Quote of the day, from Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin, confirmed in June as deputy undersecretary of defense--and known for his "penchant" for casting the Iraq War in religious tones:

Islamic extremists hate the United States "because we're a Christian nation, because our foundation and our roots are Judeo-Christians. ... And the enemy is a guy named Satan."

Here's a prior quote from Boykin on a 1993 battle in Somalia:

Discussing a U.S. Army battle against a Muslim warlord in Somalia in 1993, Boykin told one audience, "I knew my god was bigger than his. I knew that my god was a real god and his was an idol."

Rumsfeld and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are thus far defending Boykin. But Rhode Island's Republican Senator Lincoln D. Chafee "...said he had not been aware of Boykin's views as described by the Times, then added, "If that's accurate, to me it's deplorable."

So the war on terrorism can be reduced to "a clash between Judeo-Christian values and Satan?" Where did this guy come from and please, send him back now.

Update: The General apologizes. Well, not really.