Officials: Gates unlikely to certify DADT repeal before leaving office

[Newsjock]

Source: Stars and Stripes

Defense Secretary Robert Gates is unlikely to certify repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” before leaving office next week, senior defense and military officials said.

Two weeks ago, Gates said that he would finalize the repeal of the 18-year-old ban on openly gay troops if the service chiefs give him their OK before he retires on June 30. And in a message to commanders earlier this month, Army leaders said assessments on the progress and impact of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” repeal training — underway since February — are due this Friday, leaving open a slim possibility that certification could come before Gates steps down.

Gay rights groups have for weeks been pushing for Gates to wrap up the process, concerned that his replacement, CIA director Leon Panetta, might wait several more months before moving forward. Now, with Gates’ retirement just days away, that’s becoming less realistic.

Army spokesman Col. Thomas Collins could not say if the Friday deadline for the Army assessments means its recommendation will be completed in the next few days. He did say that repeal training is on pace with the Army’s original timeframe estimates.

Read more: http://www.stripes.com/news/officials-gates-unlikely-to-certify-dadt-repeal-before-leaving-office-1.147159

[DURHAM D]

1. oh shit...

[Scottybeamer70]

2. How convenient

[hay rick]

3. Surprise, surprise. nt

[bemildred]

4. No guts, no glory. nt

[SoapBox]

5. What a spineless jellyfish.

Man up dude...get some balls and a spine...and get rid of it.

American men and women CITIZENS are tired of being discriminated against and harassed.

Again...get a spine!

[Bluenorthwest]

6. Gates is a Republican.

Picked to do his job, and he's doing it.

[24601]

7. You were misled - he's an independent n/t

[No Elephants]

16. LOL!

[24601]

19. ABC News: "Gates, while a registered independent...." Those

darn facts just keep getting in the way of wishful opinions.

I trust you will provide some proof he's registered differently? Otherwise, apology accepted.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/11/gates-cabinet-a.html

[Occulus]

21. None of that makes him any less a Republican.

Republican is a behavior, as well as a party affiliation. You can be registered as an independent, and still be a Republican.

Just as you can be registered on a liberal discussion forum, and still be a troll.

I hope you take my point.

[EFerrari]

9. Gates is a Bush fixer from way back. n/t

[brooklynite]

8. I'm willing to bet Panetta is...

[laconicsax]

10. I wonder how his boss feels about this. n/t

[awoke_in_2003]

12. I'd hazard a guess...

but would get jumped on right afterwards. Judge people by actions, not words.

[Nossida]

11. Jesus

To even think Americans are forced to
fight for basic Rights, in 2011, only
proves what a Farce it really is.

These people can go Fight at the Front,
and put their lives on the line for what?
So some Religious Fruitcakes can deny
them the Respect they deserve. You did
the very same to Blacks in World war 2.

Send the fat lazy christians to fight your damned Wars.

[SoapBox]

13. Yup.

...agree to the max.

[truth2power]

14. So...the repeal that isn't really a repeal. 6 months on. Uh huh.

:shrug:

[alarimer]

15. I bet it won't ever actually be repealed.

Because Obama doesn't actually have to guts to order them to do it. Fuck the military and their homophobic bullshit.

[No Elephants]

17. Troops follow orders.

"if the service chiefs give him their OK"

Yeah, I bet Gates was really expecting that OK. Fricking deceiving weasel, just like everyone else on the Potomac.

[24601]

18. Gates doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who tolerates "yes

men" and instead wants honest views from his subordinates.

[Occulus]

20. It's not like he could give a direct order or anything.

Neither could Obama, for that matter.

Military commanders don't give orders, after all; they only give pollable suggestions and ballots.

[24601]

22. You have never served in uniform, have you? "I order you to have

this opinion" is a non-starter.

But in this case, DADT repeal doesn't require service chiefs to certify anything. The law was crafted so that only the SECDEF and Chairman have to weigh in. It was Gates' personal decision to ask service chiefs for their honest assessments. Given there was no obligation to even ask their opinion, what is the point of ordering them to give an opinion slanted one way or another?

You can have your misguided opinions, but you aren't entitled to change the facts.

The true troll is one who chases away independent votes without which elections are lost.