OPINION:
In his recent op-ed, retired Rear Adm. Tom Jurkowsky holds that as an outstanding former college football coach, Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama should know better than to hold up senior military promotions and reassignments (“With our national security at stake, Tuberville must lift hold on military promotions,” web, July 6).
However, Adm. Jurkowsky glosses over Mr. Tuberville’s reason for the holdup, writing only that the senator “believes the policy violates federal law.”
But the senator doesn’t just “believe” that the Defense Department policy of providing taxpayer funds for service-member abortions violates the law; he knows it. The Hyde Amendment prohibits the use of such monies for most elective abortions.
The department’s policy of doling out even more money — for three weeks of leave and travel costs for service members getting abortions and the travel costs of their dependents — is even worse.
Almost two-thirds of Americans object to paying for elective abortion. No doubt many more would object to the plush military benefits.
Mr. Tuberville knows well that this is a country of laws and he will not tolerate anyone ignoring them.
The admiral should know after 31 years as a sailor that laws are to be observed.
JOHN NAUGHTON
Silver Spring, Maryland
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