Pentagon: It's Safe to Repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell

The Pentagon’s report on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell will conclude that there is little to no risk in repealing the policy during wartime, sources tell the Washington Post. More than 70% of the troops surveyed said lifting the ban would have a positive, mixed, or nonexistent impact, and the full survey led the brass to believe that objections would diminish even further once troops became accustomed to serving alongside gay colleagues.

The exhaustive 370-page report did find some pockets of discontent—about 40% of the Marine Corps is concerned, for example. It recommends that anyone objecting to rooming or showering with gay troops should be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, and with significant scrutiny from commanders. But the report ultimately envisions few disruptions, and doesn’t anticipate a mass “coming out” from gay troops. And even if Congress fails to repeal DADT, the report urges the military to end its ban on sodomy between consenting adults. (More Don't Ask Don't Tell repeal stories.)