Military Watchdog Criticizes New York Congressman for "Flippant" Attitude Toward Condoleezza Rice

A conservative military watchdog has criticized a New York Congressman for being flippant and disrespectful toward United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during recent testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Democratic Congressman Gary Ackerman reportedly jokingly suggested that the Bush Administration might fear a "platoon of lesbians" more than terrorists in Baghdad.

Elaine Donnelly, President of the Center for Military Readiness said that not only did Congressman Ackerman display a "flippant attitude" toward Rice, with his jokes about the military's ban on homosexuals that are open about their lifestyle serving in the military, but he also showed complete disrespect toward the Secretary of State.

Donnelly said the Congressman's attitude was "somewhat insulting" and not appropriate. She said the Congressman may actually be unaware that the law does not allow military service by homosexuals that are open about their lifestyle. She said the law was passed by Congress and signed by Democratic President Bill Clinton. As a result, Donnelly said the actions of Congressman Ackerman are not impressive, they are the opposite.

Congressman Ackerman, during the hearing, joked the State Department should hire dozens of former Arabic and Farsi translators, whom the State Department had fired from the Defense Language Institute after it was learned they were homosexuals. The military watchdog said Congressman Ackerman apparently doesn't understand the ban against homosexuals in the military applies to the Defense Language Institute as well.

Donnelly said she had earlier asked the Department of the Army earlier why the Defense Language Institute was spending taxpayer money to train people who could not legally serve in the army.

The military watchdog says people, such as the New York Congressman, have the right to disagree on the issues, but such rhetoric and flippancy as Congressman Ackerman displayed is not appropriate.