Don't Ask Don't Tell Discharges Rise Sharply in 2005

Today's New York Times reports that discharges under the military's bigoted Don't Ask Don't Tell policy rose in 2005, according to records obtained by the Servicemember's Legal Defnse Fund.

The Defense Department discharged 726 service members last year for being gay ... The overall number of men and women dismissed because they were found to be gay or because they disclosed their sexuality fell in the three years from 2002 to 2004. From Sept. 11, 2001, through last year, the discharge rate dropped 40 percent.

The total of such discharges in 2004 was 653. That compares with 770 in 2003, 885 in 2002 and 1,227 in 2001.

I wonder if this is evidence of a new purge or if straight soldiers have finally figured out that being called "fag" a couple of times while their paperwork is being processed is a small price to pay to avoid getting mained or killed by an IED in Iraq.

And, given the military's crack investigatory powers, seems like it would be pretty easy for a straight soldier to pass.

"Are you a fairy, soldier?"

"No, but I love your shoes."

I wonder what happens after. What if the military finds out someone lied to secure an honorable discharge via DADT? Can it be revoked? Can s/he be charged with fraud?