As the U.S. House passed a stand-alone bill to repeal the 1993 law banning homosexuals from military service (a.k.a. Don't Ask, Don't Tell) . . .
The Marine Corps' top general suggested Tuesday that allowing gays to serve openly in the military could result in more casualties because their presence on the battlefield would pose "a distraction."
UPDATE 12/21/10: House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) deserves the credit for passing repeal
UPDATE 12/20/10: Military’s Ban on Homosexuals Repealed, But Restrictions Remain for the Time Being
UPDATE 12/17/10: Sen. Lieberman says there are more than the 60 votes needed to pass repeal Saturday
UPDATE 12/16/10: Enough votes in lame-duck Senate to repeal, say homosexualists
-- From "Top Marine says repeal of gay ban could add casualties" by Craig Whitlock, Washington Post 12/15/10
"When your life hangs on the line," said Gen. James F. Amos, the commandant of the Marine Corps, "you don't want anything distracting. . . . Mistakes and inattention or distractions cost Marines' lives."
Amos had said previously that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly could cause "distractions" and "risks" for combat units. But his remarks Tuesday were the first time that he or any other senior military leader has suggested that repealing the 17-year-old "don't ask, don't tell" law could directly endanger troops and cost lives.
The Defense Department survey, released last month, found that 58 percent of those in Marine combat arms units predicted that repeal would negatively affect their ability to "work together to get the job done." In comparison, 48 percent of those in Army combat units felt the same way.
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From "House passes 'don't ask, don't tell' repeal" by Catalina Camia, USA TODAY 12/15/10
The final House vote was 250-175, primarily along party lines. There were 15 Republicans who joined 235 Democrats to support the measure.
Rep. Buck McKeon, R-Calif., the incoming chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said he sides with the top officers of the military branches who say overturning the policy would be disruptive.
The vote came on a stand-alone bill on repeal offered by Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Pa., the first Iraq war veteran elected to Congress. The move is aimed at getting the Senate to also take up a stand-alone bill before Congress leaves for the holidays.
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