Loan Adviser

U.S. military leaders hesitant to remove limits on gays

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The leaders of the Army and U.S. Air Force expressed doubts Tuesday about lifting restrictions on homosexuals in the armed forces, in a debate in Congress over whether to support the president”s idea of allowing gays serve openly.

Both the Army Gen. George Casey as the Air Force Gen. Norton Schwartz told lawmakers who were concerned about the impact of this change on an American military that is under stress after years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

His caution contrasted with the view of leading the nation”s uniformed officer, Admiral Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, who made a strong call this month to allow gays to serve openly in the U.S. Army.

The U.S. president, Barack Ob1000ama, called for the repeal of the policy known as “do not ask, do not say “(” don #39; t ask, don #39; t tell “) last month. Defense Secretary Robert Gates then launched a review which could take up to one year, steps will be taken to fully integrate homosexual members of the Armed Forces.

Activists gay rights were frustrated that Obama had not acted earlier to fulfill their campaign promise to repeal the law.

Americans support gays serving openly in the military by a margin from 56 percent to 37 percent, according to a survey conducted last year by Quinnipiac University.

Ultimately, Congress should change the law, and some lawmakers have said that their position would be guided by the views of U.S. military commanders.

“I have serious concerns about the impact of repealing the law on a force that is fully committed to two wars and has been at war for eight years and a half, “Casey told the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate.

The current policy dates from 1993, when then-President Bill Clinton sought to eliminate a ban that prevented gays to serve in the armed forces. That year, Congress reached an agreement allowing gays to serve only if they kept quiet about their sexual orientation.

The policy also prohibits military officers undertake research on the sexual orientation while Soldiers adhere to the rules.

(Additional reporting by Andrea Shalal-Esa, editing by Tim Pearce Spanish)