VIDEO: Joint Chiefs of Staff Advise Against Implementation of ‘Divisive and Difficult’ Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal


Joint Chiefs of Staff: The top uniformed officers of the Army and the Marines told a Senate panel that letting gays serve openly in the military at a time of war would be divisive and difficult, sharply challenging a new Pentagon study that calculates the risk as low.

General James Amos, Marines Commandant:
Potential exists for the disruption to the successful execution of our current combat mission should repeal the implemented at this time.

General George Casey, Army Chief of Staff:
The implementation of the repeal of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ in the near term, will …
1. Add another level of stress of our already stretched force.
2. Be more difficult in our combat arms units.
3. Be more difficult for the army than the reports suggests.

General Gary Roughhead, Chief of Naval Operations:
With the exception of the moderate risk associated with projected retention and some navy irregular warfare specialties, I assess the risk to readiness, effectiveness and cohesion of the Navy to be low.

General Norton Schwartz, Air Force Chief of Staff:
Still, it is difficult for me as a member of the Joint Chiefs to recommend placing any additional discretionary demands on our leadership cadres in Afghanistan at this particulary demanding time. I therefore recommend defering full implementation and certification until 2012.