24th

Wartime Generalship, Future Force Structure, and DADT – on Midrats

August 2010

Last Sunday, fellow USNIBlogg’r EagleOne and I had a little something for everyone on Midrats. If you missed it, head on over and download the archive and give it a listen.

Our guest for the first half of the hour was Douglas A. Macgregor Col. USA, (Ret), the author of USNI Press’s Warrior’s Rage: The Great Tank Battle of 73 Easting, and Transformation Under Fire: Revolutionizing How America Fights. We covered DESERT STORM, OIF, the influence of Counter Insurgency on today’s Army, and how the US Military may want to restructure in the future.

For the second half of the hour, we pivot and update a subject we last covered in Episode 7 this February. Our guest was retired Navy Reserve Commander Zoe Dunning, Board Co-Chair of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. We discuss the whole spectrum of the challenges of repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, how the lobbying effort has evolved, and what hiccups there may be in a post DADT military.

Don’t forget – if you want to make sure and never miss a Midrats – subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.


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  • UltimaRatioReg

    General Conway, CMC:

    “I can tell you that an overwhelming majority would like not to be roomed with a person who is openly homosexual,” Conway told a Pentagon press conference.

    “Overwhelming majority” doesn’t exactly sound like “don’t ask, don’t care”.

    But I suppose the Commandant of the Marine Corps doesn’t know his Marines. Not nearly as well as Admiral Mullen or the shills here who claim any objection as hatred and bigotry.

    He (Conway) added that “in some instances we will have people that say that homosexuality is wrong and they simply do not want to room with a person of that persuasion because it would go against their religious beliefs.”

    Imagine those Marines having rights, too.

  • http://cdrsalamander.blogspot.com CDR Salamander

    Dude.

  • UltimaRatioReg

    Dude.

  • Grandpa Bluewater

    Well, I think we’ve found the logical next CJCS.

  • Jay

    Wow! GEN Conway shows a lack of common sense here. There are reasonable accommodations that all commands make for religion, but this prob isn’t going to be one of them. Just as well he is retiring. I expect in a few years, after adequate time for thoughtful reflection, he’ll regret those remarks.

  • Jay

    Objection isn’t always hatred-based, sometimes it is just ignorance. Either way, I expect better from our leaders.

  • UltimaRatioReg

    Right, Jay.

    General Conway is no Gary Roughead.

    And good to know any disagreement with you is either hatred or ignorance and not legitimate.

  • Jay

    I don’t think I ever brought up hatred. Your constant jumping to victimhood is beneath you (or should be).

    Ignorance is legitimate, but it can be overcome, takes time & effort.

    As GEN Conway mentioned — there may be some small instances of same, but a squared away command will deal with them.

  • UltimaRatioReg

    “Objection isn’t always hatred-based”

    Musta been the other Jay.

  • Jay

    URR — this just in from Talking Points Memo website:

    “A new CBS News poll shows that 75% of Americans believe gay men and lesbians should be allowed to serve in the military.

    Only 19% are opposed to having gay or lesbian service members. That’s about the same percent of the country that believes President Obama is Muslim.

    Interestingly, a smaller group, 64%, supports gay men and lesbians serving “openly” in the military. And among veterans and current service members, 61% support allowing gay people to serve.

    The military is currently undertaking a review of how best to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, which forbids openly gay men and women from serving in the armed forces. The review includes surveying service members on how they feel about serving alongside gay people.

    Their report is due in December, but some in Congress are pushing to repeal the law before then.”

    The second paragraph — with the 19% is amusing…

    Now quick — run over to Elaine Donnelly & get a “Center for Military Readiness” poll with exactly opposite numbers…

    :-)

  • UltimaRatioReg

    The CBS poll consists entirely of Marines? Wow. And I do suppose that a CBS poll knows the Marine Corps much better than its Commandant.

    Congratulations on being the first to mention Elaine Donnelly. My remarks centered on the statements of General Conway.

  • jay

    Of course they did, because you agree with this particular CMC, GEN Jones, however…

  • UltimaRatioReg

    I seem to recall that General Jones is not the Commandant. Hasn’t been for some time. General Jones (retired) is in an appointed position in a Presidential Administration, and not a servant under Title 10.

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