(RNS) — The U.S. Army has taken “appropriate action” against an undersecretary who said the war on terrorism was a religious battle.
Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Richard Cody told Reuters that the action against Lt. Gen. William G. “Jerry” Boykin was not “significant.”
“I took the appropriate action based on the recommendations of the inspector general,” Cody told the news agency during the annual meeting of the Association of the U.S. Army in Washington.
“If it was something significant, it would be something we would talk about. So that should give you an indication.”
He declined to give details of the action or say when it was taken. Boykin, who was attending the same meeting, declined to comment.
A Defense Department investigation of Boykin had recommended “corrective action” because he did not get clearance for his remarks and failed to clarify that his statements were not official.
In the fall of 2003, media coverage about Boykin’s remarks at churches prompted controversy and charges of religious intolerance. In one speech to a church group, he said that terrorists were trying to destroy the United States “because we’re a Christian nation.”
In October 2003, he requested the inspector general investigation and issued an apology saying, “I am not anti-Islam or any other religion.” President Bush declared that he did not agree with the undersecretary’s controversial statements.