The man is now Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence. When he speaks in public with his uniform on, people figure, I think reasonably, that he is speaking as Undersecretary of Defense. It's not like someone eavesdropped on him talking at a family picnic over a couple of beers.

While the Army has seldom, if ever, taken action against officers for expressions of religious opinion, outside experts see remarks such as Boykin's as sending the wrong message to the Arab and Islamic world.

"The first lesson is to recognize that whatever we say here is heard there, particularly anything perceived to be hostile to their basic religion, and they don't forget it," said Stephen Cohen, a member of the panel named to study policy in the Arab and Muslim world for the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy. "The phrase 'Judeo-Christian' is a big mistake. It's basically the language of bin Laden and his supporters," said Cohen, president of the Institute for Middle East Peace and Development in New York. "They are constantly trying to create the impression that the Jews and Christians are getting together to beat up on Islam."

Boykin was not available for comment and did not respond to written questions yesterday.

Cooper, Richard T. "New U.S. Terrorist Tracker Known for Religious Zeal." Seattle Times, 16 Oct 2003

He can go to the church of his choice. He can found a chapter of Promise Keepers. He can lead a youth group. But when he talks about his work, in public, in uniform, it isn't too much to expect that he would make sure his words reflect the official position of the government that he is representing, and the objectives of that government, rather than his personal religious agenda.

Regards--
Mary Anne