Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Poll

Officers cannot poll troops, and then claim gays don't belong in the military...if the current policy is "Don't Ask Don't Tell". What results did you think you were going to get Colonel?

Opponents of gays in the military like to quote a poll by the Military Officers Association of America, which claims 52 percent of respondents support "an outright ban on military service by homosexuals".

Exactly what answers do you expect when officers poll troops on a controversial subject which is already covered by military policy? How is this a scientific poll of any kind?

In fact, it may be true that troops are flouting orders, if they comment at all:

According to a Washington Post article:

A U.S. military spokesman, Col. Wayne Shanks, said no specific gag order had been issued forbidding soldiers to discuss gays in the military but troops are as a rule advised that it is "inappropriate" to comment on defense policy issues.

The issue would seem to have been put to bed when Admiral Mike Mullen recently told Congress that letting gays serve openly "would be the right thing to do".

Yet Senator John McCain, who said three years ago that he would support repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" if the brass called for it, NOW has flip-flopped and called the comments of Admiral Mike Mullen "disappointing".

If conservatives are not going to listen to military leaders on this issue, then it is unlikely they are going to listen to anyone else. But to fall back on ridiculous polls of uniformed troops, while those very troops are serving under the DADT policy, is lunacy.

Better to poll enlisted men and women, taking cover from enemy fire....and ask them if they are worried, that the air support arriving from above is gay or straight. Try asking the Marine caught in a cross-fire, if it matters if the helicopter pilot coming to his rescue might be gay.

Is it more important that the sharpshooter providing covering-fire for you is straight...or that he/she shoots straight?