Ethics

Reagan Defense Official: Let Gays Serve

By Ed Brayton

Lawrence Korb, former assistant secretary of defense in the Reagan administration, told the House Armed Services committee that Don't Ask Don't Tell should be repealed and gays should be allowed to serve openly in the military.

Dr. Korb, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress and Assistant Secretary of Defense from 1981 to 1985, told the Committee that 10 USC 654, better known as the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, is contributing to the climate in Iraq and Afghanistan responsible for growing numbers of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and suicide among ground troops.

"The Bush administration's open-ended and unconditional military commitment in Iraq coupled with the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan means that there is no end in sight for relieving the stress on our ground forces," Korb continued.

Full post as published by Dispatches from the Culture Wars on April 21, 2008 (boomark / email).