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News > 'Don't Ask' report will be released in full Dec. 1 |
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Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell discusses the possible repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy Nov. 18, 2010, during a press briefing. Mr. Morrell said Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates would prefer to delay any legislative action until after the Dec. 1, 2010, release of the Defense Department's internal review of the proposal. (Department of Defense photo/R. D. Ward)
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'Don't Ask' report will be released in full Dec. 1
Posted 11/18/2010
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by Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
11/18/2010 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The report of the working group looking at the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law will be released in full Dec. 1, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said here today.
President Barack Obama has asked Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to submit legislation to repeal the law as part of the Defense Authorization Bill.
Senator Reid said the Senate will look at this proposal after Thanksgiving.
"(President Obama) has made a call, as I understand it, to Senator (Carl) Levin this week and Senator Reid, I believe, as well, making it clear that he wants to see the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' attached to ... the National Defense Authorization Act," Mr. Morrell told reporters at the Pentagon.
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates supports repeal of the law that excludes openly gay servicemembers from serving in the military.
"He was very clear then as well that there is a preferred order in doing things," Mr. Morrell said.
Secretary Gates first wants a study done on the possible ramifications a repeal of the law would have on the force. The study group, led by Defense Department General Counsel Jeh Johnson and Army Gen. Carter F. Ham, is nearly finished with its work.
DOD officials are working from drafts of the report to assess what would have to be done in the event of a repeal of the law.
The plan is for the report to be delivered Dec. 1, "at which time it will be provided to the Congress," Mr. Morrell said. "It will be provided to you, so everyone can see the nine-month effort that's been underway to try to figure out the implications of a repeal and what needs to be done internally to prepare for that change. We're almost there."
DOD officials are getting feedback from the service secretaries and service chiefs on the report.
That information also will be presented to Secretary Gates as he charts a course forward for the department, Mr. Morrell said.
The work on the report is being performed on parallel tracks rather than concurrently, Mr. Morrell said. The original plan was to present the report to the secretary and then distribute it to the services for comment.
"So we are right now finishing the report, working with the chiefs, working with the service secretaries, getting their input, finalizing this report, and at the same time ... formulating the way ahead for this department to proceed, come December the 1st," Mr. Morrell said. "All that hard work is being done simultaneously." |
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Defender, Whiteman AFB MO |
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Aaron Steigerwalt, Altus AFB OK |
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JD, Active Duty |
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Stan, OH |
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Tom, WPAFB OH |
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SSgt Driskell, Lackland AFB |
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Marie, Germany |
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SSgt, Misawa Japan |
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Dave in Korea, South Korea |
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