NEWS STORY: Probe Faults Military Official for Religious Speeches

c. 2004 Religion News Service (UNDATED) A Defense Department investigation of an undersecretary who said the war on terrorism was a religious battle has concluded that military officials should take “corrective action” against him for violating department rules. The report from an inspector general, obtained by The Washington Post and Reuters, states that Lt. Gen. […]

c. 2004 Religion News Service

(UNDATED) A Defense Department investigation of an undersecretary who said the war on terrorism was a religious battle has concluded that military officials should take “corrective action” against him for violating department rules.

The report from an inspector general, obtained by The Washington Post and Reuters, states that Lt. Gen. William G. “Jerry” Boykin did not get clearance for his remarks and failed to clarify that his statements were not official.


“We recommend that the acting secretary of the Army take appropriate corrective action with respect to Lt. Gen. Boykin,” the report stated, according to the news reports.

The investigation also found that Boykin did not report a reimbursement for travel expenses from a nongovernment source. It did find that he made efforts in “good faith” to gain legal advice about his speaking engagements and said that should be considered when determining the seriousness of his rule violations.

Both the Post and Reuters said the investigation report did not dwell on whether the contents of Boykin’s remarks were appropriate for someone in his position.

Lt. Col. Rose-Ann Lynch, a Pentagon spokeswoman, declined to give details of the report Thursday (Aug. 19).

“Unfortunately, that report is not out yet,” she told Religion News Service. “As long as that report is not out, it’s considered an ongoing investigation and I can’t discuss it.”

She said that acting Army Secretary Les Brownlee will be the person to determine if the report’s recommendations will be acted upon.

“Until he makes his decision, that report will not be released,” she said.

Media coverage in the fall of 2003 about Boykin’s remarks at churches prompted controversy and charges of religious intolerance. In one speech to a church group, he said that terrorists were trying to destroy the United States “because we’re a Christian nation.”


In October 2003, Boykin requested the inspector general investigation and issued an apology saying, “I am not anti-Islam or any other religion.” President Bush declared that he did not agree with Boykin’s controversial statements, and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said he would not ask Boykin to step down during the investigation.

At the time, members of Congress and religious leaders voiced differing opinions about Boykin, with some saying he should be reassigned and others defending his freedom of religious expression.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations hailed the report’s conclusions.

“We welcome the Pentagon’s report and urge that any disciplinary action be commensurate with its findings,” said Ibrahim Hooper, communications director for the Washington-based civil liberties group.

“Gen. Boykin is free to hold whatever views he wishes, no matter how stereotypical or inaccurate. But he should not use his position of respect in our nation’s military to promote those views.”

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