Source: MSNBC

http://www.msnbc.com/news/982257.asp

On October 27, 2003 MSNBC published an editorial by Fareed Zakaria suggesting that the White House dismiss General Boykin following his offensive remarks on Islam. Zakaria writes: "The position Boykin holds—deputy undersecretary for intelligence—is one in which he would have to interact routinely with Pakistanis, Egyptians, Afghans, Indonesians; Muslims from all over the world. Will he be effective in establishing close working relationships with these officials, who have all watched him slur their religion? Is this a man who will be able to objectively sift through intelligence and analysis about the state of Muslim societies, the difference between moderates and extremists, the distinctions among various fundamentalist groups? Or does he look at them all and see... Satan? Perhaps the most troubling aspect of Boykin’s remark was its utter ignorance. Compare Boykin’s crude machismo about 'my God' being bigger than 'his God' to Sen. Joseph Lieberman’s eloquent—and historically accurate—remarks last Friday to an Arab-American group. 'We meet here today not as Muslims or Christians or Jews,' Lieberman said, 'not as people of Arab or European descent or African or Asian descent... We are children of the same God and of the same father, Abraham. We are quite literally brothers and sisters.' That is the message America should send to the world. And it will cost us nothing."