For Immediate Release

February 23, 2010 - During a Senate defense budget hearing today, Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, asked Army Secretary John McHugh and Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey for their opinions on possible legislation imposing a “moratorium” on enforcement of the 1993 Law regarding homosexuals in the military (usually mislabeled “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”).

Both witnesses demurred and expressed concerns that such an action would cause serious problems at the Pentagon. These statements, though welcome, understated the legal, administrative, and operational chaos that would result from premature, effective repeal of a law that enjoys widespread support among military personnel.

In response, CMR President Elaine Donnellyissued the following statement:

“In essence, Sen. Levin is proposing that—while our military is engaged in two shooting wars, with forces stretched thin and operational tempo high, while facing additional threats from North Korea and Iran, where the administration’s policies regarding engagement are failing with regard to nuclear deterrence, in the face of worrisome threats of terrorism on US soil (including Levin’s home state Michigan, recently targeted from the air)—Congress should go ahead and force on the backs of military men and women a risky social experiment involving human sexuality.”

She continued,

“Furthermore, Sen. Levin is suggesting that the Pentagon should be forced to do this without any objective review of key questions, such as whether the 15 congressional findings of fact incorporated in current law (Section 654, Title 10) are still valid, and whether repeal of the law is wise or necessary to improve our military and strengthen national defense.

“It is disappointing to see Carl Levin, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, irresponsibly suggesting, in effect, “We don’t know what we’re doing, but let’s proceed anyway, ‘Ready, fire, aim.’ ”

“Any type of “moratorium”—mandated by Congress or improperly imposed by presidential Executive Order—would have the same effect as full and immediate repeal of current law. It would also impose premature implementation of the proposed LGBT Law for the military (H.R. 1283) without congressional oversight consisting of specific questions and answers about myriad problems associated with repeal.

To illustrate the point, CMR has prepared detailed charts outlining the complexities of the proposed new LGBT Law (H.R. 1283).”

On February 18 in Washington, D.C., respected leaders of seven major conservative organizations joined Elaine Donnelly in speaking at a news conference at Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Donnelly announced the formation of a new Military Culture Coalition, and emphasized in her statement the meaning and consequences of the proposed new LGBT Law.

Organization leaders speaking at the news conference included: Tom Minnery, Vice President for Public Policy, Focus on the Family, Tony Perkins, President, Family Research Council (and former Marine), Frank Gaffney, President, Center for Security Policy, David Keene, President, American Conservative Union, Penny Nance, CEO, Concerned Women for America, Mathew Staver, Dean, Liberty University School of Law, and Jordan Lorence, Senior Counsel, Alliance Defense Fund.

CMR has also provided a new Policy Analysis summarizing the major national defense/social issue in two concise pages. (DADT is an administrative policy, set forth in DoD regulations, which differs from the actual 1993 Eligibility Law.)

More information on this issue is available on the website of the Center for Military Readiness, www.cmrlink.org.

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The Center for Military Readiness in an independent, non-partisan public policy organization that specializes in military/social issues.