Previously, Gen Petraeus had largely kept his opinions on DADT to himself. But testifying before the Senate armed services committee today, he told members: “I believe the time has come to consider a change to ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’.” He hedged on what that change should be, explaining that he was waiting to see the results of the review commissioned by Robert Gates, the US defence secretary. “I think it should be done in a thoughtful and deliberative matter that should include the conduct of the review that Secretary Gates has directed that would consider the views in the force of a change in the policy. It would include an assessment of the likely effects on recruiting, retention, moral and cohesion and would include an identification of what policies might be needed in the event of a change and recommend those polices as well.”