New York Times Op-ed on Gay Troops Distorts Evidence

Aaron Belkin

Former Air Force Chief of Staff Merrill McPeak published an op-ed in the New York Times today in which he claimed that during the 1993 debate over gays in the military, "A lot more heat than light was produced." McPeak says that as Washington reconsiders the question this year, "I doubt that we'll have a more enlightened public discussion in 2010."

But the way to have an enlightened public conversation is to offer reasoned claims based on evidence and research, and to characterize and evaluate opposing arguments honestly. McPeak does no such thing.  read more »

A New Pentagon Strategy on Gays

Aaron Belkin
After Senator Carl Levin announced yesterday that he would hold hearings on "don't ask, don't tell," anti-gay forces in the Pentagon responded immediately. Levin was sending a strong signal that both the White House and Congress are ready to move forward with plans to repeal the gay ban, so the Pentagon needed to move quickly.

Marine Defies White House on Gay Troops

Aaron Belkin
Conway's apparent resistance may be a warning shot to the White House telegraphing arguments that opponents of repeal will invoke if the Senate holds hearings on "don't ask, don't tell."

More on Air Force Censorship

Aaron Belkin
My original commentary on this case did not present the Air Force's side of the story.

White House Doesn't Need Protection, Gay Troops Do

Aaron Belkin
It was sad but not surprising to read the recent article in Politico.com which suggested that the legislative process to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell” is badly stalled.

Is Hazing a Form of Torture?

Aaron Belkin
Here they go again. As reported by Huffington Post and other media outlets, we now have yet another scandal involving our security forces,

Pass the Buck

Aaron Belkin

I was saddened that the White House again this week invoked its pass-the-buck strategy on "don't ask, don't tell."

Here's a quote from an August 3 Washington Post story: "A White House spokesman said that the president continues to support repeal but that the lead needs to come from Congress. 'The president has said he thinks it should be done legislatively,' Tommy Vietor said."  read more »

Happy Birthday Rahm

Aaron Belkin
Our community has been working hard to block a strategy that was making a difference.

Thank You Congress

Aaron Belkin
Cross posted on June 22, 2009 at The Huffington Post. Finally, Washington is starting to wake up from its 15-year slumber concerning gays in the military.

Pentagon Can Implement Gay Ban Differently

Aaron Belkin
On the heels of yesterday’s announcement from Secretary Gates, my colleagues with expertise in military law are telling me that the Secretary of Defense does indeed have room to implement the gay ban differently.