A number of senators have written the Defense Department urging them to release offically an already 'leaked report' which supports repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The senators have crossed all political parties and spectrums including Susan Collins (R-Maine), Joe Lieberman (I-Connecticut) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York). The Pentagon has responded with anger expressing their determination not to be rushed. Even General Colin Powell, who help get us in this mess, says Congress should not be rushed.
Not be rushed? Excuse me, waiting 17 years for repeal of this policy is hardly rushing anything. Not be rushed? Over 14,000 honorable LGBT soldiers have been dismissed for wanting to serve their country as full Americans. What is Powell thinking?
Most importantly, while these senators press the Department of Defense let's not forget one simple fact. President Barack Obama is Commander-In-Chief and can simply order that the study be released now. All he would have to say is, "It is clear there is sentiment across party lines to review this study. Since it is completed, I see absolutely no harm that could come from releasing it two weeks early." How is that for leadership?
After all, it is the least the President could do since he is singularly responsible for our current position. Refusing to issue a stop-loss order, repealing the Phillips case and stubbornly insisting that we continue to follow a losing strategy. Which by the way, our national organizations were complicit in his failure. We all saw this coming almost two years ago and those in the Beltway seem to be the only ones unable to see the political reality.
The President and Commander-In-Chief owes us this much: he should issue an order for the study to be released immediately. Or is once again our President powerless to confront stubborn Generals?
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