Pentagon e-mails "don't ask, don't tell" surveys to 400,000 troops to judge impact of repeal

Defense Department insisted surveys will determine impact of the repeal, not whether repeal should happen.

The Associated PressCodePink's Medea Benjamin demonstrates on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010, as Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing related to the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

The Pentagon sent out surveys to troops on Wednesday that asked more than 100 questions about their views on the impact of repealing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” restrictions that prohibit gays and lesbians from openly serving in the U.S. military.

200,000 active duty troops and 200,000 reserve troops received the survey via e-mail, according to an administration official that spoke to CNN. The survey asks questions about how unit morale might be affected if a commander is believed to be gay or lesbian, and if the repeal could affect willingness to serve in the military.

The survey also questions problems that could happen when troops live and work in close quarters. The survey asks how military members would react if they had to share bathrooms or open-bay showers in a war zone with other members who may be gay or lesbian.

There are also questions about social interactions with gays and lesbians as well.

Defense Department officials have insisted to CNN that the survey is to determine the impact of the repeal, not whether the repeal will or should happen.

The House of Representatives approved a plan that would repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy after the military’s review is complete, along with Obama, Mullen and Gates signing off on the change. The Senate did not pass the measure.

The results of reviews on the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy will not be available until December, an administration official told CNN.

Here's whats being said about the repeal:

»CNN: Pentagon sends out "don't ask, don't tell" survey

»Huffington Post: Gates: 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Repeal Could Be Vetoed Because Of Budget Battle

»Newsweek: Don't ask, don't tell: A possible timeline

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