Pentagon orders redesign of class on Islam

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WASHINGTON, June 20 (UPI) -- A class on "Perspectives on Islam and Islamic Radicalism" at a U.S. military staff college presents a negative view of the religion, an official review found.

The course will not be offered again until it has been redesigned, officials said.

The Defense Department said Wednesday the Joint Forces Staff College did not provide enough oversight of the elective course, taught by outside instructors. As a result, students were not given information on U.S. counter-terrorism strategy.

The course came under scrutiny after students complained they were being presented with an unbalanced negative description of Islam.

"The inquiry recommends the course be redesigned to include aspects of U.S. policy and reduce its reliance on external instruction," a Pentagon statement said.

The National Defense University Policy Handbook gives instructors the freedom to present all points of view. But the handbook also says instructors have the responsibility to be objective and exercise sound judgment.