Colin Powell Supports DADT Repeal

This is a big deal! The person who is single-handedly most responsible for the imposition of the current "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, then-Joint Chiefs of Staff head Colin Powell, has come out in favor of the approach favored by the current head of the military, Admiral Mike Mullen:

In the almost seventeen years since the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" legislation was passed, attitudes and circumstances have changed. The principal issue has always been the effectiveness of the Armed Forces and order and discipline in the ranks. I strongly believe that this is a judgment to be made by the current military leadership and the Commander in Chief. It is also a judgment Congress must make. For the past two years, I have expressed the view that it was time for the law to be reviewed by Congress. I fully support the new approach presented to the Senate Armed Services Committee this week by Secretary of Defense Gates and Admiral Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. I will be closely following future hearings, the views of the Service Chiefs and the implementation work being done by the Department of Defense.

Powell served as Top military official during the Clinton administration and was later Secretary of State during the George W. Bush administration. During the 2008 presidential campaign he said that he thought it was time for the policy to be reviewed. This will give significant political momentum to insuring DADT goes away sooner rather than later.