Sunday, August 21, 2005
Jamie Gorelick in Pentagon Controversy
Sept. 11 Commission member Jamie Gorelick, who critics say hobbled the war on terrorism when she served as deputy attorney general under President Clinton, was a leading proponent for one of the Clinton administration's most controversial proposals when she served as general counsel for the Pentagon in 1993 and 1994.
In that position, Gorelick took the lead in implementing the White House's hotly contested "gays in the military" plan, which drew howls of protest from the military's rank and file - and even had then-Secretary of Defense Les Aspin openly worrying that Pentagon brass would "derail" the Clinton plan.
This places an incredible burden on commanders in the field," Sen. John McCain complained at the time. Then-Joint Chiefs Chairman Colin Powell nearly quit over the plan.
In an extraordinary Dec. 22, 1993 press conference, Secretary Aspin attempted to explain a compromise plan, dubbed "don't ask, don't pursue," that had been hammered out with the White House. But after a few introductory remarks, Ms. Gorelick took over.
"The [Armed] services will implement these guidelines, these directives, in 45 days," Gorelick declared. "Investigations of sexual misconduct will be undertaken in an even-handed manner without regard to whether the service member is heterosexual or homosexual."
After spending several minutes outlining the new gays in the military directive, Gorelick took questions from the press, prompting several provocative exchanges. Here's one:
REPORTER: [What about] personnel security. A gay Marine goes into a position and he has to have a security clearance. Now, on the form he can't put, "I am a homosexual," right?
MS. GORELICK: He will not be asked.
REPORTER: Okay. In the course of the investigation they find out he is a homosexual.
MS. GORELICK: Yes?
REPORTER: None of that can be used against him?
MS. GORELICK: Not for separation or criminal justice proceedings . . . But his sexual orientation itself, sexual activity in and of itself does not disqualify him from receiving a personnel security clearance. [END OF EXCERPT]
Sept. 11 Commission member Jamie Gorelick, who critics say hobbled the war on terrorism when she served as deputy attorney general under President Clinton, was a leading proponent for one of the Clinton administration's most controversial proposals when she served as general counsel for the Pentagon in 1993 and 1994.
In that position, Gorelick took the lead in implementing the White House's hotly contested "gays in the military" plan, which drew howls of protest from the military's rank and file - and even had then-Secretary of Defense Les Aspin openly worrying that Pentagon brass would "derail" the Clinton plan.
This places an incredible burden on commanders in the field," Sen. John McCain complained at the time. Then-Joint Chiefs Chairman Colin Powell nearly quit over the plan.
In an extraordinary Dec. 22, 1993 press conference, Secretary Aspin attempted to explain a compromise plan, dubbed "don't ask, don't pursue," that had been hammered out with the White House. But after a few introductory remarks, Ms. Gorelick took over.
"The [Armed] services will implement these guidelines, these directives, in 45 days," Gorelick declared. "Investigations of sexual misconduct will be undertaken in an even-handed manner without regard to whether the service member is heterosexual or homosexual."
After spending several minutes outlining the new gays in the military directive, Gorelick took questions from the press, prompting several provocative exchanges. Here's one:
REPORTER: [What about] personnel security. A gay Marine goes into a position and he has to have a security clearance. Now, on the form he can't put, "I am a homosexual," right?
MS. GORELICK: He will not be asked.
REPORTER: Okay. In the course of the investigation they find out he is a homosexual.
MS. GORELICK: Yes?
REPORTER: None of that can be used against him?
MS. GORELICK: Not for separation or criminal justice proceedings . . . But his sexual orientation itself, sexual activity in and of itself does not disqualify him from receiving a personnel security clearance. [END OF EXCERPT]
