NEWS STORY: Military Official Requests Investigation Into His Remarks

c. 2003 Religion News Service WASHINGTON _ The defense undersecretary whose recently revealed views on terrorism and religion sparked controversy and charges of religious intolerance has requested that an inspector general investigate the situation, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld announced Tuesday (Oct. 21). Meanwhile, reaction to Lt. Gen. William G. “Jerry” Boykin’s reported remarks in speeches […]

c. 2003 Religion News Service

WASHINGTON _ The defense undersecretary whose recently revealed views on terrorism and religion sparked controversy and charges of religious intolerance has requested that an inspector general investigate the situation, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld announced Tuesday (Oct. 21).

Meanwhile, reaction to Lt. Gen. William G. “Jerry” Boykin’s reported remarks in speeches at churches is continuing, with some members of Congress drafting a letter defending him and the National Council of Churches general secretary requesting a meeting with Rumsfeld.


“Gen. Boykin has requested that an inspector general review this matter and I have indicated that if that’s his request, I think it’s appropriate,” Rumsfeld told reporters during a regular Pentagon briefing.

Boykin apologized Friday (Oct. 17) to those who were offended by reported statements he made in speeches at churches. Among other comments, he had said that terrorists were trying to destroy the United States “because we’re a Christian nation.”

Gen. Peter Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Boykin has been saddened by the reaction to his remarks, which were first reported on NBC’s “Nightly News with Tom Brokaw” on Oct. 15.

“He does not see this as a battle between religions,” said Pace, speaking at the same briefing as Rumsfeld. “He sees it as a battle between good and evil.”

In a draft of a letter to the defense secretary, Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Kan., wrote: “We are concerned that hyped media reporting and commenting could lead to improper actions taken against Lt. Gen. Boykin. We ask that you support Lt. Gen. Boykin’s right to speak freely in his private capacity about matters his faith in God leads him to say.”

At least six other members of Congress, including Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., and Rep. Joseph Pitts, R-Pa., have co-signed the letter, which is scheduled to be sent to Rumsfeld Tuesday (Oct. 21).

The members of Congress told Rumsfeld that exercising “prudence” in public and private remarks should have “equal importance” with the freedom to express “religious convictions.”


In a letter to Rumsfeld dated Monday, the Rev. Bob Edgar, general secretary of the National Council of Churches, protested Boykin’s assignment and suggested the defense secretary should meet with religious leaders.

“I would hope that this appointment does not represent an outright antipathy toward Islam within the Defense Department, a concern that is raised by the department’s reevaluation of procedures regarding the endorsement of Muslim military chaplains,” Edgar wrote.

He suggested Boykin should be reassigned to “a less sensitive position.”

In a column published by the Southern Baptist Convention’s news service, however, a pastor whose church has had Boykin as a guest speaker, defended him as a military hero.

“Gen. Boykin has spilled enough blood for this great country in battles against its enemies and he should not have to spill one more drop from a stab in the back by a few political operatives,” said Bobby H. Welch, pastor of First Baptist Church in Daytona Beach, Fla., in the Monday edition of Baptist Press.

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