Pentagon To Weigh Benefits Of Lifting 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

By Monique Cala- University of New Mexico/ Talk Radio News Service

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced Tuesday during a hearing with the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Pentagon is preparing to repeal 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ by launching a 45 day study on the effects of lifting the controversial measure that has banned gays from serving openly in the military.

“We have received our orders from the Commander in Chief and we are moving out accordingly,” said Gates. “However, we can only take this process so far, as the ultimate decision rests with you, the Congress.”

Admiral Michael Mullen announced his support for the president's call to repeal the measure.

“It is my personal belief that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do. We have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are, in order to defend their fellow citizens. For me personally, it comes down to integrity. Theirs as individuals and ours as an institution.”

Mullen said he will give the president “the best military advice” on how to implement the repeal.

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) presented the committee with a list of over a thousand signatures of former military officers opposing the lift of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.'

“This would be a substantial and controversial change to a policy that has been successful for two decades,” said McCain. “It would also present yet, another challenge to our military at a time of already tremendous stress and strain.”

Both Mullen and Gates agreed that the 45 day study will help repeal 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell' without negatively affecting those who are already deployed.

“We believe that any implementation plan for a policy permitting gays and lesbians to serve openly in the armed forces must be carefully derived, sufficiently thorough, and thoughtfully executed,” said Mullen.

House Armed Services Committee hearing to review the budget request of the Department of Defense for Fiscal Year 2009

At the House Armed Services Committee, Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO) said that he strongly supports the decision to have a real increase in defense spending. He said that many in the committee had a deep concern about the risk facing the nation in two key areas. First, he said, is the concern about the "current readiness posture." Second, was the rapid deterioration of security and stability in Afghanistan.

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates said that challenges made more dangerous by modern technology included terrorism, extremism, violent jihadism, sectarian conflict, and proliferation of dangerous weapons and materials. He then said that the investment in defense spending was a 7.5 percent increase over last year's enacted level. He said that increasing the size of the Army and Marine Corps would relieve stress on the force and enable the nation to meet its commitments at home and abroad.

Admiral Michael G. Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that we must provide our service members with leadership, resource, and support. He said he has set three strategic priorities for the military, which are to increase stability in the Middle East, reconstitute and revitalize the Armed Forces, and to re- balance our strategic risk.

Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA), Ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, said that he was disappointed that the Administration did not request funding to cover the full costs of the war in Fiscal Year 2009.