Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein today urged Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to "take appropriate action" in response to "offensive"comments in uniform by Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence General William G. "Jerry" Boykin regarding Islam. The following is the text of a letter sent by Senator Feinstein to Secretary Rumsfeld:

"I am writing to express my deep concern over the remarks made by Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence General William G. "Jerry" Boykin regarding Islam, and my deep disappointment at the failure of either you or the Department of Defense to take appropriate action. In my view, his statements represent a misunderstanding of Islam, a misunderstanding of American values, and a mischaracterization of United States policy.

It is my understanding that over the past two years General Boykin has addressed several evangelical Christian groups, in Army uniform, describing the United States as a "Christian nation" and stating that he knew he would capture a Muslim Somali warlord because "I knew my God was bigger than his. I knew that my God was a real God and his was an idol." In addition, he has characterized the war on terror as a "spiritual battle" and said "Satan wants to destroy this nation, he wants to destroy us as a nation, and he wants to destroy us as a Christian army."

Mr. Secretary, these comments are offensive and deeply misguided and will only serve to benefit those who believe the United States is waging a war not against terror, but Islam itself.

As you know, Al Qaeda and others seek a "clash of civilizations", and wish to create a united Islamic state under Shir'ia, stretching from North Africa and the Middle East to Indonesia and the Philippines. Remarks such as those by General Boykin can only serve to give impetus to those who would seek to recruit and brainwash disaffected Muslim youth to carry our acts of terror against Americans and our friends and allies. At present, President Bush's own commission on public diplomacy has reported that in nine Muslim and Arab nations only 12 percent of respondents believe that "America respects Arab/Islamic values."

If we are to be successful in the War on Terror, both the actions and the rhetoric of America's leaders must accurately reflect our mission - and not to contribute to an atmosphere of hatred, intolerance, and mistrust that can only serve to undermine our national security interests.

You have stated that General Boykin, as an American, is entitled to free speech. I agree. But, he spoke as a general in the United States Army in full uniform. And when General Boykin delivers remarks wearing the uniform of the United States Army, there is a clear implication that his words reflect the policy of the United States Army and the United States Government.

General Boykin's remarks do not represent the values of the United States Government or the United States Army. They certainly do not represent the views of this Senator. And I trust that they do not represent the views of the Secretary of Defense or of the President of the United States.

A failure to take appropriate action against General Boykin will send a counterproductive message to the hundreds of millions of people in the Muslim world with whom we must work as we prosecute the War on Terror. I would urge you not to allow General Boykin's comments to stand without any response or action by you or the Department of Defense. I look forward to your action to see to it that General Boykin and his comments do not otherwise undermine your efforts in the War on Terror."