Posted on: Sunday, August 22, 2004

EDITORIAL
Demonizing Muslims isn't an Army mission

Army Lt. Gen. William Boykin was a highly decorated expert on counterterrorism who rose through the ranks of Delta Force to a position in the top-secret Joint Special Operations Command, through the CIA, to become commander of the Army's Special Forces.

But now, as the Pentagon's senior military intelligence official, Boykin's job description includes public speaking, a huge mistake. For instance:

"Islam is like a virus," Boykin remarked to a highly public gathering. "It affects the mind. It is a cancer that destroys the body it infects. The Quran is simply the 'software' for producing deviant cancer-cell political behavior and violence in human beings. No doctor would hesitate to eliminate cancer cells from the body."

Imagine, if you will, such a statement from the top man here in Hawai'i at the Pacific Command. Since Muslim countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia are regarded at Camp Smith, not as demonic powers, but as allies, such a remark would certainly spell the end of his career.

Not so with Boykin. An investigation has concluded that Boykin may have strayed a tad wide of a few technicalities, but that in general, he is entitled to a "complete exoneration."

Could it be that one reason for this absurd whitewash is Boykin's public assertion that President Bush was placed in the White House by God?