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Posted on 10/21/2003 5:42:57 PM PDT by RJCogburn
The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee called on Tuesday for the temporary reassignment of a Pentagon official who made church speeches casting the war on terrorism in religious terms.
Sen. John Warner, R-Va., said Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin should step aside during a Pentagon investigation of Boykin's comments. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Tuesday announced an inspector general's inquiry, saying Boykin requested one.
Warner and the top Democrat on the committee, Sen. Carl Levin, wrote to Rumsfeld Friday asking for an investigation. Warner said on the Senate floor that he kept quiet about that request until Tuesday so as not to put too much pressure on Rumsfeld.
Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill later Tuesday, Rumsfeld said he hadn't seen the letter from Warner and Levin.
Several Islamic and religious freedom groups criticized Boykin last week when reports surfaced of his comments during several speeches at evangelical Christian churches. Boykin said the enemy in the war on terrorism was Satan, that God had put President Bush in the White House and called one Muslim Somali warlord an idol-worshipper.
The Pentagon released a statement from Boykin apologizing to those who were offended and saying the three-star general did not mean to insult Islam. The three-star Army general is deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence.
Warner, a former Navy secretary, said Boykin should be temporarily reassigned so he can focus on helping the investigation.
"When you start trying to explain what you did say, you need time out to do a little study," Warner said.
Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., also endorsed Warner's suggestion for Boykin to be temporarily reassigned.
"Important questions need to be asked and answered about things he said and did," Durbin said.
Rumsfeld said at a Pentagon news conference that it hasn't been determined whether that probe will be conducted by the Army's inspector general or the Defense Department's internal watchdog.
The letter from Warner and Levin warns that Boykin's comments could endanger U.S. soldiers.
"Public statements by a senior military official of an inflammatory, offensive nature that would denigrate another religion and which could be construed as bigotry may easily be exploited by enemies of the United States and contribute to an erosion of support within the Arab world, and perhaps increased risk for members of the U.S. Armed Forces serving in Muslim nations," the senators said in the letter.
The letter asks the inspector general to determine whether Boykin's behavior was inappropriate.
Warner said he hoped the investigation will calm the furor over Boykin's comments.
"When we have young men and women patrolling the streets of Iraq and Afghanistan, it's best we try and take this matter, hopefully, off the front pages with the representation to the American public that the proper authorities are reviewing it," Warner said.
Rumsfeld for a second time declined to offer an opinion on Boykin's statements, saying he watched a network news video of some of the speeches in which Boykin's words were unintelligible.
"I'm going to wait for the inspector general to complete their review and come back to us," Rumsfeld said.
Marine Gen. Peter Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he talked to Boykin Monday.
"He mentioned to me how sad he was that his comments created the fury they had," said Pace, who joined Rumsfeld at the news conference. "He does not see this battle as a battle between religions. He sees it as a battle between good and evil. He sees it as the evil being the acts of individuals, not the acts of any religion."
Reports of Boykin's comments came as the Bush administration continued its drive to persuade Muslims that the war on terrorism was not a fight against their religion. Rumsfeld repeated that view Tuesday.
But the defense secretary would not say why Boykin's Pentagon-approved statement included a defense of his statement that the United States is a "Christian nation."
"My references to Judeo-Christian roots in America or our nation as a Christian nation are historically undeniable," Boykin's statement said.
"It is not our statement; it is his statement," Rumsfeld said.
I don't know if we share the same faith, or whether your Saviour is a counterfeit or the real deal. My Savior's Kingdom is not of this world, but even Paul appealed to Ceasar's justice, standing upon his rights as a Roman citizen. Christians are not of this world, but we're not out of it either. Let me give you a hint: There will never be a "socially acceptable" Christian Gospel. The historical, Biblical Gospel will offend and divide.
The difference between the Christ's Gospel and just about every other religion of the world is that it claims exclusivity, i.e. there is ONLY ONE WAY to salvation for any and every human being, and that is through repentance and faith in Christ Jesus. However, though it is theologically exclusive it is equally tolerate of people of other faiths, which is why the Constitution of the USA (drafted by Christians, or those influenced by Christian thought) includes ammendments guaranteeing both freedom of speech and religion. Christians AND/or Americans need to insist that this compact with the people is consistently respected and not altered.
Christians around the globe today suffer both death and persecution for their faith, because they are ruled by lawless men, i.e. men who are outside of God's laws. They have no Constitution to protect them. I can preach the Gospel alongside a Muslim calling his faithful to prayers in the USA, however, in any Muslim country (and a few European ones as well), I'd be persecuted, criminally prosecuted, or even killed if I did the same thing there.
Gen. Boykin was sharing his faith in an appropriate, CONSTITUTIONALLY protected and private forum. He is being persecuted for his faith in Jesus Christ, and standing boldly for his Lord.
What's your excuse?
SFS
Before the thought police go into overdrive, let me clarify and correct: The Christian Gospel states that we are saved by grace, a free gift of God, not earned or deserved in any measure. Men will not be saved because of themselves, but in spite of themselves. We are born sinful, and we cannot reverse even a single sin though repentance or good works. Our "sin problem" can only be resolved by accepting God's forgiveness, by accepting the sacrafice of his Son, who was holy and blameness and unserving of punishment ... our punishment. Every other religion, including Islam mis-identifies God, misunderstands his nature, and offers only "submission" or "good works" as a path to salvation. However, as Martin Luther found out, no amount of grief over sin, or good deeds done after sin, can separate man from sin. Only by accepting the free gift of salvation.. by repenting from the sin each man has, only by accepting God's sacrifice of his Son Jesus, will any man avoid Hell, and find salvation.
That is the difference between Christianity, and all other religions. Christianity is also exclusive (e.g. one way to salvation), AND uniquely tolerate of people of other beliefs, in spite of it's exclusionary doctrines.
SFS
I agree. Also, the general made his comments while in uniform, allowing his comments to be considered "official" in nature. He should have been smarter than that. It is illegal for military personnel to engage in political activities while in uniform. It is just really stupid for a high ranking officer to engage in a religious condemnation while in uniform. This guy has certainly done some great stuff but he used extremely bad judgement in this instance.
If it was appropriate and private, how did it get international attention? Does appropriately "sharing his faith" include condemning another religion while being filmed and in uniform?
General Boykin may be a very good Christian but he had a serious lapse of judgement.
I didn't suggest that.
It should be mentioned that the General himself agreed that he had used poor judgement and he apologized. (Showing that he had lost only a little of his good judgement)
Us against them? Well that is always the case but hopefully "us" will use reason and good judgement while "them" seem to use emotional reaction and poor judgement.
Well, he has apologized for the incident. Either he is a weenie with no backbone or he understands that he used poor judgement in this instance. A General in uniform condemning the main religion of a country we are trying to help is going to get a lot of attention no matter where or when he does it - clearly it was bad judgement (even if correct, it was bad judgement).
Even better: Jungle Jerry Boykin should resign from the military. And run for congress.
I suspect that would bring such McCarthyite witchhunts to a screeching halt.
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