WATCH: Colin Powell on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

In my exclusive "This Week" interview, Former Secretary of State Colin Powell said "the country has changed" in the 17 years since "don't ask, don't tell" became law and now believes, "it is perfectly acceptable to get rid of the law and the policy."  But, he added, "before we actually do it, we have to hear clearly from the officers and men and women who are in charge of executing that policy."

The retired general and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs said, "at the end of the day, the law will change and "don't ask/don't tell" will go away.  But don't underestimate some of the issues that we dealt with in 1993 and that we're dealing with now."

Powell said, "I think it's important to listen to the troops who are affected and take into account the views of the senior leadership and military leadership of the armed forces."