Don't Ask, Don't Tell = Never Apologize, Never Explain

Once again, these people completely miss the point.

General Pace, is, of course, entitled to his opinion. And now, he rightly regrets stating publicly that he believes homosexuality is immoral and should not be condoned by the military. However, the rationale behind his “regret” seems to be that as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, he should not publicly question an existing military policy (Don't Ask, Don't Tell). Very true — he should not.

However, in pointedly refusing to apologize for his remarks, the point he seems to be missing is that he's supposed to be a military leader — the boss — and has absolutely no business insulting his own troops. Not ever, and especially not in wartime.

It's not about a Joint Chiefs Chairman openly questioning policy. It's about a Joint Chiefs Chairman saying that 65,000 of his troops — men and women for whom he shoulders the unenviable responsibility of sending into harm's way — are immoral. They're good enough to die for their country, but he does not consider them to be moral people. He does not respect them.

Anyone even remotely connected to the military knows that the generals must never, ever insult the troops. Hell, anyone who's seen Patton knows that.

It's not about Pace's opinion of homosexuality — he's welcome to it. It's not about Pace's opinion of Don't Ask, Don't Tell — he's certainly qualified to have one (more so than most). It's entirely about a general who doesn't know any better than to publicly denigrate the morality of 65,000 of his own men and women — 65,000 volunteers in a time of war.

A big part of being a leader is knowing when the hell to shut up, and when wrong, to apologize for it. He doesn't owe it to the American people, nor to the administration, nor the military brass, nor the gay community — he owes it to the troops.