Pentagon Gaggle

By Wendy Wang
In an interview with the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Peter Pace was asked if he believed the law of "Don’t Ask Don’t tell" should still hold. Pace ignited a firestorm not by saying that he does, but by what he said next.

From a partial transcript from the Joint Chief’s public affairs office, Pace said "My upbringing is such that I believe that there are certain things, certain types of conduct that are immoral. I believe that military members who sleep with other military members wives are immoral in their conduct, and that we should not tolerate that. I believe that homosexual acts between individuals are immoral, and that we should not condone immoral acts."

Pentagon spokesman, Bryan Whitman was asked to respond on behalf of the Department and on behalf of Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, on Pace’s comments. Whitman answered by saying that the law exists that requires the Department to separate homosexuality and bisexuality, and established a basis for separation. Congress passed this law after extensive debate and the Department has a policy of implementing this law. Discharges made under this law are based on conduct not on orientation, Whitman says.

He refused to engage in a debate over the definition of morality, and referred all questions to the debates made around the time of the law’s inception to Congressional records.

Whitman was asked about the Secretary’s views on Pace’s comment, and asked if Pace’s comment represents the views of the Department. Whitman referred to transcript of the Chairman’s comments, saying that it clearly states that these are the Chairman’s personal opinion. Whitman reiterated that there will be plenty of opportunity to ask the Secretary his views on the matter but would not give an indicator on when the Secretary will give his next press briefing.

Whitman was asked about morality in the context of adultery and other "immoral" acts, and Whitman sidestepped that question by station over and over he would not engage in debates on morality.

Asked about the numbers of those discharged under this law of "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" without distinction between pronouncement and conduct, Whitman gave the Pentagon’s number at 653 in fiscal year 2004, 726 in 2005 and a partial number from 2006 of 612. He offers a General Accounting Assessment in 2005 that places the number of gays discharged from the military under this law at 0.4 % in 2004 of overall non- program discharges for conduct, and 0.3 percent in 2005 Whitman says he recognizes some would argue those diminished holds critical operational specialties and says of the 9,488 discharged since the inception of the law in 1994, 757 held such critical specialties.

Under the law, the dignity and respect of each military member was highlighted by Whitman, and provoked the question that perhaps the Chairman’s pronouncement of morality on a person’s sexual orientation is perhaps disrespectful. Whitman was further asked if perhaps the Chairman’s pronouncement may create a hostile environment within the military for those in active duty. Whitman again noted that these are the Chairman’s personal opinions and referred all such questions and comments to the Chairman’s office down the hall. He ignored a question on the Department’s "regret" for those comments.

The Chairman of the Joint Chief’s public affairs office had partial transcripts from the Chicago Tribune interview and says the Chairman is aware of the media interest but will not be holding any briefings as of yet to address the controversy.