A Gay Surge

It seems that the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John M. Shalikashvili is having second thoughts about the military's policy of "don't ask, don't tell."  In an op-ed appearing in today's New York Times, Shalikashvili says:

When I was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I supported the current policy because I believed that implementing a change in the rules at that time would have been too burdensome for our troops and commanders. I still believe that to have been true. The concern among many in the military was that given the longstanding view that homosexuality was incompatible with service, letting people who were openly gay serve would lower morale, harm recruitment and undermine unit cohesion.  [...]

The question before us now is whether enough time has gone by to give this policy serious reconsideration. Much evidence suggests that it has.

So why the change of heart?  Did he finally realize the bigotry of that position?  Not quite:

Our military has been stretched thin by our deployments in the Middle East, and we must welcome the service of any American who is willing and able to do the job.

Isn't it great to finally be accepted?