: A Pentagon spokesman said the Defense Department is ready for the Sept. 20 repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law. “This is something that has been known for a long time,” said Pentagon press secretary George Little, and added, “We’ve gone through a process to certify repeal.” He told reporters at the Pentagon Monday that Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen will talk with reporters Tuesday about the implementation, specifically those changes that had to await the law’s implementation. Air Force officials earlier this summer said the service was completing training for its airmen. (Pentagon report by Jim Garamone)
The Air Force has spent more than two years studying cancer risks to Airmen who work with the service's intercontinental ballistic missiles. Now lawmakers in Congress are placing fresh scrutiny on the issue and have prepared legislation that would direct the service to clean silos and launch facilities.