Both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees added funds to continue with development of an alternate engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The Pentagon, you remember, wants to can the General Electric version of the fighter’s power plant and go sole source with the Pratt&Whitney engine—ostensibly to save money. (Lawmakers questioned that approach and elicited testimony from Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne expressing concern over the decision.) The House panel’s version of the 2007 defense authorization bill would add $408 million, while the Senate panel opted for $400.4 million. It looks like this is one area where there will be little discussion during conference time when the two panels iron out differences in their measures.
The top Air Force commander on on the Japanese island of Okinawa has clamped down alcohol and issued a curfew for junior enlisted Airmen and Guardians at Kadena Air Base for the next month. The order came roughly two weeks after a U.S. Marine was arrested for allegedly robbing and…