Powell Calls For Review, Not Reversal, Of Don't Ask Don't Tell

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Sunday that the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy he helped craft should be revisited, but he would not go so far as to call for a full repeal of the compromise.

"The policy and the law that came about in 1993 I think was correct for the time," Powell said in an appearance on CNN's "State of the Union." "Sixteen years have now gone by, and I think a lot has changed with respect to attitudes within our country. And therefore, I think this is a policy and a law that should be reviewed."

"I was withholding judgment because the commanders of the armed forces of the United States and the Joint Chiefs of Staff need to study it and make recommendations to the president, and have hearings before the Congress before a decision is made," he added. "It is not just a matter of old generals who, you know, are just too high-bound. There are lots of complicated issues with respect to this, and I think all of those issues should be illuminated. And I hope that the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the commanders working with the secretary of defense will give this the greatest consideration and make their recommendation to the president and to the Congress."

Powell, as much as any congressional figure, played the foil in President Bill Clinton's efforts to follow through on a campaign promise that all citizens, regardless of sexual orientation, should be able to serve openly in the military. In recent months, he and other key players from the first battle (notably, former Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn) have argued that political realities have evolved to the extent that the armed forces should take a closer look at the policy's purpose and effectiveness. In December 2008, Powell told CNN that it was time to "definitely re-evaluate" "Don't Ask Don't Tell."

By not calling for full repeal, the former Secretary of State and prominent Obama endorser doesn't really do the Obama administration many favors. During the campaign, the president called for overturning "Don't Ask Don't Tell." But he has been slow to act since taking office, even as 250 military servicemen have been dismissed for disclosing their sexuality. Having a prominent figure like Powell provide the cover for a sweeping policy reversal would be a gift to Obama and a boon to gay-rights groups, which have grown increasingly frustrated with the president for dragging his feet on this issue.

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Comments

[TJCole]

226 Soldiers drummed out of our Services since Obama became, Commander in Chief...

But we are allowing gang members to come in and get trained on heavy weaponry even those with criminal records or who fail drug testing the first few times...so that's progress..­..isn't it..?

[PlaceboStudman]

More proof that gays are more scary to some (evangelical christians) than guns/gangs

[monicaangela]

Gangs provide a service for the rich, somebody has to buy the extra weapons they make, and somebody had to keep the minority numbers down.

[monicaangela]

Isn't it wonderful to wake up and finally realize you don't live in Disneyland after all.

[dwright]

Just look at what Powell's son did to our media!

He pushed FOR monopolies and has helped create the MSM situation that we are in now:

"Michael Powell, a member of the FCC since November 1998 and the chairman since early 2001, said in his statement that he is proud of changes in FCC rules and regulations made during his tenure.

Powell has been a high-profile chairman of what had generally been a quiet regulatory agency. He has pushed for increased fines for obscenity and indecent content by the nation's broadcasters and backed a change in media ownership rules that allowed for greater consolidation by the industry's largest conglomera­tes."

http://money.cnn.com/2005/01/21/news/newsmakers/powell_resigning/

[monicaangela]

Exactly, it is time for America to wake up and realize we have a country run by Monarchies. The nepotism runs rampant, you would think that only those who are in government are able to govern. Just look at how the same people get into office after the Presidential elections, nobody new gets in, it's the same people that have been ruining the government all along, and we laugh at the so called Banana Republics, we are worse than they are, at least they know what's happening to them, we kid ourselves into believing we are something better, all we're missing is the Banana plantations.

[PlaceboStudman]

Replace tobacco for the bananas and you've got the republic right here in the US

[naschkatze]

Review but not necessarily repeal? This sounds like Gates and his more "humane" approach. In other words, nothing.

[hortonhearsdawho]

just not WHEN he was in a position to address the issue...su­re.

[Daly]

Exactly!
sorta like Chaney now interested in Gay Marriage just not WHEN he was in a position to address the issue

[hortonhearsdawho]

yuppers...

[PlaceboStudman]

The federal government is forbidden from establishing or endorsing religion as per the Separation of Church and State, but as we all know, the military has a completely different set of rules (the UCMJ) that allows the military to set up their own rules and laws, including the endorsement of christianity, especially evangelical christianity in the military.

Let's face it, that is the ONLY reason this atrocious abhorrent law is still in place. The military commanders are afraid that if they were to insist on the disbanding of the religious establishment in the military it would cause more problems than forbidding perfectly good soldiers to live an honest open life of personal integrity

which, ironicallly is what religion is supposed to condone

Is anyone else having a mind fry over that one?

[We-Are-The-Ones]

Powell, as no longer a member of the cabinet or military, is apparently unaware that such a review is already occurring and has been for months. The Pentagon, the DOD and the Joint Chiefs ARE reviewing DADT and the Secretary of Defense and Chair of the Joint Chiefs have each discussed this multiple times.

[PlaceboStudman]

Oh Im sure Powell is aware that the review is under way. He's just afraid of abandoning his Republican comrades and calling for a complete repeal, even though I suspect he may really feel the law needs to be overturned. With calling for a review of the policy, he can say "well, it might not be a good idea anymore, but it's not up to me to make the call", and save face with the Cheney's of the world

[We-Are-The-Ones]

If you read the transcript or saw the program, Powell expressed no knowledge that the review he is calling for is already occuring. He is apparently out of the loop.

I also doubt if Powell is trying to safe face with Cheney or anyone else. Nor do you know whether he wants DADT repealed. He did not say that; anything else is just speculation. For all you know, he wants DADT to remain law as he is responsible for it being law.

[k6007]

[-In facing the challenges of integration, it is not enough to simply allow gay men and women to serve without the fear of dismissal. If the U.S. decides to lift the ban on gays in the military, it must extend its provision of welfare services to the families (partners) of gay personnel, develop a supportive g.ay-l.esbian-b.isexual-t.ransgender community and put in place education and support initiatives that will ensure they are welcomed and valued as members of the military.-­]


http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/03/in-the-barracks-out-of-the-closet/

[PlaceboStudman]

Forget the military, that kind of program needs to be implemented in every state, city, village, county and corporation in the USA so that ALL LGBTS can live an honest open life with integrity and sincerity

[wendy82551]

This is just plain ridiculous. It's not like there isn't any evidence that gay and lesbian soldiers can serve their country with dignity and courage and with a minimum of hoopla--it's already been happening for decades. Thousands upon thousands of gay and lesbian soldiers continue to serve their country in the best tradition of service. The only difference between them and their heterosexual comrades is that they have to keep quiet about themselves or risk being thrown out. That is unAmerican, plain and simple. On a practical level, can we really afford to lose so many talented Arabic linguists, now?