Last week saw the government of Afghanistan restrict the conduct of two Christian aid groups accused of attempting to convert locals. A protest ensued.
This particular controversy was also highlighted by Michael Weinstein’s “religious freedom” organization. The response of his organization was typical, as communicated by board member Leah Burton: Read more
Previous articles have noted Michael Weinstein’s biased complaint about a red cross on the emblem of a military hospital in Fort Carson.
As reported by the Colorado Springs Gazette, Weinstein apparently had a personal audience with Fort Carson post commander MajGen David Perkins recently. Weinstein indicated the General basically told him to pound sand, though the military only confirmed Read more
The Gorgon Stare is a 1,000 pound sensor that will enable a wide area to be monitored across a variety of spectrums, day or night, likely including both visual and infrared. It is currently set to be deployed to Afghanistan on the MQ-9 Reaper. Rather than having a single operator operate a single camera pointed at an area just a few miles (or feet) across (as, say, the Predator), the idea is that this sensor will capture a huge area, and users can simply choose that which they want to see. Think of it as “Google Earth” — only live.
The ARGUS may eventually supersede Gorgon Stare with, as its namesake implies, far more — and more detailed — “eyes.”
Think “religious freedom” advocate Michael Weinstein will consider this an endorsement of Greek mythology by the US military, and a “propaganda tool” for American adversaries? Given Weinstein’s selective outrage to date, it’s probably unlikely, though the fact it fits so well into his dogmatic rants demonstrates how ludicrous his claims actually are.
Previous discussions have highlighted research papers from Professional Military Education (PME) courses that have addressed topics of religion in the military. Again, as noted at the time, these papers are the result of an academic course of study and do not reflect official positions or policies. The fact that religion in the military is coming up so frequently as a topic, however, does say something about the current culture.
Yet another example of this trend is the paper “Constructing Religious Empathy in the US Military” (pdf) by USAF Major Jess Drab; the paper was written for the US Air Force’s Air Command and Staff College in 2008.
In the paper, Drab argues that while some believe religion in the military should Read more
The prior discussion on Michael Weinstein’s visit to Maxwell AFB apparently got some attention at the official level, with the author of the original post now saying the Air Force was “fully postured [to] punish” him for his comments.
As noted here previously, Chris Livingston apparently Read more
Michael Weinstein of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation isn’t shy about litigation. He previously sued the US Air Force Academy and the US Department of Defense (twice). He has threatened Trijicon with litigation after Trijicon said their critics were “not Christian.” He threatened to sue a critic who sent him mocking emails. He is currently suing former Navy Chaplain Klingenschmitt and his endorsers for “terrorist acts.” His organization claims to be preparing to sue the Army over the treatment of a Muslim US Soldier. And these are just the examples made public.
Now, Weinstein has threatened to file yet another lawsuit in his efforts to “litigate and agitate” his way into influence with regard to religion in the US military.
His latest lawsuit target? ChristianFighterPilot.com.
The lengths to which Weinstein will go — even beyond a lawsuit — are a testament to his desperation. Read more
According to a few sites supportive of the MRFF, Michael Weinstein was recently a speaker at the US Air Force’s Air Command and Staff College (ACSC) at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. There is little public information on the visit, except that which MRFF allies have released. In one email, a supporter — who is an Air Force officer — described a less than supportive environment in the “Q and A”: Read more
Updated with video, see below.
A few days ago it was Michael Weinstein’s lawyer’s turn to stick his foot in the mouth of the MRFF. Randal Mathis (of Mathis and Donheiser) is reportedly representing Specialist Zachari Klawonn in an as-yet undefined legal fashion against the Army. (Mathis is currently suing the CGFC and Chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt on behalf of Weinstein.) Read more