A general rebuked.

Byline: The Register-Guard

When he's out of uniform and speaking as an ordinary citizen, William G. Boykin is entitled to express any religious beliefs he wants, whether they're those of an evangelical Christian, or, for that matter, a Muslim.

But when Lt. Gen. Boykin dons his Army uniform and speaks in public as deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence, a very different set of rules applies.

A new Pentagon report has rightly concluded that Boykin violated military regulations two years ago when he spoke before Christian groups, including a church in Oregon, and cast the war on terror as a battle between Judeo-Christian values and Muslim warriors influenced by "a guy named Satan."

Discussing a U.S. Army battle against a Muslim warlord in Somalia in 1993, 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's irresponsible and much-publicized comments two years ago prompted outrage from Muslims in this country and Islamic nations across the world. His remarks came at a time when President Bush was striving to convince them that the United States was targeting terrorists and not Islam.

Boykin's supporters have argued that he was doing nothing different from what American presidents and generals since George Washington have done - invoking the name of the almighty during a time of war.

But Boykin did more than that: At a critically sensitive moment in history, he reinforced the impression that America was waging a holy crusade against the Muslim faith. Worse, he gave this nation's terrorist foes exactly what they needed to attract new disciples and funding and to intensify their deadly struggle against the United States.

Pentagon officials compounded the damage by failing to publicly condemn Boykin's remarks. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld went out of his way to defend the general as "an officer that has an outstanding record in the United States armed forces.''

Now, a Pentagon report has concluded that Boykin violated three regulations - failing to clear his speeches with the Pentagon, not informing his audiences that he was not speaking for the military or government, and failing to report a travel reimbursement from a religious group.

It remains to be seen what disciplinary action Boykin will face. Some leniency is in order. Pentagon officials say the violations are regarded as minor, and the general has written an apology to any his remarks might have offended. Boykin's exemplary record should also be kept in mind - he arose from the ranks, starting as a Delta Force commando and moving up to serve in the Joint Special Operations Command and the CIA. Currently, he oversees the military's hunt for Osama bin Laden.

Boykin is an accomplished soldier who made a huge error in judgment, one that should remind all who serve to draw a clear, bright line between what they say in and out of uniform.