Lieberman Will Introduce DADT Repeal
Roll Call reports:
“„Sen. Joe Lieberman (ID-Conn.) announced Monday that he plans to introduce legislation to repeal of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
“„“I will be proud to be a sponsor of the important effort to enable patriotic gay Americans to defend our national security and our founding values of freedom and opportunity,” Lieberman said in a statement, noting that he has opposed the policy since it was implemented in 1993 under President Bill Clinton.
“„“To exclude one group of Americans from serving in the armed forces is contrary to our fundamental principles as outlined in the Declaration of Independence and weakens our defenses by denying our military the service of a large group of Americans who can help our cause,” Lieberman said.
Good for the Connecticut senator who often appears to govern principally in the interests of getting liberals’ goats. He’s going against his friend Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on this and backing Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As it happens, Gen. David Petraeus, the commander of U.S. troops in the Middle East and South Asia, declined to give his personal view on repeal to David Gregory, but backed the process designed to remove “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in a minimally disruptive way — and hinted that he’s pretty much in favor of it:
“„GREGORY: Do you think soldiers on the ground in the field care one way or the other if their comrade in arms are gay or lesbian?
“„PETRAEUS: I’m not sure that they do. … You heard Gen. Powell who was the chairman when the policy was implemented, had a big hand in that, who said that yes, indeed, the earth has revolved around the sun a number of times since that period 15 months ago. You have heard a variety of anecdotal input. We have experienced certainly in the CIA and the FBI — I know, I served, in fact, in combat with individuals who were gay and who were lesbian in combat situations. Frankly, you know, over time you said, hey, how’s this guy shooting or how is her analysis or what have you?
