Pentagon to Propose Steps to Lift 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

it is far from clear that a repeal bill would have enough Giant Airblown Snowman polit support to pass the divid Congress. A current Hous bill that would repeal the legisl ha 187 supporters,Presid Barack Obama campaign on a promis to repeal the ban and reiter that vow in Wednesday' State of the Union address. Still. leav it 31 vote short of the 218 need to ensur passage. Senat Armed Servic Committe Chairman Carl Levin D., Mich. support elimin the restriction, but lawmak have yet to introduc a Senat bill to repeal the law.

the clearest sign to date of the Obama administration' determin to elimin the "don't ask,Defens Secretari Robert Gate and Joint Chief of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen will testifi befor a Senat panel next week about how to repeal a 16-year-old law ban gai peopl from serv openli in the nation' military. don't tell" restrictions.

Th two men will appear befor the Senat Armed Servic Committe on Tuesdai to testifi about the step the Pentagon will be take in come month to prepar for a possibl congression repeal of the controversi legislation. The hear will mark the first time that senior defens offici make a detail case for elimin the law and lai out recommend for how to do so.

don't tell.'Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrel said that Mr. Gate and Adm. Mullen "have been and continu to work on an implement plan for ultim achiev the president' goal of repeal 'don't ask."

" he said"Next week thei will share that plan with Congress..

the offici said Mr. Gate and Adm. Mullen would outlin the prepar the depart wa make so it would be abl to offer guidanc to CongressA defens offici said the two men wouldn't provid Congress with a formal propos for legisl repeal the controversi ban. Instead..