From Stars and Stripes:
ARLINGTON, Va. — Defense Secretary Robert Gates has instructed the Defense Department to accelerate a plan to end the "don’t ask, don’t tell" ban on openly gay military personnel and start rolling out its training within a "very few weeks."
President Barack Obama signed the repeal of the 17-year old law on Dec. 22 with a promise not to "drag our feet." But the repeal language passed by Congress states that the president, defense secretary and Joint Chiefs chairman must certify the military is ready to lift the ban and then wait 60 days before gay troops are safe to speak openly of their sexual orientation.
Gates in a Pentagon press conference revealed a three-step plan: finalize changes in related regulations and policies, and get clearer definitions on benefits; prepare training materials for chaplains, lawyers, commanders and troops; and then begin to train servicemembers worldwide.
"We’re trying to get the first two phases of that process done as quickly as possible," Gates said, adding he has instructed Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Clifford Stanley to accelerate his efforts. "My hope is that it can be done within a matter of a very few weeks so that we can then move on to what is the real challenge, which is providing training to 2.2 million people. And we will do that as expeditiously as we can."
Holy shit.
Ok. I admit, I was skeptical. I mean, what are we supposed to think? Gates has been very, very closed mouth on the timeline, refusing to say months or years. Now Gates is speaking in weeks?
Great news.
Now, if we can only head off New House Armed Services Committee member Joe "You lie!" Wilson's attempt to reinstate DADT. Yep. Cause that's what America voted for last November, to turn back the clock on legislation that hadn't yet passed.