Evangelical Training at the Academy?: According to the Washington Post, the US Air Force Academy has given preferential treatment to a private missionary group in their efforts to train cadets to proselytize among their peers. The missionary group—Navigators—assigned a pair of full-time Christian ministers (a husband and wife team) to the academy, which, according to an Oct. 11 confidential fund-raising letter obtained by the Post, permits them to use an empty classroom to meet with cadets at any time during the day. Michael Weinstein, a New Mexico resident and 1977 Academy graduate who has filed federal suit against the Air Force (DR, 11/04/05), disclosed the letter. An academy spokesman told the Post that the designated room is open to any of the academy’s 19 registered religious groups who wish to meet with cadets.
The Pentagon has concluded a new agreement to buy laser-guidance kits that turn rockets into drone-killing weapons. BAE Systems and the Defense Department announced a framework deal of up to seven years for 25,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System guidance kits annually for the U.S. military.