European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 22, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Pays in Thi military Linton called a Wise to seek leaders views by Bon Mckinney staff writer Bill Clinton s Promise to Confer with political and military leaders before lifting the ban on Gays does not indicate he is waffling on the Issue says a Gay rights advocate. A we perceive that Clinton is standing firm on his Promise Quot said Karen Stupski a spokeswoman for the human rights Campaign fund in new York and a former Navy lieutenant. She said her group considers it Quot Wise Quot of Clinton to first consult Wilh military leaders and she expects some action by Clinton within his first 100 Days in office. A the is the commander in chief and if he decides to go through with it in a sure the military Wil fall in line and carry out the order Quot Stupski said. Gen. Colin l. Powell chairman of the joint chiefs of staff already has offered his advice Don t do it. Quot the military leaders in the armed forces of the United states a the joint chiefs of staff and the senior commanders a continue to believe strongly that the presence of homosexuals within the armed forces would be prejudicial to Good order and discipline. And we continue to hold that View Quot Powell said recently. Ending the ban on Gays Quot is a very big problem for us Quot Powell told Cox news service Quot and it is not just the generals and the admirals who Are saying it. We Are hearing it throughout the Force. And so in a pleased that the governor has expressed a willingness to approach this slowly and with  american commanders in Europe asked several weeks ago by the stars and stripes for their views concerning the Pentagon policy on homosexuals issued similar statements. Adm Mike Boorda commander of the . Naval forces Europe said in a written statement that Quot i personally agree with the present policy and do not support  Gen. David m. Maddox commander of the . Army Europe said he supports the policy and had no comment regarding its future. Doug Moore a spokesman for the . Air forces in Europe said his office would not give Gen. Robert c. Oaks the Safe commander questions from the stars and stripes about Gays serving in his command or the likelihood that the ban would be rescinded in coming years. Instead. Moore cited the defense department s exclusion of homosexuals and said it would be inappropriate to Quot participate in a hypothetical discussion of this  among organizations endorsing the current policy is the non commissioned officers association of America according to Jim Binniker vice president of european operations. The older generation of senior military leaders grew up believing homosexuality is unacceptable said Binniker a former air Force chief master sergeant Quot the younger generation is far More tolerant of that lifestyle than the generation i grew up in and that a not saying that s bad or Good. It s just that a what we were exposed to Quot Binniker said. Quot when you grow up in that environment with that mind set then obviously you re opposed to it. So i just think its a generational thing because of the stigma that was attached Early on a its going to be very hard to change those deep seated  Binniker said that if Clinton lifts the ban Quot we will go through a very turbulent period while everybody gels used to it. If the president says we re going to do it Well do  out of step with Mission Gays would hobble Esprit de corps by Cal Thomas los ant less times president elect Clinton is facing his first test resolving a Promise to repeal the ban on homosexuals in the armed forces. The pledge was made in the rarefied atmosphere of the Campaign but it fees the reality of Strong opposition from the military and americans uneasy about further moral collapse. The fact is that the military is and always has been a club that not everyone can join. People Are routinely rejected for any number of reasons including height and size poor vision age non-. Citizenship Tow intelligence and health problems. The purpose of the military is to defend the country not to serve As a sociopolitical Laboratory. Anything that interferes with that objective limits the armed forces in the Pursuit of their Mission. Military service is not a civil right like being Able to buy a Home wherever one wishes it is a privilege. That privilege requires that you accept the uniform code of military Justice which describes sodomy As an offence punishable by dishonourable discharge forfeiture of pay and benefits or even imprisonment for up to five years. Other sections of the code Are designed to protect people from assault with intent to commit sodomy indecent assault and indecent acts with another. The code also protects people from Quot Witch Hunts by providing that no service member shall be separated if the conduct in question Quot is a departure from the members usual and customary behaviour. Is unlikely to recur. And was not accomplished by use of Force coercion or intimidation Quot if Quot the member does not desire to engage in or intend to engage in homosexual acts Quot and if a the members continued presence in the service is consistent with the interest of the service in proper discipline Good order and  the code is an official Standard of conduct that Congress would have to Amend significantly. Anyone who watches Congress knows its members Are reluctant to do anything that would alienate substantial numbers of their constituents. Democrats particularly cannot be pleased that their new president has forced them into this lose lose situation. It will require that they choose Between undermining the morals of the country and going against the military and its supporters the chairman of the Senate armed services committee sen. Sam Nunn d-ga., and the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff Gen. Colin l. Powell or angering the militant and unforgiving Gay rights lobby. The military has an obligation to itself and to the country to maintain a moral code that contributes to a sense of duty and purpose. To allow open expression of homosexuality undermines indeed invalidates that code and contributes to a loss of discipline and Unity. Then there is the matter of what soldiers Call Quot unit cohesion a a key to Success on the Battlefield. It is difficult to explain unless you have been in the military As i have and Clinton has not. A military unit must share certain values and View its Mission As something Noble even righteous. Many could be required to give their lives for the cause. For most people homosexual practice remains at Best a disorder and for Many it is a sin which no amount of cultural conditioning can assuage. It is Fine to talk about the competency of open homosexuals to perform their assigned tasks but what about the ability of heterosexuals who resent homosexuals within their ranks being Able to perform their own tasks the key to this argument though lies not with How Well homosexuals can perform their duties in the Field. It is whether this nation is willing to sacrifice one More Standard and replace its motto Quot in god we Trust Quot with Quot anything  during the Campaign i recall asking Clinton defense adviser Michael Mandelbaum about the candidate s pledge to drop the ban on homosexuals in the military. If Clinton did not consider open homosexual practice a disqualification could his adviser Tell me what kind of behaviour Clinton believed was inappropriate what about paedophilia or polygamy he refused to answer saying the question was trivial. But it Isnit trivial. It is Central. Without a moral code who is to say what is right or wrong if homosexuality is of Why Aren t other forms of behaviour and lifestyles of too Are we merely waiting for a Strong enough lobby and sufficient Media support before ratifying such beliefs and practices seventy five years ago . Chesterton observed Quot the Modem world is insane not so much because it admits the abnormal As because it cannot recover the  repealing the ban on open practising homosexuals in the military will further Render us incapable of recovering the Normal. It will harm severely the defense capability of our armed forces. Are we willing to accept such Security risks Page 12 the stars and stripes sunday november 22,1992