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Conway seeks advice on policy about gays

Commandant Gen. James Conway is polling his generals on the controversial “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

In a March 13 “P4” — personal-for message — to all 82 of his general officers, Conway asks four questions, including this one: “How strongly should we, as an institution, challenge the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy?” The other questions covered in the e-mail, which came under the subject line, “2009 UPDATE FOR THE COMMANDANT,” covered priorities at a time of “dwindling budgets,” seabasing and a general question about “any topic that you think is important and should influence the course and speed of the Corps.”

Responses are due by April 10.

A spokesman confirmed the e-mail came from Conway, but said it was “not meant for public consumption.”

“We’re not going to discuss or put into perspective an e-mail that was meant to be personal correspondence between him and his general officers,” said Lt. Col. T.V. Johnson.

But a senior Marine Corps official said the commandant is soliciting input from his general officers on an issue that he knows he will be asked about. The commandant did not intend to appear to be taking a position when he posed the question, the official said.

In January, Conway told reporters that a repeal of don’t ask, don’t tell would be a “big deal,” but credited the Obama administration for researching the issue and avoiding potential pitfalls.

“If it comes, we will take it aboard and again give best military advice in terms of how we think we ought to approach it,” Conway said.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has had “one brief conversation” with the president about don’t ask, don’t tell, said Cynthia O. Smith, a spokeswoman for Gates. Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen and Gates are discussing how to move forward on the issue, she said.

On Sunday, Gates said in a television interview that he expects Obama will eventually repeal the policy, but not in the immediate future.

“The president and I feel like we’ve got a lot on our plates right now and let’s push that one down the road a little bit,” Gates told “FOX News Sunday.”

A spokesman for Mullen, who said the chairman was unfamiliar with Conway’s e-mail, said Mullen had not been ordered to take up the issue.

“He has not been asked by this administration to examine it,” said Navy Capt. John Kirby, Mullen’s spokesman. “Nor has he provided any guidance to the Joint Chiefs or the Joint Staff to go examine the policy.”

But Mullen has addressed the issue, Kirby said. “He’s been very public on this: If the law changes, we’ll change accordingly. If the American people want to see the policy reviewed through their elected leadership, we’ll participate in that debate.”

A defense official who asked not to be quoted said he wasn’t surprised that Conway was seeking feedback on the policy in an effort to be prepared for a potential repeal of the law. The official noted that it’s not unusual for senior leaders to seek out subordinates for feedback on issues.

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Senior staff writer Bill McMichael contributed to this report.