As is usual, Kerry Eleveld has another informative piece up on The Advocate on the coming week's drama on if and how DADT repeal may advance. Some have said the fact that Senator Jim Webb felt the need to do a PR reach out to myself and others in the Hampton Roads area last week shows he's catching high heat on the need to get on board for repeal this year. As Kerry reports, Nancy Pelosi stated as follows on Thursday:*
“I don’t have any doubt that ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ will be a memory by the end of this year,” she told the Hill Thursday.
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Meanwhile, the Boston Globe has a story on the hiring of Westat, a Maryland research firm with experience surveying military communities, to survey some 350,000 members of the military on the issue of the possible repeal of DADT and how it should be implemented. Here are some highlights from that story:
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[T]the Defense Department authorized the hiring this week of an outside contractor to confidentially gather the views of troops and their families, several Pentagon officials privy to the deliberations said.
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The contractor, Westat, a Maryland research firm with experience surveying military communities, will gather information from 350,000 troops and their families, including from homosexual service members. The company will use that data to assess the possible impact of a change in policy on military effectiveness and identify possible changes needed in military recruiting, housing, spousal benefits, and other areas, according to the officials.
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The survey comes at a crucial point in consideration of whether to enact President Obama’s stated desire to end the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’’ policy 17 years after it was put in place. Criticism of the Pentagon review is growing on Capitol Hill, where some leading Democrats say they will push for repeal of the law in the coming weeks despite a plea from Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates to wait until the Pentagon review is completed by Dec. 1.
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“This survey should not be a substitute for making a decision to repeal the policy,’’ said Representative Barney Frank , a Massachusetts Democrat who has expressed concern that the Pentagon review will be used as an excuse to delay action on overturning the gay ban.
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The review panel, headed by a four-star general and the Pentagon’s top lawyer, will examine whether changes have to be made to the Uniform Code of Military Justice to ensure that gay troops would not be discriminated against, as well as whether the partners of gay or lesbian troops would be eligible for family benefits such as health care. The panel’s work was described by two Pentagon officials who are involved in the effort and spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk about internal deliberations.
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The panel has already held a series of closed-door forums with troops around the country, including one at the Pentagon and at several bases. At the outset, according to the two Pentagon officials who have participated in the forums, troops are asked whether they know of anyone in their unit who is gay or lesbian. A large share of participants have raised their hands, the officials said.
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When then asked whether they believe having those troops in their unit has harmed its ability to function effectively, far fewer raise their hands, the officials said.
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[T]he survey team is now looking to Westat for help. The company did not return calls for comment. One of the Pentagon officials said that Westat, operating under a $4.4 million contract, will “develop, administer, and analyze’’ the survey results and will also help organize additional forums and group discussions, with a premium placed on confidentiality.
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I have gone on the record a number of times stating that this latest survey/study has only one purpose: delay action on DADT repeal until after November, 2010, when the window of opportunity may have been lost. Worse yet, I worry that the Defense Department and Pentagon could be attempting to influence the results of the survey. Interseting enough, BEFORE the Westat contract was announced, I received e-mails from someone who purports to have as yet unconfirmed contacts with Westat that are a cause for concern if true. Here;s a sampling of the e-mailed comments:
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Before putting this job out for bids, the P. ran a pilot program to gather initial data/research to provide contractors background to build their studies around. The methods the P. used are not entirely clear, I believe they ran focus groups as one way of surveying the troops. As you might suspect, focus groups do create an environment of intimidation, those approving of repeal may not want to speak up in front of those who don't. I will dig some more to find the methods of their work.
*
The overall tone coming from the troops is that they could care less about who they "work" with, it was the housing arrangements that they object to. I did not get a quantitative answer to those who object, but apparently the homophobic responses were overwhelming. Again, this may be a small percentage of the troops but their responses were most effective. . . . A comment a researcher made after reading many homophobic troop's interview/statements is there was a sense that pulling the "religious card" would work as a trump card, bringing a result whether they were religious or not. A very very wild speculation is that conservative talking points may have been fed to these troops.
*
With Gates being a Bush holdover, I have no confidence that games might not be played in order to find reasons to retain DADT which is much more popular among the high military brass than many of the younger service members. I will provide more information when this source next e-mails me. Meanwhile, maximum pressure needs to be applied to members of Congress.
[T]the Defense Department authorized the hiring this week of an outside contractor to confidentially gather the views of troops and their families, several Pentagon officials privy to the deliberations said.
*
The contractor, Westat, a Maryland research firm with experience surveying military communities, will gather information from 350,000 troops and their families, including from homosexual service members. The company will use that data to assess the possible impact of a change in policy on military effectiveness and identify possible changes needed in military recruiting, housing, spousal benefits, and other areas, according to the officials.
*
The survey comes at a crucial point in consideration of whether to enact President Obama’s stated desire to end the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’’ policy 17 years after it was put in place. Criticism of the Pentagon review is growing on Capitol Hill, where some leading Democrats say they will push for repeal of the law in the coming weeks despite a plea from Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates to wait until the Pentagon review is completed by Dec. 1.
*
“This survey should not be a substitute for making a decision to repeal the policy,’’ said Representative Barney Frank , a Massachusetts Democrat who has expressed concern that the Pentagon review will be used as an excuse to delay action on overturning the gay ban.
*
The review panel, headed by a four-star general and the Pentagon’s top lawyer, will examine whether changes have to be made to the Uniform Code of Military Justice to ensure that gay troops would not be discriminated against, as well as whether the partners of gay or lesbian troops would be eligible for family benefits such as health care. The panel’s work was described by two Pentagon officials who are involved in the effort and spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk about internal deliberations.
*
The panel has already held a series of closed-door forums with troops around the country, including one at the Pentagon and at several bases. At the outset, according to the two Pentagon officials who have participated in the forums, troops are asked whether they know of anyone in their unit who is gay or lesbian. A large share of participants have raised their hands, the officials said.
*
When then asked whether they believe having those troops in their unit has harmed its ability to function effectively, far fewer raise their hands, the officials said.
*
[T]he survey team is now looking to Westat for help. The company did not return calls for comment. One of the Pentagon officials said that Westat, operating under a $4.4 million contract, will “develop, administer, and analyze’’ the survey results and will also help organize additional forums and group discussions, with a premium placed on confidentiality.
*
I have gone on the record a number of times stating that this latest survey/study has only one purpose: delay action on DADT repeal until after November, 2010, when the window of opportunity may have been lost. Worse yet, I worry that the Defense Department and Pentagon could be attempting to influence the results of the survey. Interseting enough, BEFORE the Westat contract was announced, I received e-mails from someone who purports to have as yet unconfirmed contacts with Westat that are a cause for concern if true. Here;s a sampling of the e-mailed comments:
*
Before putting this job out for bids, the P. ran a pilot program to gather initial data/research to provide contractors background to build their studies around. The methods the P. used are not entirely clear, I believe they ran focus groups as one way of surveying the troops. As you might suspect, focus groups do create an environment of intimidation, those approving of repeal may not want to speak up in front of those who don't. I will dig some more to find the methods of their work.
*
The overall tone coming from the troops is that they could care less about who they "work" with, it was the housing arrangements that they object to. I did not get a quantitative answer to those who object, but apparently the homophobic responses were overwhelming. Again, this may be a small percentage of the troops but their responses were most effective. . . . A comment a researcher made after reading many homophobic troop's interview/statements is there was a sense that pulling the "religious card" would work as a trump card, bringing a result whether they were religious or not. A very very wild speculation is that conservative talking points may have been fed to these troops.
*
With Gates being a Bush holdover, I have no confidence that games might not be played in order to find reasons to retain DADT which is much more popular among the high military brass than many of the younger service members. I will provide more information when this source next e-mails me. Meanwhile, maximum pressure needs to be applied to members of Congress.
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