The likely reason for the delay in hearings scheduled for this week on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is that Obama plans to announce his intentions regarding the policy in this Wednesday's State of the Union address to Congress:
"Levin said Monday that an announcement of the hearings has been delayed at the request of senior Defense Department officials until after President Obama's speech. Levin said he does not know what Obama might say, but he expects it will be an announcement of the administration's intentions.
Hearings were supposed to start with military leaders, Levin said, but he might change the order to get hearings underway if senior military officials need more time to prepare. 'I am willing to switch things up,' he said. 'I am committed to starting the hearings in February.'
Having junior officers and noncommissioned officers and petty officers testify could be an important step in getting the policy changed, Levin said, especially because he believes there are 'generational differences' in views about the presence of gays and lesbians in the ranks. Younger people are more likely to be accepting of a policy change than older people, Levin said."
