COUNTDOWN TO REPEAL

Armed Services Committee Writes Dog-Ate-My-Homework Letter About DADT Repeal

In a pathetic display of political kabuki, House Armed Services Committee Chair Buck McKeon and House Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee Chair Joe Wilson (both Republicans, as if we needed to say that) sent a letter to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta (right) asking him to delay the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal set for next Tuesday.

Their rationale?  Congress hasn’t been properly informed about all the new policies in place for the transition to a post-DADT military.

“This failure to meet the committee’s requests leads us to conclude that decisions on the policies and regulations to implement repeal are not complete and that your certification and those of the others were inaccurate…”

“We find it unconscionable that the policies and regulations that provide the guidelines and procedures to be used by service members and their leaders to implement repeal, as well as to protect the interests of all service members, including gay and lesbian members, remain unpublished.”

How odd—the military is usually so good about letting everyone know exactly what they’re up to.

More than two million members of the Armed Forces have already undergone open-service training (whatever that is), so like a good schoolmarm, Secretary Panetta wasn’t having their lame last-minute excuses:

“The repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell will occur, in accordance with the law and after a rigorous certification process, on Sept. 20,” said a Pentagon spokesperson. “Senior Department of Defense officials have advised Congress of changes to regulations and policies associated with repeal. We take that obligation seriously.”

Now go write “I won’t be a jingoistic Neanderthal” on the chalkboard 100 times.

 

Image via Joint Chiefs of Staff Public Affairs Office

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