Do Naval Officers Get Any Consideration?

Admiral Mike Mullen, US Navy, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has said that he personally supports repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”. I have never heard Admiral Mullen misspeak when he was referring to the 7 uniformed serves, the armed forces/services, the military services, joint operations, naval services, or, just about anything else, including the US Coast Guard.

Senator John McCain has not been as precise. Senator McCain has spoken as if all ground forces are “military forces” and the commanders are “military commanders.” The most “militaristic” of our armed forces units are MEUs or MAUs (Marine Expeditionary/Amphibious Units). There is not one soldier or military commander in the unit.

General Amos, USMC, opposes repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and describes what the Marine Corps will do under certain conditions. See http://bit.ly/hPOxYe.

Army (a military service) combat units are reportedly also opposed to repeal.

Secretary Gates “is right” with respect to this being a good time to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Adm. Mullen is in favor of it. The recently completed study “provides cover.” And, by the time it can be implemented, we should be out of sustained military/combat operations.

The downside is that the “tooth” of our defense establishment opposes it and we won't be out "of harms way" by the time it is implemented, if repealed now. Defense is a legitimate role of/for our federal government. I believe “equality” and “God given rights” are more prevalent in the Declaration of Independence than in the US Constitution. President Obama may be an expert in this area; Bill Clinton definitely was not.

I personally feel a lot of kinship with the Marine Corps. I have frequently had to figuratively “Salute smartly and say, ‘Yes, sir!’”. [If not, “Aye, aye, Sir!”]
Senator John McCain and Secretary Bob Gates are not that far apart.

If “the Marines” do not force a straight Marine to share a room with an acknowledged homosexual, what will be the marginal cost of the alternative? Does this money also come from the unspent Stimulus Funds?

Did John McCain Flip Flop on Don't Ask Don't Tell?

On November 30, 2010, CNN reported that the long awaited study was released today and that John McCain seemed to have switched positions.

CNN quoted and/or showed videos indicating that John McCain had said that he had no problem with repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell if our Military Commanders indicated that it did not degrade the capabilities of our forces. Or something similar to that.

CNN then showed Secretary of Defense Robert Gates supporting repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Micheal Mullen, stating that he personally was in favor of repeal of DADT.

It seems that the majority of the respondents to the Defense Department's survey were in favor of repeal. The only exceptions were the (combat units in the?) United States Marine Corps and combat units in the United States Army. In other words, only the "tooth" of the defense establishment.

Robert Gates has done an excellent job as Secretary of Defense. However, he is a civilian. Admiral Mullen is a very senior Naval Officer. We have 7 uniformed services. One is the US Navy. The US Army, the original Military Service, is another.

Senator John McCain has not yet flip flopped.

I believe in "boots on the ground" and we should not degrade our capabilities in that area to address areas not enumerated in the US Constitution.