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Top brass: Repeal don’t ask, don’t tell’ ANNAPOLIS, Maryland -- More than 100 retired generals and admirals recommended Monday that the military repeal its “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on homosexuals so that they can serve openly, according to a statement obtained by The Associated Press. The move by the high-ranking veterans confronts the coming administration of President-elect Barack Obama with a difficult political and cultural problem that dogged former President Bill Clinton early in his Democratic administration. “As is the case with Great Britain, Israel, and other nations that allow gays and lesbians to serve openly, our service members are professionals who are able to work together effectively despite differences in race, gender, religion and sexuality,” the officers wrote. While Obama has expressed support for repeal, he said during the presidential campaign that he would not do so on his own — an indication that he would tread carefully to prevent the issue from becoming a drag on his agenda. Obama said he would work instead with military leaders to build consensus on removing the ban on openly gay service members. “Although I have consistently said I would repeal `don’t ask, don’t tell,’ I believe that the way to do it is make sure that we are working through a process, getting the Joint Chiefs of Staff clear in terms of what our priorities are going to be,” Obama said in a September interview with the Philadelphia Gay News. Tommy Vietor, a spokesman for Obama’s transition team, would not comment Monday. |
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