In an April 5 Washington Times column headlined, “Marching in lockstep with homosexual agenda,” Robert Knight fearmongered over the repeal of “Don't Ask, Don't Tell,” writing that GOP congressmen asked during a recent hearing “questions that revealed the military is clueless about how much this will hurt readiness, retention, morale and recruitment.” Knight further wrote: “What if you don't respect your (male) commander for having sex with other men or wearing a dress and pumps while on leave?”

From Knight's column:

“We used to conform behavior to the military. Now we're conforming the military to behavior.”

Rep. Allen B. West, Florida Republican, belled the cat neatly during a hearing last Friday on the military's breakneck pace in implementing the new lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) law.

Mr. West, whose 20-plus years in the U.S. Army included combat commands, noted that he and others at Fort Bragg had to endure “sensitivity training” in the 1990s. It didn't enhance the “warrior ethos,” he recalled.

What became clear at the hearing of the House Armed Services Committee's Personnel Subcommittee chaired by Joe Wilson, South Carolina Republican, is that the Pentagon is forging into unknown territory, driven by political correctness, not military need.

[...]

On the other side, Mr. Wilson, joined by Rep. Vicky Hartzler, Missouri Republican, Rep. Austin Scott, Georgia Republican, Mr. Coffman and Mr. West asked questions that revealed the military is clueless about how much this will hurt readiness, retention, morale and recruitment.

[...]

Both Mr. Stanley and Adm. Gortney insisted that chaplains and others troubled by the new policy will face no repercussions. Sure they won't. Adm. Mullen has already invited anyone who disagrees to leave the military.

“We're not asking anyone to change their beliefs, just treat everyone with respect,” Adm. Gortney said. What if you don't respect your (male) commander for having sex with other men or wearing a dress and pumps while on leave?

Previously:

More Homophobia From Wash. Times' Robert Knight

Wash. Times' Knight Laments GOP Didn't Use “Suppressed Facts” to “Cripple The Homosexual Juggernaut”

Wash. Times' Knight warns of troops being "'trained' to appreciate sodomy"

Wash. Times op-ed: DADT repeal forces “GI Joe” to have “Gay Joe for a bunky”