State Sen. Gary Nodler, a Joplin Republican, wants to set the record straight: He doesn't worry that the Taliban will become more Talibany if gays and lesbians are allowed to serve openly in the military.
On Tuesday, the Missouri Senate took up the important state business of weighing in on the U.S. armed forces' "Don't ask, don't tell" policy. Republicans want to pass a resolution urging the Congress to keep the policy in place. Jolie Justus of Kansas City put forward a resolution stating the opposite.
During the debate, Nodler, who wants to take Roy Blunt's place in the U.S. House, argued that eliminating "Don't ask, don't tell" might imperil troops in the Middle East.
Tony Messenger, who covers Jeff City for the St. Louis Post-Disptach, described Nodler's comments this way:
The Muslim nations of Iraq and Afghanistan, where America is fighting two wars, are opposed to homosexuality. Changing "Don't ask, don't tell" would offend the terrorists in such a way that could put soldiers -- and America -- at risk of further terrorist attacks.Yesterday Nodler complained his words were taken out of context. He called our sister paper on the other side of the state, the Riverfront Times, to say that he's not worried about the delicate sensibilities of Al Qaeda crazies. Rather, he doesn't want to offend our Muslim allies in the region.
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