Chiefs on DADT: Gays Can Serve Openly by Summer!

A House GOP hearing on the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" didn't have quite the outcome some Republicans were apparently hoping for. Military chiefs testified before the House Armed Services Committee that training is going better than expected, and gays should be able to serve openly by this summer, reports the New York Daily News. "We've not seen issues," said Gen. James Amos, commandant of the Marine Corps. "There's not been anxiety over it from the forces in the field."

Amos—who had opposed repeal—testified along with the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, all of whom said training was proceeding smoothly. The service chiefs will be required to certify that forces are ready for the change, something Rep.Vicky Hartzler pleaded with them not to do. "It has fallen upon you at this moment in history,” the Missouri Republican told the chiefs. “You can stop this.” Mississippi Rep. Steven Palazzo told the hearing that he felt like he was arriving at the Alamo too late to help the victims. "I have yet to find anybody that is in support of repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell," he said.