’Anti-Defamation League® March 17, 2009 General Norton A. Schwartz Office of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force 1670 Air Force Pentagon Washington, DC 20330-1670 Dear General Schwartz: We were deeply disturbed by reports that an Air Force Commander in Europe recommended a video with a religious message to those under her command, and referred them to a religious Web site “under the patronage of St. Peter the Apostle patron saint of the Universal Church.” According to news reports, this Web site included one image satirizing President Obama’s support for reproductive freedom by showing him “wearing a Nazi uniform and waving a flag with a swastika” and a second image calling the President “a veritable forerunner of the Antichrist.” We understand that the colonel who sent the e-mail to her subordinates has apologized, and that the Third Air Force Command in Europe has apparently opened ‘an investigation into this matter. While we appreciate that the situation is being taken seriously, the poor judgment of this colonel reinforces the need for new, stronger and clearer guidelines on religious activity in the Air Force. Coercive proselytizing and religious activity in the military have been a recurrent problem, and we have previously called for Congressional oversight and additional training for military personnel — both at the US Air Force Academy (USAFA) and in the field. We have been pleased by the responsiveness of USAFA, and we believe ‘our work with the leadership there has resulted in significant progress. But clearly it is not only the officers, instructors and cadets at the Academy who need training and more definitive guidance ~ the need extends throughout the service. Your responses to questions at your confirmation hearings demonstrated to us that you understand that religious intolerance and harassment impact significantly on morale and service readiness. We believe you are committed to addressing problems related to religious intolerance in the Air Force, and would welcome an opportunity to meet with you to leam what specific measures you are planning to take and how ‘we can assist you in avoiding religious coercion and respecting the rights of all Air Force personnel, including those in the religious minority Sincerely, Me Abraham H. Foxman National Director ANTEDEFAMATION LEAGUE, 605 THIRD AVENUE, NEW YORK, NY 10158-3560 212-885-7700 FAX: 212-867-079 WWWW.ADLORG