GINGRICH DOUBLES BACK ON "DON'T ASK"

House Speaker Newt Gingrich backed off his promise to dismantle President Clinton's"don't ask, don't tell" policy for gays in the military, saying Congress would leave it in place if it survives court challenges. Just yesterday , Gingrich said GOP lawmakers would insert the old, outright ban on homosexual service members into a defense authorization bill. What happened?TIME Defense correspondent Mark Thompsonnotes that other members of the GOP leadership convinced Gingrich to drop the idea, since they are loathe to reopen the issue.