I'm expecting to take a lot of flack with this diary, so I would ask that people simply hear me out.
My theory is that the plan for DADT has always been a long term game plan. It's never been contemplated that Obama would use executive authority to circumvent existing law. He, ever the Community Organizer would rather build consensus then anger the military and risk alienating them.
Obama notes DADT could take a year or two
Up in the paragraph, I've highlighted an article during the transition when President-Elect Obama discussed Don't Ask, Don't Tell. The plan was ALWAYS going to take a year or two.
But Obama isn't planning on taking that route. "I want to make sure that when we revert 'don't ask, don't tell,' it has gone through a process and we've built a consensus or at least a clarity of that, of what my expectations are, so that it works," he said in a September interview. Such a process, he said, would include "getting the Joint Chiefs of Staff clear in terms of what our priorities are going to be."
A spokesperson for Obama's transition team, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said only that decisions would not be made until the national security team is in place.
The reason, I've highlighted those portions has to do with the fact with two points.
First, Admiral Mike Mullen's term ends in October of 2009. Obama is said to be a major fan of "Team of Rivals" by Doris Kearns Goodwin. In that book, Lincoln learned that when making a military decision, it was better (and less controversial (read political)) if the military initiated the decision rather than the chief executive. Especially one who has impeccable credentials leading the charge (If anyone has any suggestions who, I'm all ears) I suspect that's what has Obama thinking about this.
Second, Obama's "national security team" to this day, is still not in place. There are many positions unfilled, and one assumes, that once the operation is in place, then you may see folks start to change the policy. (Other than a possible replacement for Admiral Mullen, Sec. of the Army Nominee, Rep. McHugh just had his confirmation hearing last week).
Finally, I also want to note some important figures in that article, highlighting DADT.
"At the end of the day, it's not about getting it done in the first 180 days. It's not about the calendar. It's about getting the right results," says Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a nonprofit dedicated to overturning the ban.
This is Aubrey Sarvis, who is pushing for a timetable on the ban now, stating in DECEMBER, that getting it done in the first 180 days is NOT important. Mind, you, I think we're somewhere near the 180 day mark. A little odd reading his words, and then coming out with that.
A slow approach to change, however, worries Aaron Belkin, a leading expert on the issue of gays in the military, who says it likely will prolong the process without ensuring success. In the 24 foreign countries that overturned similar bans, he says, not once was the process initiated by the military. An early Obama supporter, Gen. Merrill McPeak, has even cautioned against repeal in remarks that Obama declined to repudiate publicly.
"Even the most hardcore opponents in the military understand that repeal is inevitable," Belkin says. "But if you give them the option to weigh in, they will kick and scream for 50 years. Unless they are told what to do, the change will not happen."
In fact, he warns, giving the opposition time to mobilize could hurt the repeal's chances. That's what happened when President Clinton attempted to make good on his campaign promise to allow gays into the military, sparking the fight that led to the passage of "don't ask, don't tell" as a compromise bill.
The next individual in that article is Andrew Belkin, he of the idea that the Executive Order would be the quickest way to get rid of the ban. He had been arguing for a quick repeal of the ban since way back in December, arguing that it allows the opposition to get ready. I haven't seen or heard from ANY opposition in these last six months, but it's curious, before he filed that report stating that Obama could use executive authority that he was already calling for a quick repeal of the ban. While it's true, that a Executive order would be the "quickest way for repealing the ban", the point of this article is that it may not be the BEST way for repealing the ban. Flame away.