Nonsense

By all accounts Lt. Don Choi, a West Point graduate and Iraq veteran is a model soldier. He is well spoken and skilled in Arabic language. But he has a failing that makes the Army want to dismiss him. He is honest. Choi will face a disciplinary hearing because he has announced, in contravention of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy of the armed services, that he is gay.

The policy of the armed services states - "Sexual orientation will not be a bar to service unless manifested by homosexual conduct. The military will discharge members who engage in homosexual conduct, which is defined as a homosexual act, a statement that the member is homosexual or bisexual, or a marriage or attempted marriage to someone of the same gender."

Don't Ask, Don't Tell is a legacy of the Clinton Administration who thought that the American people were not ready to have gays serve in the military. The Clinton people wanted to score points with the gay community and yet not anger conservatives and so came up with this policy. One problem with the policy is that it seems to be not very popular with the public. By huge margins public opinion polls have no problem with openly gay people serving in the military. But the armed services cannot figure out how to deal with this. The policy quoted above seems to allow for a differentiation between status and behavior but the current policy makes no such distinction.

Barry Goldwater, before he died, was a strong voice against the policy. He knew a lot about individual rights and about military policy.

I've heard Lt. Choi interviewed several times and am proud someone of his character is willing to serve. I am pretty sure I would not agree with many of his political views but that is not what he is being asked to serve us on. From all that I have heard he is a talented soldier. It is a shame the military cannot just look at his qualifications.