Original subtitles

SECNAV: Not only have we captured Saddam Hussein,

we have also captured or killed

almost all of his most trusted lieutenants.

And I want to introduce two men

who have been key to this success--

Major General Earl Watson of the United States Marines

and General Mohammed Jabra of the Iraqi Army.

As of today, these two outstanding generals

are assigned to lead the joint task force

charged with capturing all remaining high-value targets.

Ladies and gentlemen,

General Watson and General Jabra.

(applause)

REPORTER: General Jabra? General Jabra?

Could you give us the Iraqi point of view

on relations with the U.S. military?

I speak for all Iraqi people when I say

that our trust in your military has grown,

as our nation grows more secure.

On a personal level, I've had

many late-night cups of coffee with General Watson

and have found him to be quite agreeable.

Though perhaps a little obsessed with American football.

(laughing)

WOMAN: Excuse me, General?

General Watson?

General, are you confident you're the right man

to be working so closely

with General Jabra and the other Iraqis,

given your hostile attitude toward their religion?

I don't know what you're talking about.

General, I was

at the Alexandria Baptist Church yesterday

when you gave your guest sermon.

You described Islam as a second-rate religion

and said we're doing battle with the Devil.

What I said in church--

and what I believe--

is simply that the United States

is engaged in a global war against evil.

General Watson, are you admitting to this accusation?

(reporters clamoring)

General Watson? General Watson!

Mr. Secretary?

SECNAV: This media frenzy

over General Watson

has reached from Norway to Zanzibar.

Zanzibar, folks.

Believe me, it doesn't do us any good anywhere.

The international community is already suspicious

of our motives.

I agree the general may have chosen his words poorly.

However, what he said is not entirely false.

We are at war with a decidedly evil people.

General Watson sounded like he was equating evil with Islam.

Well, that's not what he said.

But that's how some of our allies

and enemies are going to interpret it.

SECNAV: Well, if we're going to reassure them

that the general is not a fanatic,

we need to know what else he said.

Did he really call Islam a "second-rate religion"?

Well, the last I checked,

church sermons were protected by the Constitutional provisions

for freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

Military personnel are not as free

as other Americans, Commander.

The DOD, IG, and the Marine Corps

have requested JAG investigate

the general's remarks.

We'll get right on it, sir.

SECNAV: I'm not eager to see

General Watson get burned.

He's a courageous officer, and he's proved vital

in our counterinsurgency efforts.

Mr. Secretary, um...

in order for us to reassure our allies--

or anyone else, for that matter--

our investigation needs to be independent of any...

undue pressure.

SECNAV: Of course, A.J.

And I'd like to say that I'm glad

the general will be investigated by someone of Muslim heritage.

I think that'll enhance our credibility.

Sir, I don't feel comfortable

having my cultural background factor in my assignments.

SECNAV: Well, Colonel, I've come to learn

that religion is a factor in everything.

Good luck.

And... do me

one little favor.

Don't talk to the press.

When you're on patrol in Baghdad or manning an Iraqi checkpoint,

what do you think would be

the most important phrase to know?

Yes, Captain.

"Qif wa-il-la sa-et-leg el-far--

Stop or I will shoot."

Uh, yes, Amira.

Actually, that means,

"Stop or I will release the mice."

(laughter)

What you want is,

"Qif wa-il-la sa-et-leg qw-naar."

Now, people, let's, uh... try and get that right.

But I think there's another phrase

when in Iraq you would find to be very important.

And that is, "Nahnoo hoona limoo-saa-edu-tek--

We are here to help you."

Very good, General.

I'll quit while I'm ahead.

Let us thank Amira Sattar

for her expert assistance.

Now, Marines, I want you to have

everything in your notebooks

fully digested by 0800 tomorrow.

Dismissed.

ALL: Aye, aye, sir.

Thank you, Amira.

You're welcome, General.

General, sir.

This is Lieutenant Colonel MacKenzie.

I'm Commander Rabb. We're with Headquarters JAG.

Colonel. Hello, sir.

Commander. Sir.

I was told to expect a visit. Please, have a seat.

Thank you, sir.

What would you like to know?

Well, sir, why don't we start

with what you said at the church?

According to Jill Waddington, the ZNN reporter,

you called Islam a "second-rate religion."

I don't recall my exact words.

I suspect Ms. Waddington exaggerated.

But I probably did say something like that, yes.

You're offended?

We're listening, sir.

Commander, I'm aware

that in this morally relativistic age,

I'm supposed to declare every religion equal,

and Christianity is no better than Zoroastrianism.

But I believe that any religion that doesn't accept

Jesus Christ as our Savior is not following the true path.

If that makes me insensitive, then so be it.

Well, sir, you're certainly honest.

But you're essentially dividing the world

into Christians and infidels.

That's not a word I would use, Colonel.

Sir, did you-- as the reporter claims--

state that this country is presently

"doing battle with the Devil"?

Commander, whether you believe the Devil is real

or just a metaphor, wouldn't you agree

that an evil force was behind 9/11?

Well, that would be difficult to deny, General.

MacKENZIE: Sir, in your guest sermon,

did you equate Islam with evil?

No.

But there are certain aspects of Islam that trouble me.

The religion has a warrior streak that is too easily

appropriated as a justification for holy war and terrorism.

In all fairness, sir, Islam explicitly condemns terrorism.

And Christianity has been misused

to justify everything from enslaving Africans

to massacring American Indians.

That's true, Colonel, and I condemn that, as well.

But Ms. Waddington only mentioned part of my sermon.

What was the other part, sir?

That all of the world's peoples

are our brothers and sisters.

And it is our Christian duty to protect them

from tyranny and violence.

But don't trust my recollection of the sermon, Commander.

Ask the people who heard me speak.

(helicopter whirring)

General Watson was recommended to me

by a minister in Norfolk.

The general gave a guest sermon there last year.

Were you happy with the guest sermon

the general gave this past Sunday?

I don't see what all the fuss is about.

His message was, "Everybody is your neighbor.

And you have to love thy neighbor as thyself."

WOMAN: I've been the secretary here since 1972.

Haven't missed a single Sunday service since I started.

Then you heard General Watson's sermon.

You won't tell Reverend Owens everything I said, will you?

Not if you don't want me to.

To be honest, I felt kind of uncomfortable.

General Watson came down pretty hard on Islam.

What exactly did he say?

He said Muslims believe it's their religious duty

to conquer the infidels.

He said most Muslims are good, peaceful people,

and very religiously observant.

So, he never indicated that Islam was somehow evil?

Absolutely not.

Now, he said all religions are second to Christianity,

but we should respect them.

He never exactly called Islam "evil."

But he said, according to opinion polls,

most Muslims support the terrorists.

He emphasized most Muslims hate the terrorists.

He even mentioned some opinion polls to that effect.

He went on like that for over an hour.

Then he was gonna do a slide show.

Thankfully, the projector broke down.

OWENS: Unfortunately, the projector broke down.

But, uh, I could've listened to General Watson forever.

He was inspiring.

A true man of God.

TURNER: My father was a Navy chaplain

since before I was born.

Thank you.

I never heard him once say

a single negative word about another religion.

Yeah, no matter how we handle this,

we'll offend a lot of people.

(grunts)

You okay?

Yeah, I'm fine.

Except I could use some help on this case.

I'd be glad to.

Just let me know if I get

overly sanctimonious.

You, Sturgis?

Oh, boy.

What?

I was hoping this would go away.

I'm being investigated.

For what?

CHEGWIDDEN: I'm afraid we have

another cultural insensitivity case.

Commander Turner stands accused of anti-Korean bias.

That surprises me, sir.

Last fall, the commander and a Lieutenant Yi

were assigned to interrogate

some North Korean submariners.

Lieutenant Yi claims the commander's attitudes

caused the Navy to lose valuable intel.

I want you to investigate.

I've never heard the commander make

any anti-Korean or anti-Asian remarks, sir.

Well, if these allegations prove true,

I want them documented.

But if they're false, I want Turner's record cleared.

Understood?

Yes, sir.

What?

I was in the same position a year ago, sir.

I had Commander Turner's professional future in my hands.

Well, fortunately, he survived that experience.

Barely, sir.

Well, you'll do fine. That'll be all.

Yes, sir.

CHEGWIDDEN: So, what have you got on General Watson?

We've talked to seven people

who heard his guest sermon last Sunday, sir.

And each one has a different story.

But taken together, they indicate

General Watson publicly denigrated Islam.

The evidence is highly ambiguous, sir.

You two ever get tired of disagreeing?

Yes, sir. No, sir.

TURNER: Sir, if the Colonel is correct, General Watson is guilty

of conduct unbecoming.

And not only that, his public statements

may be undermining our war on terrorism.

RABB: Sir, I think we're being roped

into a politically correct witch hunt.

Some overly ambitious

TV reporter makes exaggerated claims.

Suddenly, we're all jumping through hoops.

Well, Commander, you're going to need

a 12-foot ladder for this one.

I taped this about ten minutes ago.

REPORTER: There have been some stunning new developments in the story.

Two and a half years ago, ZNN shot footage

of a church service at a Marine Corps base in Virginia.

That footage never aired at the time,

but when the current controversy surfaced,

our news staff was able to locate the tape.

The speaker you're about to see is Marine General Earl Watson.

Our nation is under attack from men who believe,

as the Koran says, that you must "fight the unbeliever

wherever you find them."

We are locked in a worldwide struggle.

And our enemy thinks

that we are soft.

Well, they are about to find out

that we are a mighty Christian army

and we will win this holy war.

General Watson has been awarded two Silver Stars and a Purple Heart.

He's served his country with distinction for 25 years.

He knew the rules, sir.

As a high-ranking officer, you've got to watch your tongue.

I bet you enjoy that part of the job, don't you, A.J.

At any rate, a court of inquiry has been convened

to examine General Watson's conduct.

I think that's a wise decision, sir.

Yes, and I want to keep it closed to the press.

Sir, you are aware that a court of inquiry

can recommend anything

from a complete exoneration to a court-martial.

I'd tell you the result that I'm hoping for,

but I guess to avoid impropriety,

I'd better hold my tongue.

Bet you enjoy that part of the job, don't you, sir.

Oh, yeah.

MacKENZIE: I realize we can't stop people

from being prejudiced.

But there's no excuse for shooting off your mouth

and alienating half the world.

So when it comes to prejudice, "Don't ask, don't tell?"

Colonel MacKenzie. Jill Waddington, ZNN.

We've already met.

Who authorized you to be in the building?

I have a meeting with the public affairs office.

Why is this inquiry

being held in private?

With all due respect, Ms. Waddington,

we have nothing to say.

Is JAG attempting to whitewash General Watson's actions?

The PAO's office is upstairs.

Colonel, because your general acted inappropriately,

is that a reason to be angry with the press?

How did she get onto General Watson in the first place?

She says she was driving past the church

and she just happened to see General Watson's name

on the message board out front.

That sounds convenient.

You think she had a source?

I'll subpoena her phone records.

The general apparently used slides during his talks.

We should get a hold of those, too.

I feel a little hypocritical.

I'm being investigated for prejudice,

and here I am going PC on the general.

Your case is totally different than General Watson's.

Both of us could have our careers destroyed.

Sturgis, there's no way you're guilty.

You're far too obsessively rational

to be prejudiced against anyone.

Thanks... I think.

Besides, I'm sure Lieutenant Roberts will determine

there's nothing to it.

Bud is investigating?

I... I thought you knew.

WATSON: Our nation is under attack

from men who believe, as the Koran says,

that they must "fight the unbeliever

wherever they find them."

Members of the court, this quote is often used

to "prove" that Islam is a warlike religion.

It's taken totally out of context.

It actually refers to a war 1,500 years ago

between a small Muslim community

and the local tribesmen who were torturing and killing them.

I will grant the general may have misinterpreted the Koran.

However, that has little to do with

the issue at this court of inquiry.

The general, in uniform and in public,

has been feeding false stereotypes

about Islam.

Let's watch the rest of it, Colonel.

WATSON: We are engaged in a worldwide struggle.

And our enemy thinks that we are soft.

But they are about to find out

that we are a mighty Christian army

and we will win this holy war.

The terrorists don't represent Islam

any more than the Ku Klux Klan represents Christianity.

The general refers to a mighty Christian army.

A holy war.

Our president has been very explicit

that this is not a religious war.

RABB: Our President also used the word "crusade,"

which has a definite religious subtext.

Religion is a part of life.

Our leaders need to feel

they can speak without censoring their every word.

This kind of loose talk endangers our national security.

There is no evidence that a few inappropriate words

will have any impact whatsoever.

It's bad enough that some

radical Islamists are talking holy war.

We don't need our own generals following suit.

Now, the Arab street is watching this.

A few more tapes like this,

and Osama won't need to make his videos anymore.

Gentlemen, I gave this sermon five days after 9/11.

We were pulling bodies from the rubble.

Our nation was under attack.

I wasn't paying attention to the niceties of speech.

Did you clear your comments with public affairs in advance?

Public affairs had a lot on its plate at the time.

Were you aware the media would be at this church service?

No. I flew in from Tampa the night before.

But when you arrived at the chapel,

and saw the TV news crews,

why didn't you moderate your comments?

RABB: I believe the general

has answered that question, sir.

9/11 was not a time for moderation.

Emotions were running high.

MacKENZIE: Yes, it was a crisis situation.

Exactly when we need our military leaders at their best.

(knocking on door)

CHEGWIDDEN: Enter.

Sir, we need that press release this afternoon.

Half the letters to the editor

say that General Watson deserves a Medal of Honor.

The other half say he should be hung upside down by his toes.

Well, we are a divided country, sir.

Oh, fortunately, we Americans have one thing in common.

Bad traffic?

Baseball.

Actually, sir, I'm not much of a fan.

I've fired people for less, Coates.

Sir, I told SECNAV

we'd fax it to him by 1500.

(sighs)

Very well.

You take shorthand, right?

Yes, sir.

I took a course last summer.

I must say, I found it much more enlightening

than my Psychology 101 course.

Okay... um...

The formal inquiry into... (sighs)

General Earl Watson's conduct

is expected to be completed by the end of this week.

In the meantime, may I suggest that we...

set aside all our religious differences

and instead, concentrate our efforts

on bringing a major league baseball team

back to the fine city

of Washington, DC.

I don't think that will fly, sir.

Why don't I work on a first draft

and then bring it in to you, sir.

Thanks, Coates.

You're welcome, sir.

Tell me something, Harm.

Were you offended by the general's comments about Islam?

A lot of things offend me, Mac.

It's what gets me going in the morning.

Seriously.

Look, do I agree with all of General Watson's views? No.

However, the general has spent his life

protecting our freedoms.

Now we're trying to take away his right

to freedom of religion and freedom of speech.

Colonel?

Now, doesn't that offend you?

What is it?

Jill Waddington's cell phone records.

Prior to visiting the Alexandria Baptist Church,

she spoke on the phone twice with a Marine corporal.

Her source.

(knocking)

Sir.

This is for you, Lieutenant.

I understand you're the point man

on the Lieutenant Yi investigation.

It's not something I requested, sir.

I put together all my papers

for you on the matter.

Peruse them at your leisure.

Thank you, sir.

Don't you worry about it, Lieutenant.

I'm sure you'll do a fine job.

(sergeant counting cadence)

Ma'am, is there any way to keep my identity secret?

What are you concerned about, Corporal Hamud?

Well, no one likes a whistle-blower, ma'am.

That's why I asked Ms. Waddington

not to tell anyone about me.

And how did you meet Ms. Waddington?

I met her at Parris Island.

She was doing a story on boot camp.

So a couple weeks ago,

when I heard that General Watson was getting

a high-profile assignment from CENTCOM,

I decided to call her.

And why was that, Corporal?

Ma'am, do you know that speech they're showing on TV,

from after 9/11?

Well, I was there.

And it upset you?

Yes, ma'am. I'm a Muslim.

What were you doing at a church service, Corporal?

It was not a church service, ma'am.

It was an interfaith service, ma'am.

That's how it was advertised in the Command Plan of the Day.

As a time for all Marines to come together,

no matter what their religion... and pray together.

And that's why you went there?

Ma'am, when 9/11 happened,

a lot of off-color comments got thrown around,

"raghead this" and "towelhead that."

I thought this service would be a chance to worship

with my fellow Marines, and feel solidarity.

Is that the way it worked out, Corporal Hamud?

No, ma'am.

When General Watson started trash-talking Islam...

it seemed like my country was turning against me.

That must have been distressing.

Ma'am, I'm getting out

of the Marine Corps next month.

I don't blame my decision on General Watson.

But his speech sure didn't make me want to re-enlist.

Corporal, were you the only non-Christian at the service?

HAMUD: There were at least two other Muslims

and two Jews that I knew of, ma'am.

And they were all very upset also.

Does counsel for the party have any questions?

Yes, I do.

Corporal Hamud, did you ever hear General Watson

say anything questionable

other than that one time?

HAMUD: No, sir.

But I didn't have much contact with him.

So then would you agree that there are many Muslims

serving in the Marine Corps who are happy?

I do know several Muslims

who are relatively content, yes, sir.

So then there is

no anti-Muslim sentiment

that pervades the Marine Corps?

I'd say when it comes to anti-Muslim prejudice,

the Marine Corps is about the same

as the rest of society, sir.

But our leaders shouldn't be out there fanning the flames, sir.

When 9/11 happened, we were all in a state of shock.

To some extent that excuses General Watson's actions.

However, the general disobeyed military regulations

by delivering a potentially inflammatory speech

in front of the press, in uniform,

without getting it cleared beforehand.

Furthermore, there is some evidence that he has continued

a pattern of questionable remarks since then.

General Watson, your rhetoric

has damaged our nation's relations with our allies.

Your outspoken views disrupted good order and discipline

within the Marine Corps.

This court of inquiry recommends that you be charged

with dereliction of duty

and conduct unbecoming an officer...

and that these charges be disposed of

at general court-martial.

CHEGWIDDEN: All the major American networks

and Al Jazeera will be covering the court-martial.

By the time this is over, sir,

General Watson's controversial statements about Islam

will be seen by hundreds of millions of people.

Why don't we just accept the fact

that some of our leaders have strong opinions

and that's what makes them great leaders?

Great leaders don't actively promote

the clash of civilizations.

Mac, that was the media's doing.

General Watson merely stated

his belief that God is not neutral

in the struggle between freedom and terrorism.

No, I think God would prefer it

if people didn't throw his name around quite so much.

( knocking on door )

COATES: Excuse me, sir.

Good morning, everybody.

Mr. Secretary.

As you were.

I just dropped by to thank the admiral

for keeping the investigation of General Watson so quiet.

Sir, there is no way...

Just kidding. Just kidding, A.J.

At this point, we'll just let the chips fall where they may.

Let's show our allies and our enemies

American military jurisprudence at its finest.

Yes, sir.

Colonel MacKenzie, uh,

who are you planning to have testify?

Actually, uh, Mr. Secretary,

I was thinking of calling you.

SECNAV: General Watson is charged

with speeding up the flow of intel

to all field units that are tracking top-ranked terrorists.

Sir, have the general's comments about Islam

affected his ability to fulfill his mission?

Now that they've been publicized,

they could have a negative effect, yes.

In what way?

Objection: calls for speculation.

It's well within the witness's field of expertise.

Overruled.

The general allegedly said

that we're engaged in a war against Islam;

that could make some Iraqis less likely to cooperate

with our military.

Mr. Secretary, could this endanger the safety

of our troops in the field?

Objection, Your Honor.

Again overruled.

In general, when we don't

have cooperation, the safety of our troops becomes an issue.

Sir, have the general's statements given ammunition

to Islamic extremists in their efforts

to gain new recruits?

They could have, yes.

And how have the general's statements affected Muslims

in the United States military?

I can't imagine they're too happy about it.

They didn't sign up to be in a Christian army.

They signed up to be American servicemen and women.

Thank you, Mr. Secretary.

You're welcome.

Sir, aside from Marine Corporal Hamud,

have any other Muslim serviceman ever complained

about General Watson?

According to Headquarters, Marine Corps,

there have been no other complaints.

Have the general's words had any clear

and direct impact on the war on terrorism, sir?

There's been no direct impact that I could quantify.

Have the general's statements inflamed

any moderate Muslims and caused them

to pick up the bloody sword of jihad?

Not to my knowledge, Commander.

How has the general performed in his mission

to capture Saddam Hussein and other Baathist loyalists, sir?

Admirably.

He was instrumental in the capture

of over 45 of the targets

in the famous deck of cards.

Do you feel, Mr. Secretary,

removing General Watson from this assignment

would negatively impact the war on terrorism?

You could definitely make that argument.

You have calls from the Anti-Defamation League,

the Council for Islamic Relations,

the American Association of Churches.

Coates, in the 1930s,

do you know who the most famous Jew was?

Uh... Albert Einstein, sir?

More famous than Einstein.

Sigmund Freud?

More famous than Freud.

I give up, sir.

Hank Greenberg.

Hank Greenberg, sir?

AKA Hammering Hank.

Hall of Fame, first baseman, left-fielder.

Led the Detroit Tigers to four World Series.

It figures this would be about baseball, sir.

Hank Greenberg did more to combat anti-Semitism

in the '30s than any other man.

When you're rooting for a Jewish guy to hit one over the fence,

it makes it harder to hate Jews.

Coates, you know what this world needs?

Stockings that don't run, sir?

A Muslim who can hit 60 home runs.

But we have had famous Muslim

athletes, sir.

Muhammad Ali, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar...

Oh, I know, I know, but it's...

not baseball.

Petty Officer,

may I see you for a minute?

Is something wrong, ma'am?

In my office.

Petty Officer, we have a question.

Is Meredith's marriage to the admiral on or off?

Sir, I-I don't think I'm at liberty...

MacKENZIE: We need to know for sure, Jennifer.

Otherwise, one of us is going to embarrass

ourselves by asking.

Incurring the admiral's wrath, which we don't want.

I hear that... sir.

We have to know if the wedding is on

so that we can all make plans.

Sir, the admiral has never told me anything directly.

You know something.

Yes, sir, I do.

And those are two words the admiral won't be saying.

Americans, for some reason, can't seem to tell

the difference between real Islam

and the terrorists' perversion of Islam.

When I saw the general's sermon on television, I was disturbed.

Why is that, General Jabra?

I've always admired General Watson.

I fought beside him.

I've trusted him with my life.

Now I learn that he despises my religion.

My feeling was, in a sense...

he despises me.

Did your fellow Iraqi military and police officers

have similar reactions?

Some of them heard the general.

It didn't really bother them.

They said it was just words.

How did the other Iraqi officers react?

Many Iraqis, including military officers,

are saying, "You see what these Americans think of us?

"No wonder the reconstruction is going so slowly,"

that "They don't really give a damn."

Thank you.

Your witness.

General, are the Iraqi people grateful that Saddam Hussein

and his cohorts are gone?

No question.

Are they aware of General Watson's role in that, sir?

They know that the general

has been effective in bringing torturers

and murderers to justice.

Do you feel the Iraqi people,

in the light of everything General Watson has done,

could forgive his comments?

I can only speak for myself, Commander.

Please do, sir.

When I saw the general's comments on television,

the ones that have been verified,

he made them right after 9/11.

For that reason, I'm willing-- as you would say--

"Cut him some slack."

Also...

Also what, sir?

I do not wish to offend.

However, I sometimes personally feel as though Christianity

is a very odd religion.

You have a Father, a Son, a Holy Ghost?

What is this-- one God, three gods, what?

So...

if I find your religion a little bizarre,

I can't get too angry with you for finding mine...

equally strange.

NEWSWOMAN: Today's witnesses were a mixed bag

for the prosecution.

In fact, some foreign observers questioned whether

the prosecution is actually trying to win this case,

since it could prove embarrassing for the government.

NEWSMAN: Thank you, Jill. Stupid twit.

Well, that we agree on.

Listen, I need your witness list for tomorrow.

Still working on it.

Mac, you know... Skip it, Harm.

I'm not interested in a deal. Neither am I.

In fact, I think you should have the charges dropped.

Dream on.

All you have are statements

the general made right after 9/11.

And the ones he made at the Alexandria Baptist Church

less than one month ago.

There's no objective record of his statements, Mac.

You call witnesses to testify that he attacked Islam

and the church; I'll call witnesses

who remember the exact opposite.

MAN: I believe Commander Turner's

racially biased against Koreans.

And you believe this bias

restricted your ability to gather intel.

It did, Lieutenant.

In what way?

A North Korean submarine crew was rescued

by one of our attack subs.

Commander Turner allowed a sailor

to antagonize a North Korean skipper,

who became mentally agitated.

Then Commander Turner supported him being tied up.

That shut him down completely,

rendering him useless as an intelligence source.

I'm sorry, Lieutenant, I don't understand

how racial bias comes into play here.

Commander Turner made statements

which suggested he had little respect for Koreans.

I believe this attitude motivated his treatment

of the North Korean skipper.

Lieutenant, it says here in your file

that when you were a child,

a black man robbed and shot your father

in his convenience store.

Yes.

Did that affect your opinion of Commander Turner?

Commander Turner didn't shoot my father, Lieutenant.

No, but I spoke with your father

yesterday about the man who did shoot him.

And he referred to his assailant as a "nigger."

Have you ever used that word, Lieutenant?

No.

How do you feel about your father using that word?

I do not approve, Lieutenant.

But you understand why he speaks that way.

Yes.

Did what happen

make you angry, Lieutenant?

At times.

As angry as your father?

Lieutenant, you have had six months

to think about your accusations.

Can you honestly tell me that you haven't,

at least once during that time, questioned your motives?

MacKENZIE: Sturgis, we need to establish

a continuing pattern of anti-Islamic remarks.

That would be good.

Maybe we should call witnesses

from the church in Alexandria.

We need some kind of physical evidence to back them up.

Anybody can claim someone else made prejudiced remarks.

I don't know how much weight that should really carry.

I understand Lieutenant Yi is topside.

I'm sure it's going to be all right.

Racial issues are so subjective.

How do you know for sure I'm not anti-Korean?

How do I know?

Well, for one thing,

you don't have a continuing pattern

of anti-Korean remarks.

What is on your computer?

These are the slides the general couldn't show in Alexandria

because the projector broke down.

I'm not sure where this is, maybe Baghdad.

Maybe he showed these

at one of the other churches he spoke at recently.

Anything we can use?

Depends on the commentary he gave when he ran the slides.

These are the same slides General Watson showed

at my church in Baltimore five months ago.

For the record, Reverend Haynes,

what does this slide show?

Our Lord Jesus Christ.

And this next slide shows?

The Devil.

And how about this one?

Um, it's a map of the world

with the Muslim countries

in red.

Why did General Watson put this slide right after the Devil?

Objection: calls for an opinion.

I'll allow it for now. Overruled.

He was making a point that in these Muslim countries,

the Devil is fighting for power.

When he made this point,

was the general wearing a Marine Corps uniform?

Yes, he was.

Did the general explain the significance of this slide?

It's a photograph that the general took

of Baghdad on fire.

And why did he say he included this one?

Um... (clears throat)

when I invited the general to speak at my church,

I wasn't aware what his views were.

TURNER: What did he say?

That if you look closely enough in the smoke,

you can see the Devil.

Exactly where would that be, Reverend Haynes?

I really don't know, Commander.

( knocking on door )

ROBERTS: Do you have a moment, sir?

Come on in, Lieutenant.

Heard you had a good day in court.

Sometimes you get lucky.

I have some information, sir.

I've just been informed that Lieutenant Yi

has decided to drop all charges against you.

( chuckles )

What, uh, did you say to him, Lieutenant?

Oh, nothing special.

Actually, I got him to think a little bit more

about what he was saying, sir.

Also, I threatened to punch his lights out.

I appreciate that, Lieutenant.

Sir, there is no way I was gonna let you down this time.

I believe that God is with us every day.

He gives us signs,

and the reason we pray is so that we can see these signs

and understand God's will for us.

And one of these signs appeared to you

in the smoke over Baghdad?

Commander,

I believe that in the middle of that fierce battle,

when my life and the lives of thousands of others

were in danger, God allowed me to see the face of the Devil.

But you think I'm a nut, don't you?

No, no, I don't, sir.

I have no doubt that in war

some people have very intense spiritual experiences.

Unfortunately, we live

in a profoundly antireligious culture.

Have you been watching the news, Commander?

No, sir. I have.

It's a mistake, General.

They're going out of their way to make

my religious beliefs look foolish.

Sir, tomorrow in your testimony,

you're gonna need to play down

some of your more controversial views.

I refuse to lie about what I believe in.

General, like it or not,

we need to counteract the bad press you've been getting.

( sighs )

Commander, I hate to take personal credit

for deeds I've done in the name of Jesus,

but perhaps... there is one potential witness

that might be of some help.

My husband Ayman was in a unit

commanded by General Jabra and General Watson.

RABB: What happened to your husband, Mrs. Sattar?

He was killed in a fedayeen ambush.

RABB: How did you meet General Watson, ma'am?

He came to our house to show his respects.

Then he found out

I have breast cancer,

and the Iraqi hospital could not help me.

What did the general do?

He said that the United States

owed my family because my husband fought so bravely.

So he brought me to this country.

I live in an apartment

owned by his church.

The church pays for my treatments.

Why did he do that, Mrs. Sattar?

Because he is a good man.

Has General Watson ever tried to convert you to Christianity?

General Watson and his fellow church members

drive me to a mosque every Friday night for services.

Thank you, Mrs. Sattar,

and I hope you recover fully, ma'am.

Thank you.

The government has no questions for this witness, Your Honor.

I can't change what I believe,

and what I believe is that we are engaged

in far more than a physical battle.

We are fighting for the good of mankind.

Have your beliefs ever interfered

in the performance of your duties, sir?

On the contrary, Commander.

My beliefs have given me the courage

to go out on the front line and risk my life.

Have you ever mistreated

personnel under your command who didn't share

your beliefs, sir? I try to treat people of every religion

as if they were my brother and sister.

Is that why you brought Mrs. Sattar to this country

for medical treatment, sir?

Yes.

Have you had problems with Muslims

under your command in the past, sir?

I've commanded Muslims and Jews and even Buddhists.

The only problem I had was when the Buddhist

kept beating everybody in poker.

( scattered laughter )

Why did you talk about

your religious beliefs in public, sir?

I talked about my religion in churches.

It's enough we can't pray in our schools now.

I hope we haven't gotten to the point

where a Christian man can't express Christian views

while speaking inside a Christian church.

Thank you, General.

Your witness.

General Watson, when you speak in churches,

are you, uh, acting as a private citizen

or as a spokesman for the United States military?

As a private citizen. Well, then

why wear your military uniform, sir?

Doesn't that give people a false impression?

Colonel, I always make it clear

that I'm giving personal witness.

Wouldn't it have been much more clear

if you had chosen to wear civilian dress?

The congregations understood that my opinions were my own.

Sir, did you ever clear

your speeches with the chain of command or Public Affairs,

as required by regulations?

These were church sermons, not public speeches.

Well, they became very public, didn't they, General?

That wasn't my choice, Colonel.

You spoke in front of a ZNN camera crew

at an interfaith service.

The service took place in a marine chapel.

I assumed it was a regular church service.

As far as speaking in front of a TV crew,

that was a mistake-- especially since

some of my statements were mischaracterized by the media.

Well, let's talk about your statements, sir.

Did you say, as Reverend Haynes testified,

that in all these Muslim countries,

the Devil is fighting for power?

I believe the Devil

is fighting for power all over the world.

Well, then why single out the Muslim countries?

I wasn't criticizing Islam per se,

but we'd be foolish not to recognize

that the terrorists we're fighting

are Muslims.

So what exactly are you saying about Muslims, sir?

Objection. The General's personal beliefs

are not on trial here.

No, but his public statements expressing them are.

Overruled.

Please answer, sir.

I believe the vast majority of Muslims are good people.

But I also believe that Islam throughout history

has frequently motivated some of its practitioners

to declare jihad, and that is what is happening now.

What does "jihad" mean, sir?

Holy war.

Mm.

General, are you aware that "jihad" actually means

to struggle or strive for something,

such as the welfare of one's fellow human beings,

and is often used in a totally peaceful context.

That's not how I've heard it used, Colonel.

Sir, are you aware that Islam,

like Christianity and Judaism,

only considers warfare justified if it's in self-defense,

or to liberate people who are suffering

from persecution and tyranny?

I'm not aware of that, no.

Are you aware that Islam,

again, like Christianity and Judaism, has rules about war

that prohibit killing children, women,

the elderly, and other noncombatants.

That's not the way our enemy's acting, Colonel.

Sir, are you aware that Islam

specifically prohibits suicide, including suicide bombings?

Then why are they doing it?

Because they are not following Islam

any more than Timothy McVeigh was following Christianity.

Objection. Counsel is testifying now, Your Honor.

MacKENZIE: Withdrawn.

General, don't you think that you should know

a little more about Islam

before you start discussing it in public?

Your Honor, while the general may not be

an expert on comparative religions,

that has little to do with this court-martial.

Your Honor, General Watson has spread

false, hateful stereotypes

against another religion, and in so doing,

has hurt our image abroad, contributing

to the erosion of support for the Arab world There is no clear proof

of that, Your Honor. and possibly increased risk

Your Honor! to the members of the U.S. military.

Save it for closing arguments.

Do you have any more questions for this witness?

Just one, Your Honor.

General Watson,

based on your experiences as a military officer,

do you believe that your statements on Islam

aided the war on terrorism or damaged it?

Colonel, I have devoted my life to the service of this country,

and I believe I still have much to give.

You want to take me to task for being intolerant of Islam.

Well, I ask you to be tolerant of my beliefs.

All I ever did was speak honestly, from my heart.

For that, I do not think I should be relieved

of my duties in the Marine Corps.

JUDGE: Defendant and counsel will rise.

Will the senior member please announce the findings.

SENIOR MEMBER: Major General Earl Watson, United States Marine Corps,

on the charges and specifications

of dereliction of duty and conduct unbecoming an officer,

this court-martial finds you...

not guilty.

Congratulations. JUDGE: General Watson,

while this court has found you not guilty,

I intend to recommend to the convening authority

that you be formally counseled,

and ordered not to assert your beliefs

in public forums.

Despite your impassioned statement,

the right of free speech in the military

must be balanced with the primary mission

of defending our country.

There is no place for inflammatory remarks

about religion in today's Marine Corps.

This court is hereby adjourned.

No hard feelings, Colonel.

We're all serving our country in different ways.

MAN ( over TV ): This was the scene today near Fallouja,

where at least 18 marines have been killed

in a suicide bombing.

A previously unknown group called The Fire of Allah

claimed responsibility for what they called

a "glorious victory in this holy war."

Their message was delivered in an audiotape

which was left anonymously

at the Al Jazeera headquarters in Cairo.

If you'll excuse me.

This is the deadliest single attack on American troops

since the war in Iraq began one year ago.

Well, this is why we need men like General Watson.

Or not.