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Okay, now this is getting ridiculous.
August 10, 2010 | Posted by Abu Muqawama - 11:00am | 21 Comments
Katherine Miller is exactly the kind of person we need in the ranks of our nation's junior officer corps.
(The fact that she quit the West Point rugby team to run triathlons is the only mark against her, as far as I am concerned. In the words of Kenny Powers
STFU
STFU
It's because of people like
It's because of people like that- honest sorts- America is sliding down the slippery slope into degradation. Moreover, Miller inserts a degree of negativity into the national discourse that isn't helpful. Come on guys, the team needs to pull together for the big win, and if that involves lying, cheating, government approved robbing and general hypocrisy, we shouldn't get hung up on that, we need to focus on the bigger picture and remain optimistic. We let Miller be open about her sexuality, and immediately the services will be filled with pot-smoking slackers, and the heartland (hitherto characterized by long-term monogamy, rationalism, and zero meth use) will immediately become a wasteland, inhabited by overweight, pompous sorts, who rent boys, many of whom are on marriage #3, popping pain pills whilst advocating an expansion of prisons, and presiding over a political "movement", populated by geriatric vampires. named in honor of a sex act.
Inspiring stuff from a
Inspiring stuff from a twenty-something. Even AM's jocular strike against her might be explainable (wouldn't triathlons seem less "butch" than rugby?) At least I can sleep well tonight knowing Al Qaeda and the Taliban aren't such a serious threat that we can't kick out top ranked West Point cadets.
she didn't "adhere to
she didn't "adhere to existing military policy" when she lied on her application form to West Point. While I'm against DADT, she isn't a victim.
Athletes row, everybody else
Athletes row, everybody else just plays games.
What's the purpose of the
What's the purpose of the "background" paragraph? Wouldn't whoever she sent this memo to know her background?
The memo is really for public consumption. Look at me! I'm great! I'm a hero. I'm a non-practicing lesbian! Next stop Oprah!
I care far more about the overall negative effect women have on the military to care about whether they are lesbians or not but this is part of a trend of going public that is making it increasingly difficult to run the force.
Wikileaks, McCrystal's leak of his advice to Obama and this type of thing are all examples of the supposedly disciplined military running to the press to get their way or push a personal agenda.
The military will be better off without her lesbian, LUG, or straight.
No, she's not. She lied to
No, she's not.
She lied to get in. Period. Last time I checked lives were at stake in this business.
snaggletooth...wow and scary.
snaggletooth...wow and scary.
Integrity issue, hope she
Integrity issue, hope she finds a good job bagging groceries at Safe Way.
Public support for a
Public support for a military lesbian would seem to be the smart bet for those with future aspirations in civilian positions in the Pentagon. DADT will end and the right political move is to support it's repeal. Being 'conservative" on this issue may well cost someone an Assistant Under Secretary for COIN Policy job.
nice hateful comments from a
nice hateful comments from a bunch of clueless, straight, probably white, 90% certain-to-be, men who are obviously the victims if DOD policy ever changes and they have to actually compete against people Cadet Miller. Oh, and Major Scarlett and various visitors, when I joined the Air Force I was in pretty deep denial about being gay - before DADT when being gay was a thought crime. So you have no idea whether there was a lie, or simply confusion and certainly not whether there was an integrity violation getting in. On top of which it's the military who has created a catch-22. So grow the fuck up and join the 21st century.
Cadet Miller looks like a
Cadet Miller looks like a former West Point Cadet I know by the name of De La Cruz...
Actually, Miller looks like his spitting image of De La Cruz..when he was an 18 year old boy.
Guessing they might be cousins... The whole lineage thing about getting into the school and being a West Pointer, I'm sure it was probably easy for someone like Miller to get in....
Hope she makes her Daddy proud.
I'm against DADT, but her
I'm against DADT, but her sexuality notwithstanding, it is almost impossible to predict how a West Point cadet, or any service academy cadet or midshipman, will turn out as an officer. Some of the best ones are middle of the pack guys (McChrystal), some are top of the class (Petreaus), and some are in the very bottom (McCain). I suspect she would have been a good leader, but I think it is a little premature to say that "she's exactly the sort of person we need..." especially without knowing her personally.
Good points, Keith, but I
Good points, Keith, but I wasn't saying she would make a good *senior* officer -- just that her performance at USMA thus far, her intelligence and her physical fitness suggest she would have made a good *junior* officer. How things shake out after company command is obviously something different.Keith, I would not mention
Keith,
I would not mention McCain in the same breath as P4 and M4. Obviously, besides the huge rank differences, both generals commanded in combat repeatedly: the only unit that John McCain ever commanded was a Jacksonville based training squadron- for 13 months. (He did face one notable leadership challenge- while he was in charge of VA-174 the first woman to fly a USN attack plane (Lt. Rosemary Conaster) qual'd under his command.)
I'm not doubting McCain's personal bravery after he was shot down, but to call him an officer in the same league as P4 and M4 is a disservice to the two men who actually led men into combat.
P4 and M4 is a disservice to
P4 and M4 is a disservice to the two men who actually led men into combat.
Which one of them was at the battle of Fellujah?
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