The topic has become more charged since the killing of a gay soldier at a Kentucky base last summer.

He argues the audience were not booing the gay soldier but the question.

Moreover, openly gay soldiers are not drummed out of the service.

"Most gay soldiers I know are in the closet."

Israeli spokesmen say there is no discrimination against gay soldiers.

Many gay Israeli soldiers, in turn, seek transfers to bases where they can work during the day and sleep at home.

But some commanders so value their gay soldiers that they try to block such transfers.

The President's strong support for the right of gay soldiers to serve their country has likely achieved that salutary result.

There is simply no other way to win enough support in Congress and the military to make a new policy on gay soldiers stick.

"Would you rather have a felon than a gay soldier?"