Letter from a Marine Lieutenant

Marine corps commandant General James Amos testified before the Senate this morning that Congress should not repeal its law regarding gays in the military. It's hard to find a stronger or more succinct defense of the current policy than the following letter from a "Marine lieutenant who was a platoon commander" that was quoted by Amos: 

"My team's effectiveness is directly tied to its cohesiveness. Despite differences, we are so close that we anticipate each other's next move in garrison and in combat. Our ability to do our job is predicated on this kind of relationship. If you were to add any element of sexual competition, inter-unit sexuality, or hesitance in trust, it would unquestionably prevent those bonds from forming or immediately destroy them if introduced."

"My concern are those units that are involved in combat right now," said Amos. "That's the cohesion that concerns me most."