WASHINGTON -- Gen. David Petraeus once again says "the time has come" for the U.S. military to rethink its “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy toward gays and lesbians serving silently in the military.

The four-star Army general, who is managing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, told a Senate panel on Tuesday that he is waiting to see the results of an internal study that was ordered by Defense Secretary Robert Gates and due soon.

Petraeus has noted before that he has served with servicemembers he knew were gay or lesbian.

The general told the senators that he wants to know whether allowing gays to serve openly might hurt recruiting and retention, or the military's ability to fight.