Senate Repeals Don't Ask, Don't Tell

The U.S. Senate on Saturday passed legislation to end the Don't Ask, Don't Tell ban on gay and
lesbian serving in the military.

By a vote of 65-31 the legislation will be sent to President Obama, who is expected to sign the bill
next week. The House passed legislation on Thursday to end the ban.

Six Republicans broke ranks to vote if favor of ending the Clinton era ban. Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Olympia Snowe of Maine, Scott Brown of Massachusetts, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, George
Voinovich of Ohio, and Mark Kirk of Illinois.

The change would not immediately become effective, the legislation says that the president and his
chief military advisers must certify that lifting the ban will not harm the fighting ability of the military.
Following that there is a 60 day waiting period.

President Obama said "It is time to close this chapter in our history." It is time to recognize that
 sacrifice, valor, and integrity are no more defined by sexual orientation than they are by race or
gender, religion or creed."

West Virginia Democrat Senator Joe Manchin did not vote, although he was an opponent of the bill.
Senator John McCain who led the opposition acknowledged moments before the vote that he did
not have enough votes to stop the bill.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "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

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

Senators Lieberman and Collins to introduce bill to repeal DADT

Senators Joe Lieberman(Ind-Conn) and Susan Collins (R-Me) have said they will introduce
a "stand alone" bill to repeal the Don't Ask, Don't Tell ban on gays in the military.

Sen. Lieberman states that Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev) the Senate Majority Leader has agreed
to bring the legislation to the Senate Floor.

---------------- "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

Senate Says NO on DADT

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev) failed to get the 60 votes needed on a procedural motion
to start debate on the National Defense Authorization Act. The bill would repeal the Don't Ask Don't
Tell ban on gays serving openly in the military. The vote was 57-40.

It looks like most Republicans stuck to their pledge to pass no new legislation until Congress can
reach a deal on the Bush-era tax cut and government spending for 2011.

Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska both had been supporters of
the repeal, but both voted no. Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia also voted no.

Several Republican Senators have said they would support the repeal of the ban, but want to have
open debate on the defense bill; including the ability to introduce amendments. They included Senator
Collins of Maine who voted in favor of cloture, and also Brown and Murkowski.

Senators Reid and Collins were working together to bring the NDAA to a vote, the Republicans
were talking about 10 amendments and the Democrats wanted to make 5 amendments.

So will the defense authorization be held off until next year? If so what changes will be made?
Will SEC.566 remain? It does not seem that the present bill would be scrapped and a new one
introduced, more than likely the bill as it now stands will be reintroduced; and then the debate
can continue.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"




---------------- "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

California judge says Don't Ask-Don't Tell Unconstitutional

U.S. district judge Virginia Phillips says that the policy that bans gays and lesbians from serving in the
military is unconstitutional.  Saying the ban violated homosexuals first amendment rights and harmed
the effectiveness of the armed services.

While the administration has been attempting to figure out how to lift the ban, it has been a long and drawn-out and complicated  process with most military leadership co-operating.

The judge said that evidence shows it has a "direct and deleterious" effect on the military. She plans to issue an injunction barring enforcement of the policy. The U.S. Department of Justice will most likely appeal the decision.

---------------- "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