LOS ANGELES (July 23, 2011) — The following statement on the death of General John Shalikashvili can be attributed to Palm Center Director Aaron Belkin:

“General Shalikashvili served in uniform for four decades, and he continued to lead even after he retired. He exercised outstanding leadership on a wide range of issues including conflict resolution, civil-military relations, arms control, and force modernization. On the issue of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’, General Shalikashvili was the first former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to call for the end of discrimination. His courageous statement paved the way for repeal, and will go down in history as one of the breakthrough moments in the nation’s long march toward equality. He was a truly great American and he will be sorely missed.”