Good news, Bin Laden and Saddam aren't the enemy after all.

[Dreamer128]

Top Defense Dept./Pentagon General-Bush Chosen by God to Fight Satan
by MSNBC

A rising star in the Bush Christian Crusade against the 'evil (Islamic) ones', General Boykin believes Bush was chosen by God to fight Satan -as he was clearly not chosen by the people (nor the Supreme Court involved according to Boykin). He believes His God stronger than the Moslem God.

http://www.msnbc.com/news/980764.asp?0cv=CB10

Top terrorist hunter’s divisive views

General casts military, anti-terror efforts in religious terms

by Lisa Myers and the NBC Investigative Unit.

NBC NEWS

Oct. 15 — A highly decorated general who is one of the leaders of a secretive new Pentagon unit formed to coordinate intelligence on terrorists and help hunt down Osama bin Laden, Saddam Hussein and other high-profile targets has a history of outspoken and divisive views on religion — Islam in particular, NBC News has learned.

HE’S A HIGHLY decorated officer, twice wounded in combat — a warrior’s warrior.
The former commander of Army Special Forces, Lt. Gen. William “Jerry” Boykin has led or been part of almost every recent U.S. military operation, from the ill-fated attempt to rescue hostages in Iran to Grenada, Panama, Colombia, Somalia.
This summer, Boykin was promoted to deputy undersecretary of defense, with a new mission for which many say he is uniquely qualified: to aggressively combine intelligence with special operations and hunt down so-called high-value terrorist targets including bin Laden and Saddam.
But that new assignment may be complicated by controversial views Boykin — an evangelical Christian — has expressed in dozens of speeches at churches and prayer breakfasts around the country. In a half-dozen video and audiotapes obtained by NBC News, Boykin says America’s true enemy is not bin Laden.
In June 2003, Boykin spoke to a church group over a slide show:

“Well, is he [bin Laden] the enemy? Next slide. Or is this man [Saddam] the enemy? The enemy is none of these people I have showed you here. The enemy is a spiritual enemy. He’s called the principality of darkness. The enemy is a guy called Satan.”
Why are terrorists out to destroy the United States? Boykin said: “They’re after us because we’re a Christian nation.”
NBC News military analyst Bill Arkin, who’s been investigating Boykin for the Los Angeles Times, says the general casts the war on terror as a religious war: “I think that it is not only at odds with what the president believes, but it is a dangerous, extreme and pernicious view that really has no place.”
During a January church speech in Daytona, Fla., Boykin recalled a Muslim fighter in Somalia who bragged on television the Americans would never get him because his God, Allah, would protect him: “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.”

The Somali was captured, and Boykin said he told the man: “Mr. Atto, you underestimated our God.”
In a phone conversation, Boykin tells NBC he respects Muslims and believes the radicals who attack America are “not true followers of Islam.”
Boykin also routinely tells audiences that God, not the voters, chose President Bush: “Why is this man in the White House? The majority of Americans did not vote for him. Why is he there? And I tell you this morning that he’s in the White House because God put him there for a time such as this.”
Boykin tells NBC News that, given his new assignment, he is curtailing such speeches in the future. He says, “I don’t want … to be misconstrued. I don’t want to come across as a right-wing radical.”

Source: http://dc.indymedia.org/newswire/dis...2949/index.php

[pritchke]

"I don’t want to come across as a right-wing radical."

I don't know if he is right wing but he is definatly a radical. Wonder if he decides that nukes are nessacary he will say "God gave us nukes so we can use them." Scary!!!!

[ 10-17-2003, 09:57 AM: Message edited by: pritchke ]

[WillowIX]

In a phone conversation, Boykin tells NBC he respects Muslims and believes the radicals who attack America are “not true followers of Islam.

Well this line pretty much contradicts his opinions about the war being a religious one (christianity vs. islam that is). Interesting that he finds that the US is the only Christian nation out there... Also interesting that he thinks the enemy is Satan. Does that mean the term "the great Satan" (about the US) is somewhat justified? [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[Sir Kenyth]

Everyone would like things to be simple black and white, good guys vs. bad guys, or Right vs. wrong. We would all like it to be a title fight with a favored fighter, our own Uncle (goodness) Sam vs. evil. It's not that simple. Nothing ever is. Chaos is an uncomfortable notion, so some chose the extreme view to simplify things and keep the conscience happy. It simply wouldn't do to have to kill someone and not be righteous. You'll see that this concept is popular the world over and not just in the US.

"He believes His God stronger than the Moslem God." Hmmm. One extra-terrestial alien versus another? Sounds like Star Wars to me.

[Sir Taliesin]

It's my understanding that they are still the enemy! However they have been joined by a third person. Yeap! You guessed it. It's that guy that tried to catch the foul ball at the Cubs Game the other night! He's now a member of the AXIS OF EVIL!!!!


PS He isn't really, but as much grief as he has gotten you'd think he was!!!

[Azred]

It embarrasses me that this person is from the same nation as I am. [img]graemlins/madhell.gif[/img]

This guy should be discharged from the military, put into therapy, and given a cocktail of anti-psychotic medication, because he is clearly a danger to himself, if not those around him.

A "spiritual enemy"? [img]graemlins/erm.gif[/img] What, the devil made them do it? [img]graemlins/1drool.gif[/img]

[Sir Taliesin]

Actually, this person isn't in the Military anymore. He is retired and is an Under-Secretary at the Pentagon. He was a highly decorated soldier. And he is entitled to his opinion, even though many of us don't particulary care for it, myself included. I have to assume, though that he was selected, because he was the best person for the job at the time. There aren't many out there with the qualifications he has. I would dare say he will be back on the speaking circuit before too much longer, now though.

[Skunk]

Originally posted by Sir Taliesin: Actually, this person isn't in the Military anymore. He is retired and is an Under-Secretary at the Pentagon. He was a highly decorated soldier. And he is entitled to his opinion, even though many of us don't particulary care for it, myself included. I have to assume, though that he was selected, because he was the best person for the job at the time. There aren't many out there with the qualifications he has. I would dare say he will be back on the speaking circuit before too much longer, now though.

I beg to differ with you on this issue. If one choses to continue to assume a military title after leaving the service, and if one choses to continue to wear a military uniform - then one should continue to act and conduct oneself as if still in the service.

People will note the title and uniform and assume that he speaks for the military - and the military can not be seen to have political or religious affiliations - or currently serving soldiers in hotspots like Iraq and Afghanistan will have their operations and lives endangered.

If he drops the title and loses the uniform - then he has every right to say what he wants: but he can't have it both ways. Lives are at stake.

[Sir Taliesin]

There is not such rule that I'm aware of here the US Army. Many retired Generals are still introduced as General "So and So", not Mr. "So and So". Not only that, but many of the so called experts on TV that are retired military officers continue to use their ranks. General Wesley Clark, who is running for President on the Democratic ticket, continues to use his rank.

Also as far as I know General What's-His-Face doesn't appear in uniform on the speaking circuit, nor at the Pentagon. I assume since he is an Under-Secretary that he wears civilian dress since he is considered a Civilian now. And as an American Citizen he has every right to his opinion, no matter the number of lives it might or might not cost. Neither you nor I can do anything about that. It may cost him his position at the Pentagon (probably will and justifably so IMO), but he still has the right to say what he feels. Lord knows it ain't stopped his Boss yet!