May: Editorial

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

To say that law and the policy of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is controversial is an understatement.

The personal views of the members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are divergent. This was clear in recent congressional testimony where ADM Michael Mullens, USN, the Chairman, testified that he thought the policy should be rescinded. The other Service Chiefs were less certain and cautioned against a change until the commission appointed by the Secretary of Defense has reported out on all of the foreseen consequences of changing the policy and recommending that Congress change the law.

The Commandant was very succinct and explicit in his testimony. Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Gen Conway responded to a question on his position this way: “At this point, I think that the current policy works. My best military advice to this committee, to the Secretary, to the President would be to keep the law such as it is.”

In this month’s issue we have published two letters that are polar opposites in opinion on the subject. The two letters responded to “Leading Through Change,” an article by LtCol Michael D. Grice published in the January Gazette. LtCol Grice took no stand on the law and policy but provided food for thought for leaders of Marines if the policy and law were changed. The bylaws of the Marine Corps Association are very explicit, “No part of the resources or programs of the Association will be devoted to the promulgation or support of legislation.”

Given that stricture we will not publish articles that are advocacy articles on either side of the issue. I agree with the Commandant. Any decision made about changes in law or policy should be viewed through the filter of readiness and cohesion. I for one am not convinced that changing the law and the policy will improve either, but like the majority of the members of the Joint Chiefs I will wait until the group appointed by the Secretary of Defense, tasked to examine the issue, reports out.

The Screwtape Letters

In 1942 the English author, C.S. Lewis, published a novel in epistolary style titled, The Screwtape Letters. The novel took the form of a series of letters of advice from an experienced devil named Screwtape to his young nephew Wormwood. His protégé was having a difficult time in tempting and ruining souls. The novel is a thinly veiled postulation of faith and morals. We have had a group of Marines, whom I have allowed to remain anonymous, compile epistolary articles they have titled, “The Attritionist Letters.” They write provocatively about what they see as the ongoing clash between maneuver warfare advocates and attritionists. It is our hope that they will engender a spirited debate over the next several months as we publish their letters. I do not agree with everything that they assert, but they also make points that are valid and well worth considering. One of the most important items I discovered soon after becoming the editor of the Gazette is that we will have the opportunity to publish points that we may or may not agree with and hope that the readers will take up the debate.

Flying Leathernecks

Finally in this issue we highlight Marine aviation. We are fast approaching the 100th anniversary of Marine air. We are an infantry-centric Corps, but the reality is that it is the “A” in the MAGTF that makes the Corps, and our contribution to the national defense, unique and arguably indispensable.