# John J Sheehan, General USMC (Ret) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 19, 2010, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982 "2010-03-19T04:32:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/1 "2010-03-19T04:32:08Z")
How have we missed this? [WikiLink](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V7Or0kbqY0&feature=player_embedded#at=12) It seems said general officer has opined in front of the Senate that Sebrenica fell to genocidal Serbian hordes because the Dutch troops in the area included Gay soldiers. Eight thousand people were slaughtered, a solid base for [Sheehan’s](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_J._Sheehan) bigotry. And by the way, look at the man’s picture in the second link. Have you ever seen a goofier looking Marine officer? I’m just sayin’. ===eta=== From the Voice of America: Asked for comment, Dutch military officials expressed astonishment. The spokesman for the Netherlands Ministry of Defense, Roger van de Wetering, told VOA Sheehan’s assertions are “total nonsense” and that he “cannot believe that a man of that rank is stating such a thing.” He added that he had never heard Sheehan’s allegation before from any source in the Netherlands or anywhere else. Many historians have argued that Dutch peacekeeping forces in the Balkans were under-equipped and hampered by operational limitations imposed by the United Nations. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/2 "2010-03-19T04:37:24Z")
Two bits says the last stiffie that nasty old jarhead had was watching _300_. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/3 "2010-03-19T04:39:34Z")
I saw a brief clip of his testimony tonight. I’m not sure of the full conyrcy, but he claimed that the “liberalization” of the Dutch miilitary was at fault, which preumably includes allowing gay soldiers. He also used the term “social engineering” in a negative sense. Which is kind of interesting, as the marines heavily into that. Of course their version of social engineering can tern just about any young person into a ruthless killing machine. But I guess he meant some other version. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/4 "2010-03-19T04:44:47Z")
I just saw the first bit of the nasty little man’s testimony. The internet here is quite slow this morning. He indicates that unionization and the ceasing of arresting Gay soldiers in the Dutch military was a result of the fall of the Soviet Union. He is factually wrong. These events preceded the fall of the Soviets. He is an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/5 "2010-03-19T04:52:09Z")
[Here is a 7-minute clip](http://politifi.com/news/Gen-John-Sheehan-The-Bosnian-Genocide-Happened-Because-Of-Gay-Soldiers-298700.html) which includes what I heard earlier tonight. In it he doesn’t explicitly say that gay soldiers allowed a genocide. Perhaps he was more direct in some other portion of his testimony, but I haven’t found a complete transcript. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/6 "2010-03-19T05:15:48Z")
Ok, here we go, the [Senate has posted all today’s testimony as a webcast.](http://armed-services.senate.gov/Webcasts/2010/03%20March/03-18-10%20Webcast.htm) Sheehan’s prepared testimony begins runs from about 43 minutes to 50 minutes. There are two other witnesses that follow with prepared statements, all of which are completed by about 64 minutes. Then there is a question and answer session that involves all three witnesses. That runs on for another two hours. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/7 "2010-03-19T05:48:38Z")
Obviouly I haven’t had time to listen to all if this, but the Generral’s position is just bullshit disguised as balanced and fair – like a Fox commentator. His position is that there should be no change if there is any doubt at all about whether the change will be beneficial. And of course that is a standard that simply cannot be met. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/8 "2010-03-19T15:22:15Z")
Curiously, his Wikipedia page includes this statement: > [@](#): > > During the same testimony, Sheehan claimed that sexual attraction between servicemembers of the same sex would have a negative impact on readiness, while attraction between men and women in gender-integrated units would not. …followed by three footnotes, but none of them actually support the claim that he said anything about attraction between men and women. Still, he’s a fucking idiot. Glad he retired - out with the old, in with the sensible. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/9 "2010-03-19T15:31:54Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > And by the way, look at the man’s picture in the second link. Have you ever seen a goofier looking Marine officer? I’m just sayin’. Probably just me, but for some reason when I looked at the picture I found myself thinking “Bud Bundy”. Just me? Thought so. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/10 "2010-03-19T15:32:54Z")
This general is a fucking idiot. Shouldn’t he be concerned about the commies stealing our body fluids or something? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/11 "2010-03-19T15:33:03Z")
Is the reaction in the Netherlands anything other than incredulity? ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/12 "2010-03-19T15:35:23Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > I just saw the first bit of the nasty little man’s testimony. The internet here is quite slow this morning. He indicates that unionization and the ceasing of arresting Gay soldiers in the Dutch military was a result of the fall of the Soviet Union. He is factually wrong. These events preceded the fall of the Soviets. He is an idiot. OMG, gay Dutch soldiers _caused_ the fall of the Soviet Union! :eek: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/13 "2010-03-19T15:43:04Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > OMG, gay Dutch soldiers _caused_ the fall of the Soviet Union! :eek: > > 😃 I can’t shoot him! He’s just too cute! 😃 Harumph. I’ve met some drag queens who could stomp this “little tough guy” general into oblivion. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/14 "2010-03-19T16:07:51Z")
“Well sure I could, but it would take me a long, long time. And he would die happy.” ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/15 "2010-03-19T16:08:47Z")
What a friggin’ ass. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/16 "2010-03-19T16:16:39Z")
Not on his watch, soldier. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/17 "2010-03-19T16:21:36Z")
SOLDIER, HIKE UP THOSE DAISY DUKES! Just because we’re at war doesn’t mean we can’t look fabulous! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/18 "2010-03-19T16:23:50Z")
[Obligatory Eddie Izzard link.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPML-n1kRnY) ---
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/19 "2010-03-19T16:48:07Z")
What kind of Marine is he? No [common courtesy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA_nV1NAfTs). (NSFW language) [Full clip.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUc62jD-G0o) This jarhead needs to get his head unfucked up before someone does it for him. Preferably a retired gunny sergeant with a Marine Corps tattoo on one arm and a rainbow flag tattoo on the other. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982/20 "2010-03-19T17:34:17Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > OMG, gay Dutch soldiers _caused_ the fall of the Soviet Union! :eek: > > 😃 Ronald Reagan was a gay Dutch soldier? Well, his nickname was “Dutch”, wasn’t it? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-j-sheehan-general-usmc-ret/532982.md?page=2)