Defense Secretary Robert Gates has given his reluctant support for a compromise bill involving the repeal of the military’s Don’t-Ask-Don’t-Tell (DADT) policy on homosexuals in the military. Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell says Gates continues to argue that any vote should wait until the Department of Defense (DOD) investigation on the effects of ending this policy is complete around the first of December.
In an agreement between lawmakers and the White House, the bill presented this past Monday would require the president, defense secretary, and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to agree on implementing the policy, an action that could take years regardless of an early vote passing the new bill. The law will allow the Pentagon and Secretary Gates time to view the developments of the DOD investigation before making changes.
The Pentagon has already exhibited support for ending the DADT policy eventually. In response to relentless pressure from gay rights activists, including Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, President Obama has also given support for ending the policy. Obama had, however, supported Secretary Gates in suspending any vote until the DOD review was finished.
According to Morrell, Secretary Gates’ support for the new bill comes only after Congress told him that it is “not possible” to finish the DOD investigation before a vote takes place.
Still, there is no guarantee that it will pass even now. Generally, Republicans do not support the repeal of DADT, and many Democrats have not portrayed definitive support either. It seems then, that the reason for the compromise bill is to appease gay rights activists and avoid political consequences of acting too swiftly. The new bill is apparently effective enough to convince Defense Secretary Gates to support a law repealing DADT without being completely informed about the consequences of the action.
