by Rex Wockner
International News Briefs
The Dutch foundation Pink Army said March 22 it will sue retired U.S. general and former NATO commander John Sheehan in federal court in California for slander and defamation.
Appearing before a congressional committee looking at the U.S. military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy March 18, Sheehan said the Dutch military failed to stop the 1995 genocide in Bosnia because, among other things, the presence of openly gay Dutch soldiers weakened the force.
Pink Army said it plans a class-action suit and wants Sheehan to retract the statement, apologize at a press conference and in international newspapers, and attend sensitivity training.
"Sheehan's comment dishonors and cheapens the sacrifice that brave gay men and women have made in military service to the Netherlands," said Pink Army founder Peter Schouten. "They are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice every day and this should not be smeared with such a lie."
U.S. legal observers say there is little chance of success for such a lawsuit.
