“Congress seems intent on delaying any debate” on the antigay military policy known as “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” ( DADT ) , according to a report in the June 26 edition of Military Times. It said the House Rules Committee blocked consideration of two repeal amendments to the defense authorization bill.

Adding to the credibility of the report were comments the previous day by House Armed Service Committee chairman Ike Skelton, D-Mo., and his Senate counterpart Carl Levin, D-Mich. They told a press conference they favor conducting a survey of soldiers' attitudes toward serving with gays.

No such survey was conducted when blacks and later women were integrated into regular service in the military. Such a “democratic” approach to decision making would be a radical change from the top down command authority structure that permeates all other military operations.

Skelton has promised to hold a hearing on repeal legislation. One hearing already took place last fall but the Pentagon declined to participate.

A repeal bill has yet to be introduced in the Senate.

Levin said repealing DADT “requires presidential leadership. This cannot be addressed successfully without that kind of leadership,” according to the Washington Post. “It's going to take some real kind of preparation inside of the services for us to successfully deal with that question.”