General William G. Boykin (ret.), implementer of US torture policies in Iraq under Donald Rumsfeld:
Here's the way I want to enter the gates of Heaven. I want to come skidding in there on all fours. I want to be slipping and sliding and I want to hit the gates of heaven with a bang. And when I stand up and I stand before Christ, I want there to be blood on my knees and my elbows. I want to be covered with mud. And I want to be standing there with a ragged breast plate of righteousness. And a spear in my hand. And I want to say, "Look at me, Jesus. I've been in the battle. I've been fighting for you." Ladies and gentlemen, put your armor on and get into battle. God bless you.
A Biblical 'justification' against Muslims:
Genesis 16:11-12
Then the Lord’s angel said to [Hagar], "You are now pregnant and are about to give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard your painful groans. He will be a wild donkey of a man. He will be hostile to everyone, and everyone will be hostile to him. He will live away from his brothers."
- Hagar was an Egyptian servant who had Abraham's son Ishmael.
- Abraham's real wife Sarah birthed Isaac.
- The story of God commanding Abraham to kill his son is a central part to both Judeo-Christian and Muslim tradition. The role of Isaac and Ishael, and which received the birthright, is reversed between the religions.
- Christians claim the lineage of Jesus through Isaac, Muslims claim the lineage of Mohammad through Ishmael.
This is where it all starts. This is how their interpretation of the Bible "gives" them justification to wage war against Islam. By extrapolating the context of 'he' to include Ishmael's supposed bloodline to Mohammad, "everyone will be hostile to him" is a timeless call-to-arms against the religion. The fact that Islam did not yet exist is really of no consequence given this divergence of the religion's lineage from one central figure.
At its extreme interpretation the simple fact is the administration wouldn't care if they torture an "innocent" person because they are guilty of being Muslim.
WWMD - What W. Might Do:
September 19, 2001
As Europeans wait to see how the United States is planning to retaliate for last week's terrorist attacks in Washington and New York, there is growing anxiety here about the tone of American war rhetoric. President Bush's reference to a "crusade" against terrorism, which passed almost unnoticed by Americans, rang alarm bells in Europe.
Ari Fleisher:
I think to the degree that that word has many connotations that would upset many of our partners or anybody else in the world, the president would regret if anything like that was conveyed. But the purpose of his conveying it is in the traditional English sense of the word, it's a broad cause.
Let's not forget the word dancing these guys play. The point of what Bush said or otherwise implied was not really denied or refuted.
General William G. Boykin
Credit to: National Names Database (NNDB)
So who better than Boykin to be put in charge of intelligence and warfighting policy with regard to the war against terrorism in 2003?
Impressive resume to say the least. Tied to the Iranian hostage rescue attempt. The invasion of Grenada. Advised Janet Reno on what kind of gas to use at Waco. Helped go after Pablo Escobar. Hunted Somali warlords. Helped implement Guantanamo policies at Abu Ghraib on Rumsfeld's orders.
This "spiritual enemy," Boykin said in one talk, "will only be defeated if we come against them in the name of Jesus."
Boykin praised the leadership of President George W. Bush, saying that God appointed Bush as president for "such a time as this."
"George Bush was not elected by a majority of the voters in the United States," Boykin said. "He was appointed by God."
How quickly we forget. A man who espoused so much fundamentalist diatribe that W. even had to distance himself from the man. Not because they didn't agree on many things. Not because he didn't approve of his implementation of policies. No, Boykin just couldn't keep his mouth shut.
October 2003
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has assigned the task of tracking down and eliminating Osama bin Laden, Saddam Hussein and other high-profile targets to an Army general who sees the war on terrorism as a clash between Judeo-Christian values and Satan.
Yet the former commander and 13-year veteran of the Army's top-secret Delta Force is also an outspoken evangelical Christian who appeared in dress uniform and polished jump boots before a religious group in Oregon in June to declare that radical Islamists hated the United States "because we're a Christian nation, because our foundation and our roots are Judeo-Christian ... and the enemy is a guy named Satan."
Discussing the battle against a Muslim warlord in Somalia, Boykin told another audience, "I knew my God was bigger than his. I knew that my God was a real God and his was an idol."
Boykin is long gone now but his legacy remains throughout Iraq.
CREATED FOR BATTLE
And we're surprised that proselytizing goes on in the Army? For all intensive purposes Bush leads a Christian Army. Given his deference to anything but his way, surely he leads with a divine right.
George W. Bush:
I'm driven with a mission from God. God would tell me: George, go and fight those terrorists in Afghanistan. And I did, and then God would tell me, George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq and I did. And now, again, I feel God's words coming to me - go get the Palestinians their state and get the Israelis their security, and get peace in the Middle East. And by God I'm gonna do it.
What is "God" telling him about Iran? How does "God" tell him to treat Muslim detainees?
Somehow it wouldn't surprise me if he sees this vision.