Direction Action to Stop Heterosexism’s onslaught against oppressive actions toward homosexuals continued yesterday, as the student group hosted “Future of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’” in Myron Taylor Hall. Aaron Tax ’98, legal co-director of The Service Members Legal Defense Network, spoke to the audience about the context and deleterious effects of the infamous 15-year-old measure “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which refers to the United States military policy on homosexuals that mandates immediate discharge from service of anyone who shows signs of homosexuality, a policy Tax emphasized as antiquated and baseless.

Tax, who studied law at George Washington University said, “It’s much worse than you think,” referencing the unofficial title of his lecture.

FORT DRUM, N.Y. (AP) — No more than an estimated 30,000 additional troops will be sent to Afghanistan as the U.S. ramps up forces there, the nation's top military officer told soldiers Monday.

Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen also called U.S. efforts in Iraq a success, even though "we're not done."

Mullen, speaking to fresh-faced soldiers and war-weary military wives, sought to boost morale and soothe concerns at the Army base that has seen a constant revolving door of troops sent to Iraq and Afghanistan over the last eight years.

"I don't see us growing a force well beyond the 20,000 to 30,000 for Afghanistan — American soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines — beyond that 30,000 or so," Mullen told about 800 soldiers and specialists gathered for a town hall meeting.

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — President Bush paid tribute today to America’s fighting men and women who died in battle, saying national leaders must have “the courage and character to follow their lead” in preserving peace and freedom.

“On this Memorial Day, I stand before you as the commander in chief and try to tell you how proud I am,” Bush told an audience of military figures, veterans and their families at Arlington National Cemetery. Of the men and women buried in the hallowed cemetery, he said, “They’re an awesome bunch of people and the United States is blessed to have such citizens.”

That provoked a standing ovation from the crowd in a marble amphitheater where Bush spoke. “Whoo-hoo!” shouted one woman, who couldn’t contain her enthusiasm.