Senator questions
"don't ask, don't tell" in letter to Gates

U.S. senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, a Democrat, has sent the new secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, a letter calling for the repeal of the military's policy against gays serving openly. Wyden said that like several military leaders, he questions the wisdom of "don't ask, don't tell."

"In light of the growing call of military leaders to reconsider 'don't ask, don't tell' and the mounting evidence that calls into question the rationale for this policy," Wyden wrote, "I would like you to revisit the issues I raised with your predecessor and in particular, what, if any, negative effect the repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell' might have on the United States military."

Wyden also requested a response from Gates by March 16.

In the letter he cited former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John M. Shalikashvili's op-ed piece in The New York Times, which said, "Our military has been stretched thin by our deployments in the Middle East, and we must welcome the service of any American who is willing and able to do the job."

Wyden also added that the results of a December 2006 Zogby-Michael D. Palm Center poll found that most military personnel are comfortable serving alongside lesbians and gays. (The Advocate)