Pentagon Fires Islamic Law Expert

(Washington) Triggered by a disagreement with Hasham Islam, a special assistant to defense bigshot Gordon England, terror analyst Stephen Coughlin was fired by the Pentagon.

Mr. Islam, a Muslim, referred to Mr. Coughlin as a "Christian zealot with a pen" during the meeting several weeks ago, a slur rejected by Mr. Coughlin's supporters.

Critics of Mr. Coughlin are spreading word -- falsely -- that he is being let go because he talked out of school to the press. One official suggested the action was due to budget cuts.

But defense and military officials supportive of Mr. Coughlin said the real reason is that critics, like Mr. Islam, want him sidelined because they oppose his hard-to-refute views on the relationship between Islamic law and Islamist jihad doctrine. (my bold)

Those views have triggered a harsh debate challenging the widespread and politically correct view of Islam as a religion of peace hijacked by extremists.

A number of senior officials have spoken in support of Coughlin, indicating that he has been a leader in promoting understanding of radical Islam. It's believed that the Joint Staff has lost its only Islamic law scholar if the firing stands.

Some said Coughlin was fired for merely telling the truth and not toeing the politically correct line.

So, one has to ask, "Does America want radical Islam to be unexamined by the Pentagon?" Apparently, SecDef Deputy Gordon England does.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.