The 2007 defense authorization bill, passed late before the Congressional recess and sent to the President on Oct. 5, has two directives related to religion, one to the Air Force and one to the Navy. The Air Force, lawmakers say, must “rescind the policy and revised interim guidelines” it slaved over, trying to appease all sides in a continuing controversy, and “reinstate” its earlier 1999 policy. The Navy must “rescind” a recent religious ministry instruction and reinstate its older policy. Is it back to square one
Navy Adm. Samuel J. Paparo Jr. assumed leadership of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, succeeding Navy Adm. John Aquilino at a change of command ceremony, urging action amid China's “increasing intrusive and expansionist claims,” on May 3