Top Pentagon Officials Call for End to "Don't Ask Don't Tell"

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen testified today at a Senate hearing and called for an end to the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy, which prevents gay men and lesbians from serving openly in the armed forces. Their testimony followed President Obama's call for an end to the policy in his State of the Union address. However, the two officials said that a long review would be necessary to determine how best to bring about the change. Ending DADT will require action by Congress, which enacted the policy in 1993, rejecting President Clinton's efforts to end the ban on gays in the military.