Army Chief Voices ‘Serious Concerns’ About ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Change

Although other military leaders have expressed their support for a moratorium on the infamous “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy regarding American gay and lesbian troops, Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the U.S. Army chief of staff, on Tuesday expressed reservations to senators, including a receptive Sen. John McCain, about changing the law in wartime.  —KA

Los Angeles Times:

Gen. George W. Casey Jr., appearing before a Senate committee, said he supported studying revisions to the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that bars gays from serving openly in the military. But he said he had some reservations about how changing the policy could affect deployed troops.

“I do have serious concerns about the impact of repeal of the law on a force that is fully engaged in two wars and has been at war for eight and half years,” Casey said. “We just don’t know the impacts on readiness and military effectiveness.”

“Exactly,” Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) murmured in response.

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U.S. Army / D. Myles Cullen