The anti-military right (1): John McCain

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By Rick Perlstein

May 3rd, 2007 - 4:53pm ET

Blogger Pam Spaulding makes the catch. John McCain said something stunning last month that by rights should set off an international incident, and leave what few American allies as still exist up in arms. In a letter to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, he said that letting gays servce in the military "presents an intolerable risk."

The full document is

"I believe polarization of personnel and breakdown of unit effectiveness is too high a price to pay for well-intentioned but misguided efforts to elevate the interests of of a minority of homosexual servicemembers above those of our units," says McCain.

Well, another nation that welcomes gays into its ranks is Israel. Have their "well-intentioned but misguided efforts" weakened that nation in its crucial strategic role in the front lines of the war on terror? If so, will the State Department of a President McCain initiate diplomacy for Israel to reverse its policies - lest we be hit again?

He writes too: "the national security of the United States, not to mention the lives of our men and women in uniform, are put at grave risk by policies detrimental to good order and discipline which so distinguish America's Armed Services."

Just how far, McCain should be asked, have good order and discipline declined in the armed forces of the United Kingdom, who have sacrificed 200 brave solders and counting in Iraq and Afghanistan? Are they to be judged no longer "distinguished"?

Tonight John McCain takes the stage at the Reagan Library for the first Republican presidential candidate debate. Now those are questions I'd love to see moderator Chris Matthews pose.

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