Bob CollinsThe long-awaited study of whether openly-gay people should be allowed to serve in the military is out, and there’s plenty in it for both sides of the issue to point to to support their position.
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said opposition is strongest in male-dominated combat units. He also said the upper crust of the military is “less sanguine” about repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” than he is.
That might be enough to kill the effort to repeal it, although Gates insisted “a repeal would require some changes of regulation, training, education, and strong principled leadership up and down the command.”
About 19 percent of military members surveyed said they would think about leaving the military if gays are allowed to serve. The number, however, rises to 38% among the Marines only.
One in five spouses of military members said they would try to move off base if gay people were allowed to live on base.
Just before indicating that 40 to 60 percent of combat units object to homosexuals in their ranks, Gates described repeal as having “low risk.”
Gates urged Americans to “resist the urge to lure our troops into the politics of this issue.”
You can find the full report here.
