Press Release

Humanists Call for Fundamentalist General's Dismissal

For Immediate Release - Contact: Roy Speckhardt (202) 238-9088

(Washington, DC, October 22, 2003) "A person who publicly views U.S. foreign policy as a Christian crusade should not be representing American interests abroad or be making policy decisions," stated Tony Hileman, executive director of the American Humanist Association (AHA). Army Lieutenant General William G. "Jerry" Boykin, who was recently named deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence, has on several occasions, publicly announced that the United States' war against terrorism is a religious conflict.

Boykin spoke to evangelical Christian groups declaring that Islamic extremists' hatred for the U.S. is "because we're a Christian nation," and referred to Muslims saying "Well, you know what, I knew that my God was bigger than his. I knew that my God was a real God, and his was an idol." Boykin also said George W. Bush is a president "appointed by God" and specifically called the enemy in the war on terrorism "Satan" rather than the Bush administration's declared enemies, Saddam Hussein or Osama Bin Laden.

Hileman responded "Such irresponsible rhetoric will inflame already strained US relations in Muslim countries around the world, endangers Americans abroad, including our troops in Iraq, and is detrimental to our efforts to stem terrorism of all types everywhere."

Senators John W. Warner (R) and Carl Levin (D), also raised their concern with Boykin's "inappropriate behavior" to Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. The senators insisted "there are limits on the right of expression for service members" and asked Rumsfeld to begin a review of Gen. Boykin and for Boykin to be reassigned in the interim. A review will soon begin, but as to a temporary reassignment, Rumsfeld's spokesperson said this morning that wasn't going to happen.

AHA president Mel Lipman added, "Top ranking officials should take exceptional care in publicly portraying their views. But, by appearing in uniform and failing to qualify his remarks, Boykin showed no effort to separate his comments from his public position and showed no restraint in his religiously bigoted expressions. Boykin's characterization of himself as a warrior in God's kingdom and the portrayal of the U.S. war against terrorism in harsh religious terms is a blatant misuse of his high profile position."

"Boykin's utter disregard of not only separation of church and state, but also the separation between personal views and official policy is precisely why he should be removed from his post," added Lipman. "Together with coalition partners, the AHA is working to distance Boykin's extreme religious views from American public policy."

The American Humanist Association is the oldest and largest Humanist organization in the nation. The AHA is dedicated to ensuring a voice for those with a positive outlook, based on reason and experience, which embraces all of humanity.

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