Slideshow: Secretaries Clinton and Gates at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne

The images below are from a ceremony today at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia. We see Secretary of State Clinton, Secretary of Defense Gates, Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd, and Defense Minister Stephen Smith participating.

On November 5, I posted a short video of Hillary stating categorically that she would like to see the Senate ratify START during a lame duck session Today, The Advocate reports, Gates made a similar statement on Don't Ask Don't Tell. (Gates is a Republican, bear in mind, and he is requesting repeal.) I would have preferred a little more force. Hillary's message sounded like an expectation. His sounds more like a wish. Both are civil ways of sending a message. One is stronger.

Gates Urges DADT Repeal Now

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates wants "dont ask, don't tell" repealed before new members of Congress take their seats.

By Advocate.com Editors

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates wants "dont ask, don't tell" repealed before new members of Congress take their seats, reports Associated Press.

Sec. Gates did not sound optimistic that the current Congress will be able to repeal the military's ban on gays serving openly in the military during the brief postelection session.

"I would like to see the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" but I'm not sure what the prospects for that are," Gates said from Australia, where he traveled to attend defense and diplomatic meetings.

Read the article>>>>>