Gates sidesteps question on Pace apology

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070318/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/military_gays;_ylt=AnI_NJXPGBS__3bRMP5ul7Ss0NUE

Gates sidesteps question on Pace apology 39 minutes ago


WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Robert Gates declined to say Sunday whether the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff should apologize for his remark that homosexual acts were immoral or whether it was a slur on gay members of the armed forces.


Marine Gen. Peter Pace made the remark last Monday in an interview with the Chicago Tribune. The next day, following criticism from several lawmakers and gay-rights groups, Pace said that he regretted having stated a personal opinion but did not apologize.

"I think General Pace has made pretty clear that he wished he had avoided his personal opinion," Gates said on "Face the Nation" on CBS. The secretary said he did not plan to ask Pace to do anything more in regard to the remark.

Asked if Pace's comment was a slur on members of the armed forces, Gates said: "I think I'll leave it at the fact that I don't think this is an issue where personal opinion has any place." As far as Pace apologizing, Gates said, "I think we should just move on from this point."

Gates said Pace was a man of enormous principle and integrity and tremendous skill. "I think the American people are lucky to have him as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff," he said.

In the newspaper interview, Pace said that while he supports the "don't ask, don't tell" policy allowing gays to serve in the military, he believes that "homosexual acts between individuals are immoral and that we should not condone immoral acts."

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1. I watched it--said he had too much on his plate already