*Delay means do nothing and leave the failed DADT policy in place.* ** *Unacceptable. *
On 9/21/10, Keith In Tampa <[email protected]> wrote: > > Pentagon Wants Delay on DADT Repeal UPDATED Gate, Mullen ''strongly > oppose'' legislative action before Pentagon completes DADT study; White > House ''committed to getting this done'' > http://www.metroweekly.com/news/?ak=5157 > > Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the > Joint Chiefs of Staff, sent a letter to the chairman of the House Armed > Services Committee on Friday, telling him ''in the strongest possible > terms'' that the Defense Department ''must . . . be allowed the opportunity > to conduct a thorough, objective, and systematic assessment of the impact of > such a policy change'' and that they therefore ''strongly oppose any > legislation that seeks to change this policy prior to the completion of this > vital assessment process.'' > > The letter came in response to a request from the committee chairman. Rep. > Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), that was sent on April 28 asking Gates for his ''views > and position on the advisability of legislative proposals that may impact > the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy.'' > > Writing that the Department must ''develop an attentive comprehensive > implementation plan'' prior to any legislative action, Gates and Mullen also > told Skelton that they would ''provide the President and Congress with the > results of this effort in order to ensure that this step is taken in the > most informed and effective manner.'' > > White House spokesperson Shin Inouye said in a statement that the > administration remained committed to repealing the DADT policy: ''The > President's commitment to repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell is unequivocal. > This is not a question of if, but how. That's why we've said that the > implementation of any congressional repeal will be delayed until the DOD > study of how best to implement that repeal is completed. The President is > committed to getting this done both soon and right.'' > > The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) responded quickly to the letter from Gates > and Mullen, with President Joe Solmonese saying in a statement, ''Today's > letter from Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen to House Armed Services > Committee Chairman Ike Skelton flies in the face of the President's > commitment in the State of the Union address to work with Congress to repeal > the discriminatory 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' law this year. > > ''If the President is going to fulfill his promise it is essential that he > address this contradiction immediately,'' Solmonese continued. ''It is > inconceivable that the Secretary of Defense would so blatantly undermine the > Commander-in-Chief's policy commitment.'' > > The letter from Skelton to Gates noted that he ''expect[s] this issue [of > DADT legislative proposals] will be raised at a number of junctures > throughout the [National Defense Authorization Act] process.'' > > Gates and Mullen, in their response, wrote, ''A critical element of this > effort is the need to systematically engage our forces, their families, and > the broader military community throughout this process. Our military must be > afforded the opportunity to inform us of their concerns, insights, and > suggestions if we are to carry out this change successfully.'' > > Solmonese noted that this concern could be accommodated in a legislative > repeal, saying, ''There is no reason that Congress cannot move forward with > repeal while the Pentagon's review of how – not if – to end the ban on open > service continues apace. As part of the legislative repeal, Congress can > provide additional time to the Pentagon for a careful and thoughtful > implementation of this change to the law.'' > > The comments are the most aggressive effort from the Gates and Mullen thus > far to put off the legislative action being sought by LGBT advocates. On > March 25, Gates told reporters <https://mail.google.com/news/?ak=5024>, > '''I do not recommend a change in the law before we have completed the > study. . . . Doing it hastily is very risky.'' At the time, Mullen said that > he echoed the secretary's statement. > > The White House did not respond to a request for comment. Skelton's office > said that he would have no comment today because Skelton was unavailable > back in Missouri. > > -- > Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. > For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum > > * Visit our other community at > http://www.PoliticalForum.com/<http://www.politicalforum.com/> > * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. > * Read the latest breaking news, and more. > -- Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time. Have a great day, Tommy -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more.
