End in Sight for DADT?

According to the NY Times, Congressional hearings begin tomorrow on DADT for the first time in 17 years. Obama apparently has had several meetings with the military brass about ending the policy. He seems to be getting little if any resistance to the change, but a lot of questions about the timing (two wars and all that). It looks like the change will take place incrementally in true centrist Democrat fashion. Activists warn that this might provide opponents with an opportunity to create the unit fracturing they bang on about.

I know some people who are largely indifferent to military matters, who are usually pacifists and object to anything military. Maybe, but the military is a fact of life that will probably be around in one form or another until the Eschaton. In this country, changes in military policy reverberate into the rest of society. Truman's decision to desegregate the military encouraged movements to desegregate schools and cities. The increasing integration of women into the military cued businesses into integrating women more and more into the professions and trades. The end of "Don't Ask Don't Tell" will be a huge step forward for LGBTs, and for straight folk; an end to uncertainty and the risk of being caught up in anti-gay dragnets.

Here's a reminder of how high a price was paid to get to this point,

Petty Officer Allen R. Schindler.

Private First Class Barry Winchell.

This is in addition to the thousands of careers ended to accommodate conventional bigotry.