Now that the
Iraq Study Group has released its report proposing new
and amended strategies in Iraq, the Servicemembers
Legal Defense Network is calling on White House
officials to reconsider their support for the
military's ban on openly gay troops, according to an
SLDN press release. The SLDN cites a study by the
Government Accountability Office that claims
approximately 300 language experts, including more
than 50 speakers of Arabic, were fired under the
"don't ask, don't tell" policy barring LGBT people from
military service.
The Iraq Study
Group said the Pentagon and CIA have insufficient numbers
of people with the language skills needed to operate
effectively in Iraq, which has hampered intelligence
gathering, the release said.
"As our
commander-in-chief, President Bush should be alarmed by the
effect this law has on our military readiness," SLDN
executive director C. Dixon Osburn said. "The White
House must put the success of our military operations
ahead of federal bigotry and work with Congress to
dismantle the military's ban."
The Williams
Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles,
School of Law reported that at least 41,000 gays would sign
up for duty if the ban were lifted. Gary Gates, who
performed the study, also said that there are
currently an estimated 65,000 lesbian and gay active
service members. (The Advocate)