Obama To Ask For Assessment On Military Discipline Regarding Repeal of DADT

The Obama administration is telling the Pentagon and gay activists that he intends to move slowly on repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", and is asking top military brass for an assessment on how the repeal may affect discipline in the ranks.

At the Pentagon, officials say they have been told not to expect the administration to seek to lift the ban quickly. One senior officer, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the press, said staff officers for Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have been told it will be several months at the earliest - possibly not even this year - until the top brass will be formally asked to weigh in on a change in policy. And even then, he said, the military has been assured it will have wide latitude to undertake a detailed study of how a change in the policy would affect the military.

Sen. Ted Kennedy has drafted a bill to overturn DADT, but will not submit it until he can find a Republican co-sponsor. In the House, Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) is creating a similar bill. Even with some Democrats opposing, Tauscher's bill would likely pass easily. Kennedy's bill will face a tougher battle. Regardless of the timetable in Congress, Obama clearly fears the debacle endured by Bill Clinton, whose move to allow gays to serve openly not only resulted in the creation of DADT, but damaged Clinton's relationship with the Pentagon. Some gay activists object to any foot dragging on DADT's repeal, saying that moving slowly will only allow opposition to fester and organize.