Federal Eye: Gates’ ‘don’t ask’ letter angers gay rights groups

Gay rights groups and supportive Democratic lawmakers spent the weekend striking back at Defense Secretary Robert Gates
and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen
and their request
that Congress not vote to repeal the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell”
policy until after the Pentagon finishes a review of a potential
repeal.

Activists want Congress to freeze the dismissals of gay service members in this year’s Defense Authorization Bill, claiming they have
the votes in the House and are only a few votes shy on the Senate Armed
Services Committee.

But in a letter sent Friday to House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike
Skelton (D-Mo.), the Pentagon leaders said imposing a
moratorium on the military’s gay ban before the end of a review “would
send a very damaging message to our men and women in uniform that in
essence, their views, concerns and perspectives do not matter on an
issue with such a direct impact and consequence for them and their
families.”

Activists and supporters said the letter puts their efforts in jeopardy.

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