Joe Sestak Asks President Obama to Suspend 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
Provision necessary while Defense Department Conducts Year-Long Implementation Study
MEDIA, PA - Today, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Congressman Joe Sestak sent a letter to President Obama requesting that he impose a moratorium on dismissals under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" while the Pentagon conducts its year-long review of the policy.
"Last month's announcement that the Pentagon will begin a year-long study to prepare for repealing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' indicates a step in the right direction, but it is inadequate," said Joe. "It's not time to study 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' it's time to end it, and we should do so immediately. That said, if unfortunately we are to study the process of how to best implement repealing 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' we should not be dismissing those service members we will be retaining this time next year. President Obama should sign an executive order -- relying on the same 'stop-loss' authority used to extend tours of duty -- to halt dismissals under this policy. In a time of war, we cannot lose any more troops who we depend on to keep our country safe.
"'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' was a compromise of our American principles that undermines civil rights and weakens our national security," Joe continued. "As a former Admiral, I have absolute faith in the ability of our officers and troops to handle this transition without detriment to readiness or cohesion. I call on the President to issue an executive order, and on my colleagues in Congress to move quickly toward a complete repeal."
Here is the full text of the letter:
Dear Mr. President,
I would like to commend you for initiating a repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," a policy which compromises our American principles. As a former Admiral, I share the high regard for the service of our heroic men and women in uniform that you do. During my career in the Navy, I witnessed the impact of the loss of good men and women under this policy. I was taken aback by the effect that this had on the integrity of our military, and I have continued to voice my opposition to the policy since I was first elected to Congress.
While I am pleased that you have begun this process, I remain concerned about its pace and do not believe that taking so long to study the implementation of a repeal is necessary. If our ultimate goal is, as you have stated, to repeal this policy, then it does not make sense to wait a year, until after the implementation study led by General Ham and Jeh Johnson is complete, to halt discharges under it. We should not be dismissing those service members we will be retaining this time next year
During my 31-year career in the military, I was always impressed by its ability to accomplish objectives so quickly and precisely. This often included taking on other charged issues, such as women in combat.
While I appreciate the fact that the Pentagon is assessing ways it can mitigate discharges while the review is being conducted, I am convinced that we can do better. In the interim, however, if we are to wait for the study to be completed, I ask that you, acting upon your authority under "stop-loss" as Commander-in-Chief, issue an Executive Order suspending enforcement of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" until a repeal is passed by Congress.
I had previously questioned Secretary Gates on this matter when he appeared before the House Armed Services Committee on February 3, 2010, and he indicated that the Pentagon's General Counsel does not believe there is this authority. I ask you to review the decision, as Commander-in-Chief, to issue such an executive policy to prevent the discharge of service members this coming year who will be permitted to stay in the U.S. military the next.
Thank you for your consideration, and for your service to our Nation.
Warmly,
Joe Sestak
Member of Congress
Joe Sestak was elected to Congress in 2006 after a distinguished 31-year career in the United States Navy, and he is honored to represent the Southeastern Pennsylvania district where he was born and raised. He is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seat from Pennsylvania. During his Navy career, Joe attained the rank of 3-star Admiral, served in the White House as Director for Defense Policy on President Clinton's National Security Council, served in the Pentagon as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, and led a series of operational commands at sea, culminating in command of the USS George Washington Aircraft Carrier Battle Group (30 ships, 100 aircraft, and 15,000 sailors/marines/aviators/SEALs) during combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. In our nation's time of crisis in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, the Navy turned to Joe Sestak to serve as the first Director of "Deep Blue," the Navy anti-terrorism unit formed in response to the attacks. Joe is the highest-ranking former military officer ever elected to either branch of Congress. He graduated second in his class from the U.S. Naval Academy and holds a Master's in Public Administration and a PhD in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University. Joe lives in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Susan, and daughter, Alex, and proudly represents the 7th District, where his mother and many of his seven siblings still reside.
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