Gates, Mullen urge end to 'don't ask'

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- Defense Secretary Robert Gates urged the U.S. Senate Thursday to end the "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays in the military.

Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified before the Armed Services Committee, The Washington Post reported. A report released Tuesday suggested a majority of military service members say allowing gays to serve openly would present no problems.

"There are some for whom this debate is all about gray areas," Mullen said. "There is no gray area here. We treat each other with respect, or we find another place to work. Period. That's why I also believe leadership will prove vital."

A poll of thousands of service members had some anomalies. On the one hand, combat troops, especially Marines, were far more likely to see problems with a policy change, but soldiers who said they had served with someone they believed to be homosexual were much more likely to favor a policy change.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., once again urged that any change be postponed. He said the committee has not had time to study the report and that the thousands of men and women polled for the report represent only 6 percent of the armed forces.