Click to view the hearing on CSPAN
I just finished watching the 70-minute Senate Armed Services Committee hearing two days ago where SECDEF Gates and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that they are going to examine the best way to implement a policy allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military.
Other than Senator McCain being agitated during opening statements — he is opposed to repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell despite saying only three years ago that he would honor the recommendations of top military leaders on the issue — it was primarily noteworthy for Admiral Mullen’s candor when stating his personal beliefs.
Mr. Chairman, speaking for myself and myself only, it is my personal belief that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do. No matter how I look at this issue, I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens. For me personally, it comes down to integrity – theirs as individuals and ours as an institution. I also believe that the great young men and women of our military can and would accommodate such a change. I never underestimate their ability to adapt. February 2, 2010
I don’t think I can improve on that statement. In fact, I already called most of the Senators to ask them to follow the guidance of ADM Mullen and SECDEF Gates. I felt compelled to do so because it particularly irritated me to hear Senator McCain and others speak on behalf of military families when they have not conducted any objective surveys.
Within 45 days the military is going to do everything they can within the current law to stop the persecution of gays and lesbians in the military, primarily by elevating the rank required to investigate accusations.
In case you want to skip to any testimony:
- 10:45 SECDEF Gates supports repealing the regulations and says they will examine how to do it, not whether they should do it.
- 20:00 ADM Mullen stating his personal beliefs that the issue is about the integrity of the individual and the institution.
- 23:50 Sen. McCain complaining that comments are limited to three minutes and suggesting that he was not notified.
- 24:55 Gates says they already have the authority within the current law to raise the level of inquiry when there are accusations of homosexuality, to raise the rank of the officer looking into the issue of conduct, and to raise the bar of what is considered credible or reliable information.
- 27:37 Sen. McCain says that he is disappointed and feels the review will be biased.
- 27:41 Sen. McCain is disappointed with ADM Mullen, who has served since 1968.
- 35:00 ADM Mullen states that, to date, there have been no objective surveys of service members. (He is probably referring to the Navy Times and Stars and Stripes surveys, which tend to skew towards career officers.)
- 35:42 Sen. Jeff Sessions makes a bizarre suggestion that ADM Mullen, by following the President’s orders, is somehow the victim of undue command influence. As if this is a trial. Sessions mentions an article in Joint Forces Quarterly which supports repeal of DADT, and ADM Mullen states that his personal opinion is that “everybody counts” and individuals should not be devalued. Sen. Sessions says he does not believe that gays and lesbians in the military have to lie about who they are.
- 41:40 After the attacks on his statement, ADM Mullen says he sees this as an issue of leadership.
- 45:00 Sen. Wicker notes that 1300+ retired generals and flag officers oppose repeal.
- 48:15 Sen. Webb thanks ADM Mullen.
- 51:17 Sen. Chambliss is a little condescending when he tells ADM Mullen and Gates that he appreciates that they are “in a tough spot”. Wants to know if other policies, such those prohibiting fraternization, adultery and body art (!) are the next to go.
- 53:35 Sen. Burris makes a point about Truman and the integration of the armed forces and says he supports repeal.
- 56:05 Sen. Collins asks ADM Mullen if there have been any problems with serving with Canadian and British forces, who are allowed to serve openly. (No.)
- 58:48 Sen. Lieberman states that he opposed DADT in 1993 and supports the repeal of it now. Gates makes a comment about the standards being raised before accusations “wreck somebody’s career”.
- 1:05 Sen. Reed points out that U.S. military currently serve side-by-side with gay British and Canadian troops.
- 1:11 Sen. Levin thanks ADM Mullen and points out that, by oath, ADM Mullen is required to give his personal assessments.
