Rumsfeld backs inside probe of general’s speech

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said yesterday that he welcomes an internal investigation of a three-star general who spoke of the war on terrorism in religious terms.

Mr. Rumsfeld had said last week that he could not verify the remarks made at a church meeting by Army Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin, a deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence and special operations.

“I have since seen one of the network tapes, and it had a lot of very difficult-to-understand words with subtitles which I was not able to verify,” Mr. Rumsfeld said.

Gen. Boykin yesterday requested a review at the inspector general level, “and I have indicated that if that’s his request, I think it’s appropriate,” Mr. Rumsfeld told reporters at the Pentagon.

The secretary said it was not clear who will take up the matter, the Pentagon’s inspector general or the Army’s own watchdog.

Gen. Boykin, an evangelical Christian, was quoted as saying that the war against terrorism is a battle between good and evil, with terrorists representing “Satan.”

The three-star general’s remarks have come under fire as inappropriate, and administration officials have distanced themselves from the comments, saying the war against terrorism is not a war against Islam.

Mr. Rumsfeld said yesterday that he had made the point on several occasions that the war against terrorism “is not a war against a religion.”

Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Gen. Boykin had mentioned during a recent talk “how sad he was that his comments have caused the furor that they have.”

“There’s no doubt in my mind in talking to him that if he could pick his words more carefully, he would,” Gen. Pace said during an appearance with Mr. Rumsfeld.

“There’s also no doubt in my mind that he does not see this battle as a battle between religions. He sees it as a battle between good and evil. He sees it as the evil being the acts of individuals, not the acts of any religion or affiliation with religion.”

Gen. Pace said Gen. Boykin is “anxious to have the investigator do the investigator’s job.”

Last week, Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he did not believe the general’s remarks broke any rules.

Gen. Boykin has said in several recent speeches at evangelical Christian churches that God has put President Bush in the White House to battle terrorists.

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