Yesterday, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Adm. Mike Mullen, the US Military's top-ranking officer, called for an end to the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that bans openly gay people from the armed services.

"No matter how I look at the issue," Mullen said, "I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens."

Finally, someone is speaking some sense on this issue! Now if only those involved in the decision-making process besides Mullen (including vocal dissenter John McCain) would recognize the fact that forcing people into a strictly-enforced closet is no way to encourage them to serve their country. At least this is several steps in the right direction.

Via CBS Nightly News: