General Who Made Anti-Islam Remark Tied to POW Case

Reuters via Yahoo ^ | May 11, 2004 | Andrea Shalal-Esa

[ride the whirlwind]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Army general under investigation for anti-Islamic remarks has been linked by U.S. officials to the Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal, which experts warned could touch off new outrage overseas.

A Senate hearing into the abuse of Iraqi prisoners was told on Tuesday that Lt. Gen. William Boykin, an evangelical Christian under review for saying his God was superior to that of the Muslims, briefed a top Pentagon (news - web sites) civilian official last summer on recommendations on ways military interrogators could gain more intelligence from Iraqi prisoners.

Critics have suggested those recommendations amounted to a senior-level go-ahead for the sexual and physical abuse of prisoners, possibly to "soften up" detainees before interrogation -- a charge the Pentagon denies.

Congressional aides and Arab-American and Muslim groups said any involvement by Boykin could spark new concern among Arabs and Muslims overseas the U.S. war on terrorism is in fact a war on Islam.

"This will be taken as proof that what happened at Abu Ghraib (prison) is evidence of a broader culture of dehumanizing Arabs and Muslims, based on the American understanding of the innate superiority of Christendom," said Chris Toensing, editor of Middle East Report, a U.S.-based quarterly magazine.

One Senate aide, who asked not to be identified, said any involvement by Boykin could be explosive. "Even if he knew about the abuse, that would be a big deal," he said.

Boykin has declined comment, and defense officials could not say what the extent of his involvement or knowledge about the mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners might have been.

Boykin touched off a firestorm last October after giving speeches while in uniform in which he referred to the war on terrorism as a battle with "Satan" and said America had been targeted "because we're a Christian nation." He said later he was not anti-Islam or any other religion.

President Bush (news - web sites) distanced himself from Boykin's remarks, but the Pentagon said it would not fire the general, who played a role in the 1993 clash with Somali warlords and the ill-fated hostage rescue attempt in Iran in 1980.

CALLS FOR REASSIGNMENT

Hussein Ibish, communications director for the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee, said his group and others had repeatedly called for Boykin to be reassigned to a less sensitive job until the Pentagon inspector general completes his investigation of Boykin's remarks.

Senate Armed Services Committee (news - web sites) Chairman John Warner and congressional Democrats have also urged Boykin to step aside, but the Pentagon has defended his right to free speech.

Defense officials said the IG investigation, begun last fall, was nearly done and a report could be issued next month.

"I'm not saying Boykin is directly responsible. ... But there is a collective failure here," Ibish said. "There is a tolerance in our society, in our government, in our media for hateful rhetoric when directed against Arabs and Muslims.

"It definitely contributes to a climate in which these young MPs apparently felt it was ... OK to abuse Muslim and Arab men like this."

Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American Islamic Relations, chided the Pentagon for not acting promptly to discipline Boykin and the delayed engagement of top military leaders on the prisoner abuse scandal.

"It creates a climate in which ... the perpetrators believe they're carrying out the policies of those above them, whether those policies are explicit or not," Hooper said.

[ride the whirlwind]

Oh boy!

[dts32041]

Nick berg, Danny Pearl, 3000, 9-11, 192 3-11.

Wonder who the enemy is?

[steplock]

Our newest General of the Army and Chief of Staff! (should be!)

Gen. William Boykin

True American Hero

[muawiyah]

The beheading of Mr. Berg is being taken by most patriotic Americans as proof that what happened at Abu Ghraib (prison) is evidence that Arabs and Muslims belong to a dehumanized culture.

[goodnesswins]

"Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American Islamic Relations, chided the Pentagon for not acting promptly to discipline Boykin and the delayed engagement of top military leaders on the prisoner abuse scandal."

I really don't give a rip what any ISLAMIC says right now....nope, nada.....they should all REALLY think about how THEY ARE BEHAVING right now.....and, some I should think, might want to relocate real soon, if the jihadists don't stop their terrorizing. Cuck FAIR

[goodnesswins]

A little "tidbit" about the author of THIS story.....

Andrea Shalal-Esa
Diversity Coordinator
Reuters America
202-310-5660
Andrea.Shalal-Esa@Reuters.com

[dawn53]

Didn't testimony today conclude that there was no senior direction for the abuse?

[cavan]

"Boykin briefed....on ways [to]gain more intelligence"
LOL, too funny.

[The Sons of Liberty]

So now the ragheads want to dictate to us who we should have leading our troops? They can go straight to hell and not collect their 72 virgins!

[Sola Veritas]

This is outrageous! This general is the only person I have heard in uniform that seems to truly grasp what is taking place in the world right now. Islam has declared war on the West - Judaism and Christianity. Their goal is global domination.

We need some new men like "Charles Martel" to stand up to them and roll back their advancements. Until Islam is neutered in the Mideast and elsewhere, we will have no peace from them.

[Reactionary]

Oh, my. He made "anti-Islam" remarks?

I'm sure the liberal fascists are upset about that.

[rogue yam]

...which experts warned could touch off new outrage overseas.

Reuters is evil!

[onedoug]

Bump!

[CWOJackson]

I'm sure HACKworth is thrilled.

[Rummyfan]

They are grasping at straws. Husein Ibish and Ibrahim Hooper can kiss my a**!

[KellyAdmirer]

Everything is "a big deal" to those savages. Everything is "explosive." We already do tons of things that are "big deals" and "explosive." We invaded their country! So who cares if this general was involved. They are already giving us their worst. Let them eat cake, the barbarians.

[cwb]

I didn't notice, but did we get an apology today from the moderate Muslims around the world? Have we heard any expressions of remorse or condemnation from any Muslim clerics or leaders in the American Muslim community? Has the media even demanded as much...as they did from those associated with the prisoner abuse scandal?

These Islamofacists must be the dumbest people on the planet. They had everything going in their favor as we were prostrating ourselves before the world...and now they go and ruin any sympathy they may have generated by pulling this crap.

[ride the whirlwind]

Yup it is outrageous that he's expected to skirt around the obvious truth.

[pierrem15]

Critics have suggested those recommendations

Ahhh, those wily Bush administration critics are just everywhere, aren't they?

Another case of "embedded" reporting; embedded with the enemy, that is.