwards, and isn't based on some guy's fear of getting raped in the shower or getting looked at funny. I swear, I think that's the bulk of the opposition. And it's childish, and it's ignorant, it's rooted in fear, and it's caused so much pain to so many people.
How can you possibly defend a law/regs system that allows gays to serve unless they don't have sex? How the hell does that matter?
How can anyone find anything but open service legally tenable?
The salient point here, Mr. Edwards, is that the law can and should be changed. This is true of the "tradition" as well.
Simply put
1) Our country makes its own laws
2) Our citizens are to follow the law
3) If a law is no longer in the best interest of the country and/or its people, the country changes the law - this is the essence of the consitution, a set of laws concerning how to change the laws.
4) The essence of all politics is determining what the law is. Stating that arguing to change, or to maintain, a law is political is redundant and hence used only for rhetorical/emotional purposes. The appropriate response is "So What? Everything is political."
5) The current administration is contending that their policy of surging is reasonable since it gives us the best chance of winning this war. It this is true, then the same criteria can be used with respect to changing the laws concerning the inclusion of homosexuals in the military.
6) If things go badly and the only people willing to fight for America were homosexuals, would you choose to lose the war or be protected by them? Apparently fundamentalist Islamic radical rabidly anti-homosexual, are you for the terrorists when you are against homosexuals?
Dave, maybe the argument here is too subtle for you. Rep. Ackerman is not asking why the translators were fired from the military. He is simply asking why, if State is facing such a shortage of translators, Sec. Rice hasn't attempted to hire these trained, experienced, security-cleared people to alleviate some of the shortage. Try to stick to the subject.
And, if you are working for me, then what are you doing browsing the web and posting here during working hours? Get back to work!
It has been a few years since I raised my hand and swore to defend this country during the Viet Nam war but I don't remember anything about sexual preference being part of induction. I served as a medic along side two gay men who were the best medics I have ever seen. Did not see any of these so called patriots though. They were back home hiding under their beds I guess or as Cheney puts it "I was too busy". I am not gay and do not approve of that life style but do not think one should be judged because of the way they choose to have sex. This illegal invasion of a soverign nation and the overthrow of its government has been brought about by lies and continue to be covered by same. If there is someone willing to do the job and is capable, let them have it.
From a person currently serving in Operation Enduring Freedom and who knows and deals with a lot of Linguists, there is more to this statement than believed. I'm not going to say anything about the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy because it's not my place, but don't think that the "300" Linguist that were relieved of duty because they were gay.
It can take up to 2 or 3 years for a linguist to actually begin to do their job and not be in some form of training. First you have the military basic training, then training at D.L.I. which can range form 6 weeks to well over a year (depending on the language). Then they have to go through operational training. By the time a linguist actually gets fully trained and doing his or her job it's been almost 3 years. Most jobs in the service within the first year and a half you should fully trained and doing your job.
My point is that not all of the "300" linguists that were relieved from duty were actually homosexual. Some of them didn't like the service and saw a way to get out. So there is no real way to tell how many homosexuals actually were relieved of duty.
Now I want to comment on a few things that were said by other bloggers
1. No matter if you’re gay or straight you can and will be prosecuted for sodomy under the UCMJ
2. Why is Ackerman asking the Sec. of State and not the Sec. Defense (one would think you would ask someone that has direct knowledge about these issues)
3. These numbers are based on a time span of over 10 years. The military discharges well over a hundred people a year on alcohol and drug related instances.
Ackerman probably said these things just to let his voters know that he is still alive because he clearly is talking out his ass.
How many, linguist, exactly were fired? Of course particulars like that are too much for sensationalists, narrowminded, leftist True Believers. I guess I could cuss and be hateful, and claim that they're all heterophobic lieing individuals. But then that wouldn't leave room for intelligent open debate, and people might accidentally think I'm a wacko (gay or not) leftist.
If I were I nut job life would be so simple. I'd just follow the latest sensation of the moment and not need to use careful reason, nor examine any possible rebuttal. And I'd scream and call everbody intolerant and hateful, and thus be full within my rights to call for their jail term or execuation..........yea, and I'd call the Right all Hitler's....yea....that's it....life would be simple then.
-Steve
Wow! Thank you all so much for invigorating conversation the SLDN blog.
I wanted to respond to a few questions raised here, and hopefully provide some additional insight.
1. The total number of linguists dismissed, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) is more than 300; the GAO reported that at least 55 of those were proficient (i.e., perhaps not just beginning language training) in Arabic.
2. SLDN has represented many gay linguists, including those who speak Arabic, during their dismissal process. Many have fought to stay in the services, and chose to fight the investigations and discharges against them. At least one was so proficient in Arabic that, while his command processed him for discharge, he was asked to teach Arabic classes at the Defense Language Institute. He, too, fought to be retained, but was ultimately discharged anyway.
3. It is true that some of the linguists dismissed were in training at the Defense Language Institute (DLI). However, the DLI discharges were often based on investigations into service members' sexual orientation. Not every linguist dismissed was relieved of duty because of making a statement.
4. Based on the transcript of Rep. Ackerman's questioning, it seems that he was not attacking Secretary Rice for the Pentagon's dismissal of linguists, but rather asking her to fill many of the vacant positions at State with linguists who were fired under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." To her credit, Secretary Rice has said she is seriously considering the proposal.
5. The military does dismiss service personnel for alcohol and drug abuse. However, unlike gay service members, those individuals could arguably be unable to perform their duties. There's no indication (and every indication to the contrary) that sexual orientation has zero impact on job performance.
I hope that's helpful information. And please, keep coming back and debating the issue here. We're happy to have you all visiting!
- Steve @ SLDN
Good news,thanks very much. I will tell my lesbian friends on http://www.ldate.com/blogs/blogs to have a look at this.
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