Joint Chiefs nominee signals willingness to revisit "don't ask, don't tell"

The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is reporting that Adm. Michael Mullen, President Bush’s nominee to succeed Gen. Peter Pace as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was questioned about the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on lesbian, gay, and bisexual personnel during a Senate hearing Tuesday.

Mullen said that while he would continue to implement the policy and dismiss gay soldiers, he added, “I really think it is for the American people to come forward, really through this body, to both debate that policy and make changes, if that's appropriate.” Mullen indicated that he would like Congress "to make its own decisions" with respect to considering a repeal of the ban. Pace, the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs, ignited controversy in March when he referred to gay sex as "immoral."

Just prior to his nomination as chairman, SLDN says Mullen told Tthe Brookings Institution in Washington, “If it’s time to revisit that policy...the American people ought to raise that issue and we’ll have the debate. As a member of the Joint Chiefs and obviously the head of one of the services, I will contribute to that and give my best military advice."

“Admiral Mullen’s remarks are a welcome change of pace among military leadership, where there has long been an adversity to encouraging debate on opening the services to lesbian and gay patriots,” said Sharra E. Greer, director of law and policy for SLDN. “As Senator [Susan] Collins rightly pointed out, there is growing concern among the national security establishment that the loss of talented gay troops is having a detrimental impact on our armed forces. Admiral Mullen should be applauded for his willingness to take part in a national conversation about that issue, and for his open-minded approach to working with Congress as they consider the future of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell.’”

During her questioning, Collins noted that she had recently met with a retired admiral in Maine who "urged" her to press Mullen to reexamine the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy.” According to SLDN, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (H.R. 1246), a bill to lift the ban on open service, is now supported by 126 members of the House of Representatives. The supporters are drawn from both parties. A recent poll of military personnel found that 73% of those surveyed were comfortable around gays, and CNN found last month that 79% of the American public support repeal. (The Advocate)