Gates unlikely to certify DADT repeal before leaving office

[Meeker Morgan]

Officials: Gates unlikely to certify DADT repeal before leaving office
http://www.stripes.com/news/officials-gates-unlikely-to-certify-dadt-repeal-before-leaving-office-1.147159
Stars and Stripes

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates is unlikely to certify repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” before leaving office next week, senior defense and military officials said.

Two weeks ago, Gates said that he would finalize the repeal of the 18-year-old ban on openly gay troops if the service chiefs give him their OK before he retires on June 30. And in a message to commanders earlier this month, Army leaders said assessments on the progress and impact of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” repeal training — underway since February — are due this Friday, leaving open a slim possibility that certification could come before Gates steps down.

Those reports will help the Army chief of staff’s office compile its final recommendations on repeal, which the defense secretary and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen must review before certifying the change.
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Gay rights groups have for weeks been pushing for Gates to wrap up the process, concerned that his replacement, CIA director Leon Panetta, might wait several more months before moving forward. Now, with Gates’ retirement just days away, that’s becoming less realistic.

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[Pab Sungenis]

1. Are we surprised? No.

Wait for the lawsuit that claims that the "repeal" law meant that Gates had to sign off since he was Secretary at the time and not Panetta. They're going to slow walk this thing to death now that they've had their photo op.

[Behind the Aegis]

2. Well...

And here it is...NADA.

[mitchtv]

3. Shocked , I tell you, shocked

that this is going on