The New Marine Commandant Disagrees With The Chairman Of The Joint Chiefs

Photo: Gen. James Amos

'Don't Ask' Should Stay For Now, New Marine Commandant Says -- L.A. Times

Gen. James Amos says lifting the ban on openly gay service members might hurt unit cohesion and combat readiness.

Reporting from San Diego — With U.S. troops — including 20,000 Marines — locked in a "tough fight" in Afghanistan, now is not the time to lift the "don't ask, don't tell" ban on homosexuals serving openly in the military, the new commandant of the Marine Corps said Saturday.

Gen. James Amos told reporters in San Diego that he was concerned about a possible loss of unit cohesion and combat readiness if the ban is overturned.

"There's risk involved," Amos said. "I'm trying to determine how to measure that risk. This is not a social thing. This is combat effectiveness."

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My Comment: A blunt and straightforward opinion from the new Marine Commandant. Not surprisingly, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs is surprised.