End to Don't Ask, Don't Tell?

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has stated his intention to have the Senate vote on repeal
of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell before a new Congress convenes in January.

"We are in session, if necessary, up to January 5. I hope that's not necessary, but that's the clock my
Republicans colleagues have to run out," said Reid. I'm not going to let our country's work not
be completed."

The House approved the legislation late Wednesday by a margin of 250-175. So if the Senate approves
the bill it will go to President Obama to sign into law.

President Obama has already stated he wants to see the ban eliminated. Also calling for repeal of the
ban are The Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike
Mullen.

The legislation would lift the ban only after the President, the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman
of the Joint Chiefs certify that doing so would not harm military effectiveness, readiness, unit cohesion
and recruiting and retention.

We are hopeful that with the passage of this legislation, Congress can proceed to the National Defense
Authorization Act, finish the tax-cut plan; as well as other pending important legislation required
to keep our country running strong and true.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996