KANDAHAR PROVINCE. AFGHANISTAN, February 13 -- Civilians fleeing the NATO offensive in southern Afghanistan welcomed recent statements by Pentagon officials hinting that ‘don’t ask, don’t tell” will soon be rescinded.

One woman refugee, who only gave her name as Naghma, said, “Of course I never understood the basis of Pub.L. 103-160 (10 U.S.C. § 654). Gay men and women should have the same right as straight soldiers to rain down ordnance on our towns and kill or maim us with their powerful small arms fire.”

But, said her cousin, Laila, “Until gays can marry and achieve full equality, we feel we’re being blown up by second-class Americans, and that just doesn’t feel right.”