SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - One Arabic linguist was discharged from the military for violating its "don't ask, don't tell" sexual orientation policy in fiscal year 2004, according to records obtained by an advocacy group.
In the first 10 years of "don't ask, don't tell," the military discharged 54 Arabic and nine Farsi speakers for violating the policy, according to the Center for the Study of Sexual Minorities in the Military. In fiscal year 2004, however, there was just one Arabic and no Farsi speakers discharged, the center said Wednesday. That compares to at least three enlisted personnel discharged the previous year.
"The military does not like to admit firing gay Arabic linguists during a dire shortage because the public doesn't understand why we would rather fire gays than have enough Arabic linguists to translate intercepted cables," said Aaron Belkin, director of the center based at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
In 2004, the 9/11 Commission found the government "lacked sufficient translators proficient in Arabic and other key languages, resulting in a significant backlog of untranslated intercepts."
A Defense Department spokesman referred questions to the Defense Language Institute in Monterey. A spokeswoman for the Institute declined to address the center's comments, but said the Arabic language program has been expanding in recent years.
"It is very robust," said Patricia Ryan. "We are meeting the needs of the Department of Defense and expanding Arabic studies as per their direction."
Over 1,200 students are enrolled in the Arabic program, representing a third of all students at the Institute.
Besides the Arabic linguist, others linguists discharged under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy in fiscal year 2004 included 22 Spanish, three Korean, three French, one Chinese, one German and one Tagalog speaker. The center obtained the data from Rep. Marty Meehan, D-Mass., who requested the statistics from the Defense Department.
The policy was approved in 1993 by Congress and signed by President Clinton. It prohibits the military from asking about the sexual orientation of service members. It requires the discharge, however, of those who acknowledge being gay or engaging in homosexual activity if the person can't prove he or she is unlikely to engage in homosexual behavior again.
In the first 10 years of "don't ask, don't tell," the military discharged 54 Arabic and nine Farsi speakers for violating the policy, according to the Center for the Study of Sexual Minorities in the Military. In fiscal year 2004, however, there was just one Arabic and no Farsi speakers discharged, the center said Wednesday. That compares to at least three enlisted personnel discharged the previous year.
"The military does not like to admit firing gay Arabic linguists during a dire shortage because the public doesn't understand why we would rather fire gays than have enough Arabic linguists to translate intercepted cables," said Aaron Belkin, director of the center based at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
In 2004, the 9/11 Commission found the government "lacked sufficient translators proficient in Arabic and other key languages, resulting in a significant backlog of untranslated intercepts."
A Defense Department spokesman referred questions to the Defense Language Institute in Monterey. A spokeswoman for the Institute declined to address the center's comments, but said the Arabic language program has been expanding in recent years.
"It is very robust," said Patricia Ryan. "We are meeting the needs of the Department of Defense and expanding Arabic studies as per their direction."
Over 1,200 students are enrolled in the Arabic program, representing a third of all students at the Institute.
Besides the Arabic linguist, others linguists discharged under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy in fiscal year 2004 included 22 Spanish, three Korean, three French, one Chinese, one German and one Tagalog speaker. The center obtained the data from Rep. Marty Meehan, D-Mass., who requested the statistics from the Defense Department.
The policy was approved in 1993 by Congress and signed by President Clinton. It prohibits the military from asking about the sexual orientation of service members. It requires the discharge, however, of those who acknowledge being gay or engaging in homosexual activity if the person can't prove he or she is unlikely to engage in homosexual behavior again.
