Army chief opposes moratorium on ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’

WASHINGTON — The Army
chief of staff said Tuesday that he opposed a congressional moratorium
suspending the discharge of gay and lesbian soldiers from the Armed
Forces and that he wanted to study the effect of changing the law.

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.

Casey said that imposing an immediate moratorium would be difficult for the Army.

“This process will be complicated enough,” Casey said.

Sen. Carl M. Levin, D-Mich., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is considering pushing Congress to back a moratorium halting any discharges while the Department of Defense studies the effect of repealing the ban on gays serving openly.

McCain, ranking Republican on the committee, said that the moratorium would circumvent the purpose of the study.

“It flies in the face of what the Secretary of
Defense committed to,” McCain said, “that is, before a decision is made
to change a policy, that in my view is working, that we would impose a
moratorium.”

Casey’s position is partially at odds with comments made Monday by Gen. Ray Odierno, the top commander in Iraq.

Odierno also said he supported the Pentagon policy study. But unlike Casey, Odierno voiced personal support for changing the policy.

“My opinion is, everyone should be allowed to serve,
as long as we’re still able to fight our wars and we’re able to have
forces that are capable of doing whatever we’re asked to do,” Odierno
said.

Like Casey, Odierno said his primary concern was for troops serving in the Iraq war.

“We’re in two wars right now. So I want to see it
done properly,” Odierno said. “I’m more concerned with that than I am,
really, the issue of gays or no gays in the military.”

Casey and Army Secretary John M. McHugh said they would obey a moratorium if it were imposed by Congress,but that it would complicate ongoing cases.

Casey did not elaborate on his reservations, but
many in the military are fearful that a quick end to the ban on gays
serving openly could result in possible hate crimes. Some officers
believe they need time to show enlisted ranks that such harassment will
not be tolerated.

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