Update: Defense Department Explains Decision to Invite Franklin Graham

April 16, 2003

Source: The Associated Press

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=542&ncid=542&e=4&u=/ap/20030416/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/pentagon_graham_2

On April 16, 2003 The Associated Press reported that "the Pentagon has a policy of religious inclusiveness, the top Defense Department spokeswoman said Wednesday amid criticism by some Muslim groups of a scheduled Good Friday appearance by the Rev. Franklin Graham... Asked about the issue Wednesday, Pentagon spokeswoman Victoria Clarke said the decision to invite Graham was made by the Pentagon chaplain's office, which is administered by the Army... Graham's critics say allowing him to speak at the Pentagon during a war with Iraq is particularly bad timing, given that some radical Muslims have accused the United States of waging war on Islam. Graham, the son of the Rev. Billy Graham, has not retracted his comments about Islam but has said he did not mean all Muslims are wicked."