AKA William

Senate Majority Harry Reid is turning up the volume on the chorus of voices calling for Obama and Defense Secretary Gates to help with the repeal of DADT.

Via Huffington Post:

In letters to Gates and Obama dated Sept. 24th and obtained by HuffPost, the Nevada Democrat asks each to “bring to Congress your recommendations on DADT” — the policy that allows gay or lesbian Americans to serve in the military as long as they don’t mention that they are gay or lesbian.

“As Congress considers future legislative action, we believe it would be helpful to hear your views on the policy,” [Reid] writes. “Your leadership in this matter is greatly appreciated and needed at this time.”

. . . Reid, in the letters, also highlights the plight of two servicemen, one of whom he met when he was the keynote speaker at a recent Las Vegas Human Rights Campaign Gala Dinner. First Lieutenant Daniel Choi was a West Point grad, served in Iraq and was an Arab linguist. In April, he received a discharge letter from the Army after publicly revealing he was gay, Reid writes to Obama.

Lieutenant Colonel Victor Fehrenbach is headed for a “similar fate,” Reid tells Obama. He was an 18-year Air Force vet who has flown numerous missions against Taliban and al-Qaida targets, “including the longest combat mission in his squadron’s history.” The government, Reid notes, has invested $25 million on his training.

Recall that the Joint Force Quarterly recently published a report that urged a repeal of DADT.

Still No Timeline On Easing of DADT

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin Indicates DADT Likely Not On 2010 Agenda

Secretary of Defense: We Now Need Flexibility In DADT Implementation

New Study Says Obama Can Stop DADT Discharges With Executive Order

Lt. Dan Choi’s Open Letter to Obama And Call to Action