American Muslim Groups Welcome Probe into Gen. Boykin Controversy

August 20, 2004

Source: Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/features/religion/la-na-boykin20aug20,1,2972363.story?coll=la-news-religion

On August 20, 2004 the Los Angeles Times reported, "American Muslim groups on Thursday welcomed initial results of an internal Defense Department probe that concluded that Army Lt. Gen. William G. 'Jerry' Boykin violated Pentagon rules when he spoke before Christian groups and cast the war on terrorism as a battle between Judeo-Christian values and Muslim warriors influenced by 'a guy named Satan.' A draft report expected to be released as soon as next week by acting Army Secretary Les Brownlee has concluded that Boykin, who as deputy under secretary of Defense for intelligence is in charge of the hunt for Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, violated three regulations, said senior defense officials who spoke on condition of anonymity... They said Boykin failed to clear his speeches with the Pentagon, did not give audiences a required disclaimer saying he was not speaking for the military and failed to report a travel reimbursement from a religious group... Boykin's comments, made to 23 mostly conservative Christian religious groups after January 2002, angered Muslim groups, who considered them inflammatory and anti-Islam. Some of those same groups on Thursday praised the findings by the Pentagon inspector general's office."