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Retired US General John Sheehan Says Gays Caused Military Failure
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by Susan Marie Kovalinsky | March 18, 2010 at 02:38 pm
1408 views | 12 Recommendations | 34 comments
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Retired US General Shocks some in Senate Armed Services Committee with remarks about gays in military
A retired U.S. general has made a statement saying he believes that Dutch troops failed to defend against the 1995 genocide in the Bosnian war because the army was weakened. And part of that weakening, he asserts, was due to allowing gays to serve openly in their military.
John Sheehan, a former NATO commander who has been retired for 13 years shocked some at a Senate Armed Services Committee, as he voiced concerns about a proposal to allow gays to serve openly in the U.S. military. Sheehan was told by Committee Chairman Sen. Carl Levin that his remarks were "totally off-target."
Gays in military part of deterioration in peace times
Saying that European militaries deteriorated after the collapse of the Soviet Union and focused on peacekeeping because "they did not believe the Germans were going to attack again or the Soviets were coming back" was one thing. But part of this "peace dividend" - which included the nations of Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, among others - was that in believing that active combat was no longer an urgency, they unionized and homosexualized their armies, causing deterioration.
Sheehan continued that Dutch troops serving as U.N. peacekeepers and responsible for the defense in 1995 of Srebrenica are an illustration of what occurs when the military weakens.
Sheehan's remarks come as global studies on gays in the military are being considered with regard to a review of DADT ("Don't Ask, Don't Tell"), the US policy for homosexual service members which gay advocacy groups want repealed in favor of equal and open service.
"That was the largest massacre in Europe since World War II," he said of the killing of some 8,000 Bosnian Muslim boys and men after Serbian forces captured the town.Levin, D-Mich., appeared incredulous. "Did the Dutch leaders tell you it (the fall of Srebrenica) was because there were gay soldiers there?" he asked.
"Yes," Sheehan said. "They included that as part of the problem." He said the former chief of staff of the Dutch army had told him.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (34)
at 14:50 on March 18th, 2010
I am afraid to say, without being disrespectful to the General, these comments are outrageous. One needs to know the History of Srebenica to understand why the UN, EU did not intervene. It certainly had nothing to do with gays in the Dutch or any other military.
at 15:05 on March 18th, 2010
Those are short sighted comments embedded in ignorance of the facts and simply stupid.
It makes the General look foolish and ignorant. He has a right to be against homosexuals in the military but to use this line or justification to support his opinions is certainly not helping his argument.
at 15:07 on March 18th, 2010
Yes, agreed. Thanks both for excellent comments, and for that very informative link, Karl. As a military man, you can see to the crux of the falsity.
at 20:52 on March 18th, 2010
Not only retired but also retarted, what a fool gunpowder must have damaged his tiny brain!
at 23:34 on March 18th, 2010
In all do respect to his military accomplishments i can only imagine the homo-erotic fantasies this man must have about the Dutch military.Outcries such as his are at least fifty years out of date, if ever made by a man of his stature.Excuse me for any grammatical errors for i am just a Dutch (heterosexual) guy...
at 00:24 on March 19th, 2010
I hope you americans are smart enough to realize that this guy is talking nonsense. How dares he to speak of our dutch soldiers like this? We are proud that everyone can be who they are at all times. We should be an example for the americans, not only the army but also gay marriage. For such a big country you are getting more and more ignorent by the day...at least that the image you give to the world. I love the United States, I've been there twice allready and I will spend my holidays there every year. But this topic, gay rights is making me really angry. Ingnorence Kills.....
at 00:54 on March 19th, 2010
Jill, Netherlands (not verified): Yeah! That's right! America is filled with ignoramuses and Neanderthals. So WTF do you bother coming here for? I and millions of other Americans couldn't give a crap about what you and the rest of the world thinks of us. Indeed, where you're from has it's share of drugged-out degenerates and low life.
at 02:25 on March 19th, 2010
Excellent response, you've just confirmed the suspicion that ignoramuses like you are indeed lacking in knowledge of anything outside America. Thankfully there are some people in America who, unlike you, haven't been lobotomized.You really should care what is happening outside the US, because America's future isn't in America anymore, the once mighty dollar no longer has the influence it used to have.America may have won the battle of military spending against the Soviet Union, but America can't afford a cold war with China, or a real one for that matter.
at 05:18 on March 19th, 2010
Pete UK (not verified): Again: I and millions of Americans couldn't give a crap what Europeans think.Your country isn't in such good shape either by the way. Besides, I'm told that you drink warm beer over there in the UK. Anyone that drinks warm beer is suspect. HA! HA! HA! HA!
at 03:32 on March 19th, 2010
Don't you hillbilly worry. I have visited the US a half a dozen of times due to my work, and decided that I will try to avoid coming there if possible, because you are simply so stupid that one cannot make a conversation.. And ohh, so that you would not make the mistake of categorizing too easily: Gender Male, Heterosexual, father of two children, size 6" 6" 300 Pounds mostly muscles, Blue eyes, blond hair.. you know: Aryan look, The only difference is that I have got a brain...
at 05:28 on March 19th, 2010
Tor Bergholm (not verified):
"And ohh, so that you would not make the mistake of categorizing too easily: Gender Male, Heterosexual, father of two children, size 6" 6" 300 Pounds mostly muscles, . . . ."
Tor: Thanks for giving me your physical description. Very impressive! Do you manage to walk through a doorway without hitting your head or turning sideways? I, myself, am only 5 ft. 10 and weigh 180 lbs. But even wth my limitations I'm willing to bet that I can kick the crap out of you! HA! I'm one of those crazy and violent Americans. A real Neanderthal too! Ask the author of this post if you don't believe me--she'll tell you . . . .lol!
at 11:22 on March 19th, 2010
J2B (not verified): Yeah! That Tor guy is definitely a big boy! But you know what they say don't you? The bigger the ass, the better the bounce! HA!
at 03:59 on March 21st, 2010
Are you really serious with this message or is it sarcastic.
If you are serious you cannot be real.
regards
Robert Maurits
at 00:27 on March 19th, 2010
So who's responsible for the failure in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan then? All the Straights?
at 00:30 on March 19th, 2010
Saying Sebrenica fell because of gays being in the army is about the same as stating Vietnam could not be beaten because of motherfuckers.
at 00:52 on March 19th, 2010
What a dumb fuck are you to think like this. If this is the level of your generals, then it is very clear why you are messing up the world with your bloody wars. Vietnam was lost because the US army is braindead, Irak is lost for the same reason. This type of Americans are a fearsome bunch, scared for everything that does not fit the standard American Christian pattern. There is a world out there you know. Thank God not all Americans are like that.
at 02:17 on March 19th, 2010
Here we have another bigot using his position and influence to present his prejudices as fact, but the important thing to note is that he never prejudiced his military pension by spouting this crap while he was still a serving officer.
at 02:42 on March 19th, 2010
He is probably a closet gay. He fought in Vietnam and they lost...;-)
at 03:15 on March 19th, 2010
I'am a former first sergeant in de Royal Dutch Army. This guy (i will never adress him as a General again) is insane. And should be put in a mental hospital. How is it possible that there are still people who blame everything to gay people or anybody else who is different then them self or who have a other opinion ? For mr.Sheenan himself : Why such fear for gays ? afraid that something might get out in the open about you ? about your own preferences ? your own likes and dislikes ? and that this doesn't fit the profile your church members have about you ? It's a fact that the biggest anti gay people are infect gays themselves. Give yourself a break and get out of the closet......... And Sebrenica fell because of UN politics !!! How can 500 under armed UN soldiers fight a overwhelming force of 15.000 ?
at 14:15 on March 22nd, 2010
How can 500 under armed UN soldiers fight a overwhelming force of 15.000 ? Answer: Courageously. Did it happen this way?
at 05:20 on March 19th, 2010
My question is, how did an idiot like this every reach the rank of general?
at 05:37 on March 19th, 2010
daveh (not verified):
"My question is, how did an idiot like this every reach the rank of general?"
Half the generals out there are idiots! JEEZ! Do you think they became generals because they're any smarter than captains, majors, or colonels? Of course not! They became generals because they're good ass kissers . . . .
at 06:16 on March 19th, 2010
This general has his brains between his legs. He can not think.
at 06:48 on March 19th, 2010
J0hn sheehan is a big fool. He schould never have been officer, That he nsays about the dutch troops shows a person, who is complite inkorpent,
at 07:22 on March 19th, 2010
It is this kind of people that are amongst others responsible for the slaughter of people. This gentleman is on a par with Hitler and Stalin, Milosevic Pol Pot. I am convinced that in his shallow mind he really admires Saddsam Hussain.This gentleman is a disgrace for his people and for decent people.Robert M. MauritsBelgium
at 10:42 on March 19th, 2010
General Sheehan is out of touch with reality. If gays were to blame in Serbia how is it that we, the macho USA haven't won a war since WWII? We are still at odds in Korea, we LOST the war in Vietnam and we have actually lost the war (made up war) in Iraq and Saddam, like him or not , was the glue that kept the region in one piece. We will lose the war in Afghanistan. I blame those losses on the likes of Sheehan and his irresponsible comments, than gays who happen to be willing to be killed while an armchair General repeats his idiotic comments to Congress.Additionally,raping women by heterosexual servicemen seem to be just fine. Nice.
at 11:25 on March 19th, 2010
Janet Vernell (not verified): JEEZ! You don't need to shout . . .we hear you already!
at 10:51 on March 19th, 2010
Typical American Comment form a typicall ignorant, blind and stupid man! Shame on you! Hopefully American people don't take comments like these seriously! We Dutch for sure don't! Punnish this man who used to be some kind of important!
at 11:46 on March 19th, 2010
Half Dutch and half Norwegian (not verified):
"Typical American Comment form a typicall ignorant, blind and stupid man!"
Yes! We Americans take everything our generals say as gospel. No doubt about it! We even take everything our President says as gospel. That's just the way we are here in America. But it's good to know that the rest of the world knows more about America and Americans than America and Americans knows about itself and themselves.
Hopefully Americans will, at some point, come to grips with the error of their ways and realize that Europe and Europeans know what's best for America and Americans . . . .
at 11:12 on March 19th, 2010
@ Tor Bergholm - your description sounds like an advert for a gay club. You should submit your resume to the Dutch military.