Here's why "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is dead. It's all a matter of timing. I understand there's a belief that since we'll lose seats we won't have a better time for doing this. Time is on the side of those protesting against the ban.
This is HUGE: Gates & Mullen Blast Lt. General for advocating ban
This guy might be reprimanded privately as well, but I'm telling you the military, while it's going through this study of HOW not WHETHER to implement the ban, is moving forward. There's no turning back on this. None.
Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Thursday that Lt. Gen. Benjamin Mixon, who heads Army forces for U.S. Pacific Command, was wrong to call on troops and their families to fight a repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
Mullen said if uniformed officers disagree with President Barack Obama's call for a repeal, the answer for them is "to vote with your feet."
Mullen is guaranteed a spot for another five years as Joint Chiefs' Head. Regardless of whether Obama wins a second term, he's intent on moving forward with this stuff not back. This is the most blatant example that Mullen and Gates are not going to tolerate dissent on this issue.
So, while it's understandable that there might be some who are fearing that time will let opponents gain in strength, that's not looking likely either, especially with Gates and Mullen in charge.
Let's be clear as well. This is about HOW to implement repeal. NOT WHETHER.
UPDATE: Based on comments from my hints on jpmassar's diary earlier in the day, I'm pretty sure I'm going to get ripped on this diary. Allow me to prebut them. They are correct that another administration could simply undo this. But this is what I like to call "holding the company line". If they do this for the next three to five years, they're not going to go back.
Here's Gates: