Military Want Ads: Arabic Speaking Linguists
The U.S. Department of Defense is looking for Arabic speaking linguists to replace the 58 gay Arabic linguists they have fired.
Seizing on the latest discharge, involving three specialists, House members wrote the House Armed Services Committee chairman on Wednesday that the continued loss of such “capable, highly skilled Arabic linguists continues to compromise our national security during time of war.”
The most recent firings came about after several e-mail letters surfaced involving two navy seamen. The military current advocates a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, albeit a very ambiguous and ill-enforced policy.
Former Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Stephen Benjamen, who was one of the recently discharged seamen was recorded as saying in response to the actions taken by the military that “[He] was always discreet, I never considered it would be an issue,” said Benjamin, when asked why he joined the military knowing the policy existed. “I thought if I don’t say anything, they’re not going to ask me. But, it was more aggressive than I thought.”
I find this to be quite appalling. If you read through the article you’ll find that it wasn’t as if Benjamen was being overtly homosexual. He was making personal, relatively private, communications with his significant other — another male Navy seaman.
It seems to me that the deciphering of al-Queda messages is far more pertinent to the security of our troops and our country than keeping the Navy, and the military for that matter, free of homosexuals.
Defense Secretary Gates has reported that he was not reviewing the current military policy.
I would change the add to say: Straight Arabic Speaking Linguists. Regardless of whether you think the no show-no tell policy is a good one, you have to agree that this was dumb. But I wouldn’t get too vocal about this one Steven. You’re going to be in the military soon and somebody might read this.
The military should make it clear, though, that if your homosexual you cannot be in the military — they don’t, except for the Marine Corps, the branch I joined.
It is currently a don’t ask, don’t tell policy, which is quite an ambiguous policy if you ask me.
I am also speaking up for national security here. How many Arabic speaking linguists do we have? Very few. And we just let go of 58 of them, that scares me.