Repeal of DADT, one year later

An academic study, whose authors include professors at the military academies, has concluded that, one year after repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, there has been no overall negative impact on military readiness, unit cohesion, recruitment, retention, or morale.  The Huffington Post article reported:

The authors of the study, who included professors at U. S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy and U.S. Marine Corps War College, arrived at this conclusion after soliciting the views of 553 generals and admirals who predicted that repeal would undermine the military, as well as conducting interview with expert opponents of DADT repeal, a number of watchdog organizations and more than 60 active-duty heterosexual, lesbian, gay and bisexual troops from every service branch.

Aaron Belkin, founding director of the Palm Center and lead author of the report, said "the evidence is in, and the conclusion is clear:   repealing 'don't ask, don't tell' did not harm the military, and if anything made it easier for the Pentagon to pursue its mission."

One soldier told the interviewers that for a while he continued to hear some derogatory slurs, but when confronted about their behavior in terms of leadership and professionalism their conduct improved.  "They don't agree, but they are willing to be professional about it."  This soldier, who is gay himself, also said that frank discussion about the issue helped change stereotype images of gay people.  He said it helped to point out that they respected him before they knew he was gay, so why should that change?

Tammy Schultz, a professor of National Security at the Marine Academy, concluded that repeal had actually improved trust and cohesion among the troops.

I want to give a strong endorsement to President Obama, to Congress, and to the Pentagon for doing this exactly the right way.  Of course it was too long coming, and when Obama signed the repeal, we wanted it to happen immediately.  But now it's clear that taking time to plan and prepare the military for the transition made it smoother, and none of the dire predictions actually occurred.

OK, so where does this leave Mitt Romney and the GOP platform, both calling for reinstating DADT ?  I hope some journalist with backbone will ask him that at the debates.

Ralph