JAG (1995–2005): Season 9, Episode 20 - Fighting Words - full transcript

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.