DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL, DON'T STAFF YOUR ARMY

The army is now investigating some paratroopers in the 82nd Airborne Division for appearing on a gay pornography website. This would be a violation of the Pentagon's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which deems any action by a member of the armed forces that indicates he or she is gay to be a violation of the code of military conduct, and would require them to be discharged from military service.

This policy is contributing greatly to the staffing problems the military has seen since Bush, Jr. decided to invade Iraq. Many badly needed Arabic translators have been discharged because of it. Recently a report came out that a great many doctors and other medical specialists have been lost to "don't ask, don't tell," resulting in bad shortages there. Now they are going after paratroopers, some of the best-trained, most-needed combat soldiers the army has.

The policy is illogical, idiotic, stupid, ridiculous, imbecilic and dumb--besides being discriminatory and unfair. Having gays and lesbians in the military would not be a problem if the military didn't make it one. They should have the right to serve their country in the military the same as everyone else. Moreover, they are needed in the military. When are the homophobes in the Pentagon (and their congressional backers) going to face the facts?