Robert Gates and the Military's Gay Ban

Even though Robert Gates, who is presently the U.S. Secretary of Defense, said that is he is optimistic about the actions in Yemen things are still far from over in the region.  Both sides of the country have pushed that region towards a civil war and it is coming. He stated that the issues have calmed down some since former President Saleh stepped down and headed to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment from wounds that he received when his compound was attacked in Yemen.

"I don't think you'll see a full-blown war there," Gates said. "With Saleh being in Saudi Arabia, maybe something can be worked out to bring this to a close." The only way people are wondering is how it will be brought to a close.

When asked about Pakistan, Gates was concerned that the outcome of sharing U.S. intelligence with officials are too “sketchy” at this point to put more U.S. lives at risk. The locations of bomb facilities in the regions of Pakistan’s tribes were the main focus. "We don't know the specifics of what happened," he said. "There are suspicions and there are questions, but I think there was clearly disappointment on our part."

Now the real issue, as if war wasn’t enough on the minds of every soldier and their families and friends. Gates opinion on the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Policy Ban being lifted may shock some of you. Yes he is a former soldier, but he is a politician now.

He states that he will find no problem, whatsoever, with the military releasing its ban on allowing openly gay women and men to enter and serve in its ranks. Will this rock the boat in Washington? I am sure it will, most things do these days but it doesn’t matter there. It matters in the homes of the soldiers of every base in the U.S. fighting force.

At the present, there are at least one million servicemen and women who have been brought up to speed on the laws of the issue, which spans a two decade law who banned open comments about their sexuality. Up to this point, Gates says that the progress is going pretty well.

"I think people are pretty satisfied with the way this process is going forward," he said. "I think people have been mildly and pleasantly surprised at the lack of pushback in the training, he said."

He did throw one side-note out pointing out how women have been in the military for decades but there are still problems with assaults, rape and things along those lines. So he wants the public to be aware that when the ban is lifted, there will be a few “ugly incidents” to attend to.

With me being a former Veteran, I have no problem with it. As long, as my brothers have my back I do not care what race or religion or sexual creed you may follow so to speak. It is your choice. The U.S. was founded upon values such as this and it is up to us to make sure we keep the tradition going.