Time for a change
Re “Military ban on gays may soon change,” April 17
The Times reports that Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates confirmed that Pentagon leadership understood the president’s stated policy to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy concerning gays in the military and would do whatever the president asks of them.
But how and when will it happen? Gates misses the mark when he suggests that this personnel issue -- directly affecting readiness, retention and recruitment -- should be kicked down the road. The discharge of more than 12,500 gay troops, including linguists and others in crucial specialties, should make it clear that, with our country engaged in two conflicts, now is the time to implement this overdue change in the law.
Tom Carpenter
Los Angeles
The writer is a former captain in the Marine Corps and a member of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Military Advisory Council, which provides legal services to military personnel affected by the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
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