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13 Mar 2007 04:53 pm

Pace and Morale

Can you imagine how a gay Marine or soldier is feeling in Iraq or Afghanistan right now? He's been directly attacked by his commander. A reader adds:

When I was at Wharton during the run up to the Iraq war, General Pace came and spoke to MBA students. He spoke with such conviction about how his experiences in Vietnam, watching friends die on the battlefield, provided a strong moral compass for him to advise leaders on decisions about going to war.  He was emphatic about the intelligence on WMD in Iraq, and convinced a number of us that the intelligence was solid. I left there a huge Peter Pace fan - a man I considered a great leader with a strong sense of morality.

My heart sank to the floor last night when I saw his comments. I took it very personally, and I'm a civilian. I can only imagine the emotions "closeted-by-regulation" troops are feeling. Somewhere in the streets of Baghdad, a 22 year old has been told he is sacrificing his life under a leader who thinks his love for another human being is immoral. I just hope there are enough voices getting to that soldier telling them how many Americans appreciate the double-sacrifice he or she is making.

I have received emails from such servicemembers. They feel punched in the stomach. If Pace wants to support the troops, he should keep his private views of morality to himself.

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