Integrity, trust, and unit cohesion

Four high-ranking military officers issued a report detailing how the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy hurts the military and offers recommendations.

The findings:

* The law does not trust the Pentagon to adapt policy to changing circumstances.

* Existing military law provides sufficient means to discipline inappropriate conduct.

* The law forces commanders to choose between breaking the law and undermining unit cohesion.

* The law prevents gay service members from getting psychological and medical care and religious counseling.

* The law has caused the military to lose talented service members and has tended to recruit those needing "moral waivers" instead.

* The law requires gays to lie and that undermines personal integrity, honor, and trust. The soldier is seen as a liar, which means he is a coward. It is integrity and trust that are at the heart of unit cohesion.

* Many gays are already serving openly.

* Military attitudes towards gays are changing -- only 37% of returning veterans think the ban should be continued.

* Evidence shows allowing gays to serve openly is unlikely to risk morale, good order, discipline, or cohesion. So much of the claims of the law's supporters.

The recommendations:

* Repeal the Don't Ask law.

* Maintain the ability to discipline soldiers for misconduct that interferes with good order, discipline, and cohesion.

* Change conduct codes so they are orientation neutral while maintaining prohibitions against inappropriate bodily contact for the purpose of satisfying sexual desires.

* Reinforce safeguards of confidentiality between soldiers and chaplains, doctors, and mental health professionals.

There is one important fact from how the group's research was conducted: all of those who oppose gays in the military refused to take part. And the team offered all kinds of ways to make that participation easy. Perhaps they don't want the issue discussed rationally.