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Ending Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell May Not Be A Big Deal To Most Military Personnel

02/21/10-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
It may end up being that few in the military actively serving their country actually care about whether or not the ban on gays and lesbians is lifted. Admiral Mike Mullen stated that he has actually had to raise the question when discussing it with the troops in town hall style meetings in order to get any kind of sounding from them. Indeed, in one twenty-five minute question and answer session, Admiral Mullen had to raise it himself since none of the soldiers asked him about it. Questions that were brought up by the troops included things like women serving in infantry units, the state of personnel being assigned to Amman (the meeting was at Marine House in Amman Jordan), and relations between the State Department and the military. Indeed, the soundings from the troops indicated that they had already accepted that the policy would be lifted and that they serve with many gays and lesbians already.

Some of the comments made by the soldiers who were there, about two dozen of them, actually indicated that they might favor a swifter approach to repeal than the year long review. According to McClatchy, the feeling was that the nation was too engulfed in two wars to have a prolonged debate on this issue.

Beginning this spring, the Senate will begin hearing from the various generals and commanders, among them, General David Patraeus. General Pataeus, on Meet The Press (follows) indicated that he not only supports the review that the military is doing right now, but also backs the assessment of Admiral Mullen from these town hall meetings. Patraeus stated that he has worked with gays and lesbians in the past, and that most of the military right now does not seem to really care about the issue. However, he has little more than personal anecdotes to go on.

Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Darryl E. Robinson stated “The U.S. military was always at the forefront of social change,” he said. “We didn’t wait for laws to change.”

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