Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley was questioned by Jo Lieberman and Carl Levin during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill today. Donley was asked by Levin his personal opinion on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and the Air Force's highest ranking civilian gave a gave very surprising and very direct response. He said:
“I support the president's efforts to change the policy and change the law in this area.” Donley continued and had the following to say about dismissal cases that had passed by his desk in the past: “My experience is that these cases and that the issue of good order and
discipline and unit cohesion, is that it does not depend on gender or
orientation – it depends on conduct."
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz was also questioned but he had something quite different to say. According to Schwartz, “acting (to repeal DADT) now is premature.”
