Dixon, thanks for the poll numbers. You've posed some really good questions, and I know that our readers are going to be watching these debates closely. Let's hope that there actually is debate on the issue, rather than empty political posturing.

Dixon,
You missed something. Let me remind you:

http://pflagblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/families-on-frontlines-dont-ask-dont.html

Well done Monica! Thank you Dixon.

DADT is exclusively the responsibility of bigots in the Democratic Party. It was written by a bigot named Sam Nunn, one of Obama’s key advisors. Bigoted Democratic (sic) members of Congress joined Republicans in overwhelmingly voting it in. Then the same Dixiecrat right-winger who boasted on Southern religious radio stations about his signature on DOMA, Bill Clinton, signed DADT into law.

Our objection to DADT is on that basis; it’s a bigoted law passed by a party of bigots that harms GLBT servicemembers. We also have to recognize that it’s a trap to link support for civil rights with support for the oil piracy in Iraq or the dangerous and deranged threats of Obama against the Pakistanis or of Clinton and McCain against the Iranians. They are not linked and have nothing to do with capturing the mass murderer Bin Laden. The vast bulk of US military activity is centered on acquiring hegemony over the regions oil resources not on capturing Bin Laden.

Just as we support the GI’s civil rights we should support the antiwar movement and let everyone know that we think that volunteering for ‘service’ in a period when the US military and their allies are murdering Muslims on a vast scale to steal their oil is volunteering for genocide. We should encourage everyone to stay 0ut of the armed forces.

We should be very clear that we join with our allies in the antiwar movement to demand that all US military, security and mercenary forces be withdrawn from the region and that the US cut the purse strings that finance the apartheid and ethnic cleansing policies used against Palestinians. We need allies to win our fight but we won’t get them if we’re seen supporting the Clinton/Bush genocide in Iraq by encouraging enlistment or re-upping

Thanks for guest posting, Dixon. I'll be keeping an eye on the proceedings.

Thanks for posting on this Dixon and thank you Monica for pointing out the forgotten T.While I'm sure your intentions are well meaning Bill Pardue I believe you are mistaken in assuming that US Soldiers are murdering muslims on a vast scale simply for their oil.The sad fact is we've spent more money trying to secure the gulf than the dam oil is worth.As a T Infantry Vet (Berlin 1981-1984)I can assure you that I have never met a US Infantry Vet that would choose to kill innocent non combatants simply because of their religious beliefs.Does things happen that can be regretted in war yes but you can't allow that to overshadow the intentions of the majority of soldiers.Also please don't forget about the three thousand who died in the World Trade Towers simply because they were viewed as American.I'm sure that if you used a little more care in how you protest the Iraq war that you'd find most people agree that it was handled in a bad way and that we were lied to in entering it but that is not the fault of the soldier.The soldiers job is to defend your rights to freedom that includes your right to question their actions.Just try to do it responsibly.Amy

When will those numbers ever be high enough?

Amy, I have no idea how many Iraqis and Afghans were murdered as result of direct action by US forces and how many were murdered by indigenous Quislilngs in the collaborationist Iraqi police and military forces or by the Brits etc. (I do know that the Irish, while sympathetic to the Iraqis, are very glad the murderers of the Royal Parachute Regiment [Bloody Sunday} are in Basra and not Belfast.)

All of the estimated million plus murdered Iraqis were murdered as a result of the illegal and immoral invasion of Iraq by the US. US military forces are not fighting for ‘freedom’ there, or in Afghanistan, nor were they in their dozens of invasions of Latin American nations, in the Phillipines, in China, Korea, Vietnam, Laos or Cambodia, to mention but a few.

USMC Commandant S. D. Butler, the most decorated Marine in history said "I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested. Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents."

Things haven’t changed in the least since Commandant Butler wrote that seventy years ago. Vietnam, Panama, etc. prove that beyond a doubt. In the Middle East the US is fighting and killing muslims solely for regional hegemony to control and sell the oil. You are one of three people on the planet who don't get that. It’s an affront to the memory of the dead Iraqis and GI’s killed there to say otherwise or to imply that they’re fighting for ‘rights’. Rights, ours or the Iraqis, have nothing to do with it. We have to tell the truth about the buthery going on there and we have to do everything we can to save American and Iraqi lives.

Try being a little responsible Amy. Try to discourage young men and women from going to fight for the oil companies and help save the lives of our Muslim brothers and sisters in Iraq, Palestine, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Or if you can’t do that at least do nothing to encourage recruitment or reenlistment.

Would you argue WW2 was unnecessary?More innocent life was lost in that then many large wars combined.Six million jews in germany probably that many more in Russia LGBT people also suffered under the ultimate solution.Then add all the civilian casualtys and military.It took firebombing german citys to the ground and dropping atomic weapons on Japan to get that to end.That must never be forgotten or allowed to happen again.I have mixed feelings on America's pre-emptive strike policy but I do believe it is required for national security.I wonder if you have ever been outside the US?While I was stationed in Berlin the Iran-Iraq war was being fought.German TV is much less censored than American TV and showed the bodies of Iranian soldiers who had been gassed with blister agent also don't forget that he gassed Kurd villagers.Iran thinks it doesn't have gays although if that was true why do they kill them.Iraq I'm sure killed gays and still may.Yes we were lied to but Saddam Hussein was no saint.We tried paying him, UN sanctions and the threat of war he didn't blink when he should of.Amy

Dixon,

On behalf of the entire LGBT community -- yes, I now speak for us all; they elected me in my dreams last night -- we want to thank you for your tenacious pursuit of justice in the fight to allow gays to serve openly in the military. Today's hearings in the House subcommittee on military personnel present perhaps the most major milestone to date in the efforts you began 15 years ago. SLDN may have a new captain (and crew) at the wheel, but the ship steams ahead based on momentum you created in years past. I hope you feel proud of yourself for today's hearings -- they stand as a testament to your vision and hard work.

Jeff Hersh