As for his statement that God had installed Bush in the White House,
Boykin said he meant that God had done the same for "Bill Clinton and
other presidents."

From The Contra Costa Times, 10/18/03:
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/news/7044417.htm

Pentagon official sorry for remarks on Islam

By Paul Richter
LOS ANGELES TIMES

WASHINGTON -

Last year, for example, relating how he had fought a Somali warlord,
Boykin told an audience:

"My God was bigger than his ... I knew that my God was a real God and
that his was an idol."

As for his statement that God had installed Bush in the White House,
Boykin said he meant that God had done the same for "Bill Clinton and
other presidents."

From The Contra Costa Times, 10/18/03:
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/news/7044417.htm

Pentagon official sorry for remarks on Islam

By Paul Richter
LOS ANGELES TIMES

WASHINGTON -

A senior Pentagon official under fire for his comments about Islam
said Friday that he never intended to denigrate the Muslim faith, and
is not a "zealot or an extremist."

In his first comments on the controversy, Lt. Gen. William "Jerry"
Boykin, deputy assistant secretary for intelligence, said his earlier
statements had been misconstrued.

He said he did not believe that the Bush administration's "war on
terrorism" was a conflict between Christianity and Islam.

"For those who have been offended, I offer a sincere apology," he said
in a statement.

A highly decorated Special Operations specialist and born-again
Christian, Boykin has spoken about his faith and Islam in a series of
appearances before Christian groups.

The comments, reported this week by the Los Angeles Times and NBC,
appeared to undermine President Bush's arguments that the American
anti-terroriam effort is not aimed at Islam.

Last year, for example, relating how he had fought a Somali warlord,
Boykin told an audience:

"My God was bigger than his ... I knew that my God was a real God and
that his was an idol."

In another speech, he said some Muslims hated the United States
"because we're a Christian nation, because our foundation and our
roots are Judeo-Christian ... and the enemy is a guy called Satan."

Boykin also told a gathering that Bush was in the White House although
"the majority of Americans did not vote for him. Why is he there? He's
in the White House because God put him there for a time such as this."

But Boykin said Friday that he had been misunderstood.

When he spoke of the Somali warlord, he did not mean that the Somali's
god was Islam, but rather "his worship of money and power --
idolatry."

Boykin said he did believe that "radical extremists have sought to use
Islam as a cause of attacks on America."

As for his statement that God had installed Bush in the White House,
Boykin said he meant that God had done the same for "Bill Clinton and
other presidents."

Although he defended his comments, Boykin has told others at the
Pentagon that he will stop making speeches to religious groups and
will try to tone down his remarks on the sensitive subject of
religion.

Defense officials said his job was not in jeopardy.

Although senior Pentagon and White House officials have sought to
minimize damage from the episode, it is clear that some Muslim
audiences are angry.

Adel Jubeir, a foreign policy adviser to Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah,
told reporters in Washington Friday that Boykin's comments were
"outrageous" and "certainly unbecoming of a senior government
official."

White House spokesman Trent Duffy, asked to comment on the general's
remarks, referred questions to the Pentagon.

Duffy noted that Bush has said the United States is not at war with
Islam.

As for his statement that God had installed Bush in the White House,
Boykin said he meant that God had done the same for "Bill Clinton and
other presidents."

From The Contra Costa Times, 10/18/03:
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/news/7044417.htm

Pentagon official sorry for remarks on Islam

By Paul Richter
LOS ANGELES TIMES

WASHINGTON -

A senior Pentagon official under fire for his comments about Islam
said Friday that he never intended to denigrate the Muslim faith, and
is not a "zealot or an extremist."

In his first comments on the controversy, Lt. Gen. William "Jerry"
Boykin, deputy assistant secretary for intelligence, said his earlier
statements had been misconstrued.

He said he did not believe that the Bush administration's "war on
terrorism" was a conflict between Christianity and Islam.

"For those who have been offended, I offer a sincere apology," he said
in a statement.

A highly decorated Special Operations specialist and born-again
Christian, Boykin has spoken about his faith and Islam in a series of
appearances before Christian groups.

The comments, reported this week by the Los Angeles Times and NBC,
appeared to undermine President Bush's arguments that the American
anti-terroriam effort is not aimed at Islam.

Last year, for example, relating how he had fought a Somali warlord,
Boykin told an audience:

"My God was bigger than his ... I knew that my God was a real God and
that his was an idol."

In another speech, he said some Muslims hated the United States
"because we're a Christian nation, because our foundation and our
roots are Judeo-Christian ... and the enemy is a guy called Satan."

Boykin also told a gathering that Bush was in the White House although
"the majority of Americans did not vote for him. Why is he there? He's
in the White House because God put him there for a time such as this."

But Boykin said Friday that he had been misunderstood.

When he spoke of the Somali warlord, he did not mean that the Somali's
god was Islam, but rather "his worship of money and power --
idolatry."

Boykin said he did believe that "radical extremists have sought to use
Islam as a cause of attacks on America."

As for his statement that God had installed Bush in the White House,
Boykin said he meant that God had done the same for "Bill Clinton and
other presidents."

Although he defended his comments, Boykin has told others at the
Pentagon that he will stop making speeches to religious groups and
will try to tone down his remarks on the sensitive subject of
religion.

Defense officials said his job was not in jeopardy.

Although senior Pentagon and White House officials have sought to
minimize damage from the episode, it is clear that some Muslim
audiences are angry.

Adel Jubeir, a foreign policy adviser to Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah,
told reporters in Washington Friday that Boykin's comments were
"outrageous" and "certainly unbecoming of a senior government
official."

White House spokesman Trent Duffy, asked to comment on the general's
remarks, referred questions to the Pentagon.

Duffy noted that Bush has said the United States is not at war with
Islam.

---
"I spewed bodily fluids." - Shydavid http://www.skeptictank.org/
http://www.RonTheNut.ORG/ PGP: http://www.skeptictank.org/frice.pgp
-- You love drugs! You love drugs, don't you?! You better
not say anything about my mother! Don't you DARE say anything
about my mother! -- Scientology's International President (Audio
files of this nutter at http://www.linkline.com/personal/frice

As for his statement that God had installed Bush in the White House,
Boykin said he meant that God had done the same for "Bill Clinton and
other presidents."

From The Contra Costa Times, 10/18/03:
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/news/7044417.htm

Pentagon official sorry for remarks on Islam