DADT STUDY LEAK: Repeal Will Not Undermine Military During Time Of War

[cal04]

http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2010/11/10/dadt-leak-2/

Last month, NBC’s Richard Engel reported that the Pentagon’s Working Group study of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell had found that a majority of American troops would either not object to serving alongside openly gay troops or would raise any concerns directly with their gay peers, suggesting that repeal wouldn’t be nearly as disruptive as some conservative critics have suggested.

Now, two sources who have seen a copy of the survey — which is scheduled for release on December 1 — are telling the Washington Post’s Ed O’Keefe and Greg Jaffe that repeal will not disrupt the military during a time of war:

More than 70 percent of respondents to a survey sent to active-duty and reserve troops over the summer said the effect of repealing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy would be positive, mixed or nonexistent, said two sources familiar with the document. The survey results led the report’s authors to conclude that objections to openly gay colleagues would drop once troops were able to live and serve alongside them.

One source, who has read the report in full, summarized its findings in a series of conversations this week. The source declined to state his position on whether or not to lift the ban, insisting it did not matter. He said he felt compelled to share the information out of concern that groups opposed to ending the ban would mischaracterize the findings. The long, detailed and nuanced report will almost certainly be used by opponents and supporters of repeal legislation to bolster their positions in what is likely to be a heated and partisan congressional debate.

The report, which the service chiefs received last week, also notes that while a majority of service members have signaled “no strong objections, a significant minority is opposed to serving alongside openly gay troops.” “About 40 percent of the Marine Corps is concerned about lifting the ban, according to one of the people familiar with the report.” On Saturday, Gen. James Amos, the new commandant of the Marine Corps, echoed this sentiment, telling reporters that repeal carried “risk.” Amos has also previously stated that the Marines’ sense of “discipline” and “leadership” are “going to carry the day for us should the law get changed.”

According to the Posts’ sources, “he report also concludes that gay troops should not be put into a special class for equal employment or discrimination purposes” and “recommends few, if any, changes to policy covering military housing and benefits, because the military must abide by the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which does not recognize same-sex marriage.”


thanks to Pirate Smile here's the link to the WP
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/10/AR2010111007381.html?hpid=topnews

[Pirate Smile]

1. Here is the WP article.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/10/AR2010111007381.html?wpisrc=nl_polalert

Sources: Pentagon group finds there is minimal risk to lifting gay ban during war

By Ed O'Keefe and Greg Jaffe
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, November 10, 2010; 9:14 PM

Pentagon study group has concluded that the military can lift the ban on gays serving openly in uniform with only minimal and isolated incidents of risk to the current war efforts, according to two people familiar with a draft of the report, which is due to President Obama on Dec. 1.

More than 70 percent of respondents to a survey sent to active-duty and reserve troops over the summer said the effect of repealing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy would be positive, mixed or nonexistent, said two sources familiar with the document. The survey results led the report's authors to conclude that objections to openly gay colleagues would drop once troops were able to live and serve alongside them.
One source, who has read the report in full, summarized its findings in a series of conversations this week. The source declined to state his position on whether or not to lift the ban, insisting it did not matter. He said he felt compelled to share the information out of concern that groups opposed to ending the ban would mischaracterize the findings. The long, detailed and nuanced report will almost certainly be used by opponents and supporters of repeal legislation to bolster their positions in what is likely to be a heated and partisan congressional debate.


-snip-

Among several recommendations, the report urges an end to the military ban on sodomy between consenting adults regardless of what Congress or the federal courts might do about "don't ask, don't tell," the source said.
The report also concludes that gay troops should not be put into a special class for equal employment or discrimination purposes, the individual said. The recommendation is based on feedback the study group obtained from gay troops and same-sex partners who said they do not want a special classification, according to the source. Gay troops were encouraged to participate in the survey and to submit comments to the anonymous online dropbox.

The report recommends few, if any, changes to policy covering military housing and benefits, because the military must abide by the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which does not recognize same-sex marriage. Objections by troops who do not want to room or shower with openly gay troops should be handled on a case-by-case basis by commanders and should be scrutinized, the source said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/10/AR2010111007381.html?wpisrc=nl_polalert

[cal04]

4. thank you for the link Pirate Smile

:hi:

[Pirate Smile]

5. You're welcome. I thought the article made the report sound promising. I hope they release it early

(give it to the President and release it publicly) so we have more time to get it through the lame duck session. I think Collins, Snowe or whoever wont vote to repeal it until the report is out. Get it out and let's go.

:hi:

[LLStarks]

2. Gay or straight, if you can not act professional in the military, you don't belong in it. nt

[SidDithers]

3. K&R...nt

Sid

[jberryhill]

6. The awful horrible study that was supposed to support DADT?

THAT study?

[davidinalameda]

7. maybe someone at the DOJ should read this

so they'll drop their appeal

[Scurrilous]

8. K & R

:thumbsup:

[xchrom]

9. Recommend