Dutch officials have expressed outrage at the statements by retired U.S. General John J. Sheehan blaming the Srebrenica massacre on the presence of gay soldiers in their Army. The former NATO Commander testified that he was told that the presence of the gay soldiers was a significant contributor to the troops being captured without a serious fight.
Speaking before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sheehan said that the Dutch battalion at Srebrenica “was under strength, poorly led, and the Serbs came into town, handcuffed the soldiers to the telephone poles, marched the Muslims off, and executed them.” He suggested their lack of combat readiness was due to the presence of homosexual soldiers. Committee Chairman Carl Levin pressed the point and asking if Dutch leaders had told him that gay soldiers were to blame and Sheehan responded “yes they did. They included that as part of the problem.”
When the Serbs moved in on Srebrenica, the Dutch force put up little resistance. Some 8,000 Muslim men and boys were murdered.
The Dutch Defense Ministry said the comments were “outrageous and unworthy of a soldier.” He is of course correct. This is much like prior statements that black soldiers could not be trusted in combat. He seems to have missed all of the decorated combat veterans who have been thrown out of the military because they are gay.
For the full story, click here.
Eddie Izzard. Love him! One of the funniest people on the planet.
He just ran at least 27 miles a day, 6 days a week for 7 weeks straight, covering more than 1,160 miles across the UK to raise money for Sport Relief.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8256589.stm
Ok, the E.U. tells its’ members they have to let gays in the military. Member countries comply and there is very little fuss. They follow orders. In America, though, it is a very big deal. Can’t let it happen because because of whatever bullshit reason they care to claim.
Does this mean American soldiers are less able to follow a direct order? Doesn’t seem to be a ringing endorsement of our military, does it? We must be a bunch of cry babies.
Buddha,
I remember Eddie Izzard did a stand up routine over decade ago about a transvestite airborne unit.
4 minutes of funny bits before he gets to don’t ask don’t tell:
Since the GOP right-wingers seem obsessed with our founding fathers, why not remind them of Baron von Steuben? He was homosexual, but George Washington and the Continental Congress gave him the responsibility of teaching the continental army proper military drills and function.
The United States FIRST army had a homosexual as one of its top military leaders. If it was good enough for George Washington, who are we to question?
And exactly why was this brainless idiot speaking before the Senate Armed Services Committee? What fool put a microphone in front of him?
From Wiki (with sources0:
“Sheehan testified a non-existing Dutch general by the name of Hankman Berman told him they lost the battle because of the gays. The name ‘Hankman Berman’ isn’t even an existing Dutch name.[6] Speculation has it that Sheehan meant General Henk van den Breemen, Dutch chief of staff at the time of the Srebrenica genocide. Dutch Minister of Defense Eimert van Middelkoop, member of parliament at the time of the 1995 incident, stated that Sheehan’s statement was “disgraceful,” “unworthy of anyone in the military”.[7] General van den Breemen called Sheehan’s comments “total nonsense”.
Buddha,
I am unsure if because it is an association fee that they are permitted to communicate to third parties, but this seems to feel as a violation of the FDCPA.
(b) COMMUNICATION WITH THIRD PARTIES. Except as provided in section 804, without the prior consent of the consumer given directly to the debt collector, or the express permission of a court of competent jurisdiction, or as reasonably necessary to effectuate a postjudgment judicial remedy, a debt collector may not communicate, in connection with the collection of any debt, with any person other than a consumer, his attorney, a consumer reporting agency if otherwise permitted by law, the creditor, the attorney of the creditor, or the attorney of the debt collector.
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf
We never should have let the Irish in.
Completely OT:
http://idle.slashdot.org/firehose.pl?op=view&type=story&sid=10/03/17/2354201
“The Stoneybrook West homeowners association in Orlando, Florida is serious about collecting its fees. So serious in fact that the association will not let anyone coming to see Melissa Solis in the gated community. Solis has fallen behind on her association fees and now guards at the gated entrance to her neighborhood prevent her friends, family, babysitter and even the pizza man from going in to see her. Even Melissa’s mother-in-law was banned from coming inside when she came for a family birthday party. Association lawyer Jim Gustino says, “We have to bring whatever lawful pressure that we have to bear on these folks. No one feels good about it, but it does result in collecting money. Many folks will, by some miracle, come up with the money they couldn’t come up with before, because they don’t want their family members to be denied entry.”
Hey, Jimbo! Lawful? Except it violates her Constitutional right to free association. Ever hear of NAACP v. Alabama? Didn’t think so.
Buddha said: “What would a Taliban solider think when he sees a platoon of heavily armed men in sparkling underwear?”
Rafflaw responded: “They could blind the Taliban with those outfits!”
I’ll add: Maybe not blind–but dazzle. I haven’t heard anywhere that the “72 virgin reward” was restricted to females.
Buddha,
They could blind the Taliban with those outfits!
“What would a Taliban solider think when he sees a platoon of heavily armed men in sparkling underwear?”
ROTFLMAO
Duh,
If that disturbs you? Consider this: What would a Taliban solider think when he sees a platoon of heavily armed men in sparkling underwear?
Shock and surprise have tactical value.
Don’t be so hasty there, Byron. The Dutch may prefer to do business, but they have been known to kick some butt.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_history_of_the_Netherlands
“And they should take their disco cds and their glitter covered underwear with them.”
EC, My biggest problem with having homosexuals in the military is that they have to keep it a secret. However, if they’re going to bring disco cds and glittered underware, I want them out. 🙂
There’s a limit to what a man should have to endure. The two of those combined are surely the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back.
I dont think it had much to do with being gay but more with being Dutch. I dont think they are warriors per se, good cheese and night life but fighters, not so much.
Well then, I guess he thinks the Dutch army should get the hell out of Afghanistan before the homos cause another disaster. And the Canadian and British armies will have to get out as well – they’re full of friends of Dorothy. And they should take their disco cds and their glitter covered underwear with them. The US army will just have to fight the Taliban all by itself.
Jonathan,
Sorry to go off topic here, but I am curious what YOU think of the fact that Congress (Federal Government) already “mandate” workers to “buy” health care and has for years?
1. When you are working – regardless of age – the Federal Government has, for years, “mandated” that workers “buy” into Medicare – even though they will not be a Medicare recipient until age 65.
2. When a worker, or anyone, turns 65 the Federal Government “Mandates” the worker become a Medicare recipient.
Therefore, wouldn’t those 2 facts above thwart any law suit the GOP may bring against the federal government if the current Senate Health Care Bill passes?
I hope you read this question and answer it.
Thanks,
Alexander of Macedon
Gilgamesh
Any questions, “General”?
Oh my and this guy must has never met a pissed Queen. Come on…..