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Mullen: Talks on gay policy to move slowly

Any discussions on repealing the military’s ban on open service by homosexuals must proceed in a “measured and deliberate way” that does not increase stress on a force stretched by two ongoing wars, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs said Wednesday.

“I think it’s important, as we look to this change, that it be done in a way that doesn’t disrupt the force at a time where it’s under a lot of stress,” Adm. Mike Mullen told Military Times reporters and editors. “And that, to me, means in a measured, deliberate way, over some time — to be determined. And I don’t know what that would be.”

Mullen said he has discussed the contentious issue with President Barack Obama, who wants to change the law as well as the policy known as “don’t ask, don’t tell,” and with the chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. He also said he has done internal work on the issue with his personal staff, but has not created a dedicated study or work group.

Mullen declined to characterize his talks with the president and the Joint Chiefs, saying they are private discussions. Nor would he reveal whether he has been given a sense of how quickly Obama would like to see a change come about.

Mullen’s comments fall in line with those of Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who said of the policy during a March interview on “Fox News Sunday” that “the president and I feel like we’ve got a lot on our plates right now, and let’s push that one down the road a little bit.”

Gates said at the time that he’d discussed the issue with Obama “briefly.”

So while top Pentagon leadership now clearly is in receipt of Obama’s desire for change — until last week, Pentagon spokespersons had said there were no developments along those lines — it seems equally clear that the Defense Department is not going to push hard for a change any time soon.

Under the compromise 1993 policy, commanders cannot ask service members about their sexuality, but those who publicly state that they are homosexual and affirm that they have engaged in homosexual behavior are supposed to be separated. Commanders can ask about possible homosexual activity if given “credible information.”

The issue has strong proponents in favor of repeal and for keeping the status quo. Mullen said that no matter what happens, he doesn’t want troops already under great stress over repeated deployments, lack of time back home and years of unconventional warfare to become a tool of either side.

“I think it’s important that … it not become a polarizing debate that has the force in the middle,” Mullen said. “And that’s going to take responsible leadership on every aspect of this discussion. And I want to emphasize ‘responsible leadership.’ ”

Asked if that included the White House, Congress and the Pentagon, he replied, “Broader,” indicating he would like to see a national consensus on the issue.

“We have a process in this country that … I cherish,” Mullen said. “We have laws. Those laws get passed by Congress. Those individuals are elected by the American people. And if the American people want to change this law, it comes up through [Congress], they change the law, we comply.”

Pressed for his personal view, Mullen declined to provide it. “My view, quite frankly, isn’t important here.”

Mullen did say he owes Obama an assessment of the impact of such a change, as well as an implementation plan should the law be changed. Mullen didn’t provide an estimate for when that plan will be complete.

“The president’s made his intent very clear — that he wants to see this law and policy change,” Mullen said. “It’s important that we all constantly recognize that this is a law. So not even the president himself can change it — he’s got to go to Congress and ask that it be changed. If and when the law changes … we’ll follow the law, as we do now.”

In one attempt at repeal, Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Calif., on March 3 reintroduced legislation, still pending, that would direct the military to drop its ban on open homosexual service.

At least one branch of the service is looking more deeply at the possibility of change. In a mid-March message obtained by Military Times, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Conway asked his current generals: “How strongly should we, as an institution, challenge the don’t ask, don’t tell policy?”

Service officials confirmed the message but wouldn’t more clearly define precisely what Conway was looking for.

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