Gen. David Petraeus said the Taliban would exploit the demonstration for propaganda purposes, drumming up anger toward the U.S. and making it harder for allied troops to carry out their mission of protecting Afghan civilians.
"It could endanger troops and it could endanger the overall effort," Gen. Petraeus said in an interview. "It is precisely the kind of action the Taliban uses and could cause significant problems. Not just here, but everywhere in the world we are engaged with the Islamic community."
Hundreds of Afghans attended a demonstration in Kabul on Monday to protest the plans of Florida pastor Terry Jones, who has said he will burn copies of Islam's holy book to mark the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Afghan protesters chanted "death to America," and speakers called on the U.S. to withdraw its troops. Some protesters threw rocks at a passing military convoy.
Military officials fear the protests will likely spread to other Afghan cities, especially if the event is broadcast or ends up on Internet video.
Mr. Jones, head of the 50-member Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Fla., said in a statement that "We understand the General's concerns. We are sure that his concerns are legitimate." Nonetheless, he added, "We must send a clear message to the radical element of Islam. We will no longer be controlled and dominated by their fears and threats."
Let's face it this guy does not give a crap about the possibility that lives might be lost due to his actions. He just wants to throw gasoline on the friction that exists between the Muslim and Christian religion in various parts of the world. It would absolutely make this idiot's day if his actions helped to start a third world war.
And what is his point again? That Americans should not be dominated by fear of Islam? I agree. However that does not mean we make our point by demonstrating a complete lack of respect for their religious belief, ESPECIALLY if it might result in the deaths of Americans serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.
My first thought was "why don't the Afghan people just burn Bibles in protest"? Then I thought, these people are lucky to have ANY books in their households except for perhaps a family copy of the Quran.
ReplyDeletePatraeus is right and everyone in this country, left, right and religions of all sorts should agree with him.
ReplyDeleteShame on these haters.
So much for turn the other cheek.
I have been saying the same thing myself and been criticized for it. No one has to be a rocket scientist to discern that the anti-Islam rhetoric and reckless actions have consequences that go far beyond our boarders. There was already anti-American sentiment in places like Afghanistan to start with, and this only further inflames it. The natural targets for the anti-American hatred that is ignited are American troops. Because of the close proximity to the people of that country, necessitated by their stated mission, American soldiers are the most immediate representatives of our country, so they naturally bear the brunt of any hatred of this one.
ReplyDeleteThe fools over here fomenting anti-Islam sentiment seem to have forgotten, or chosen to overlook, the fact that a large number of Muslims died in the 9-11 attacks, some of them responders who gave their own lives to save others. It is disheartening to see polls that show Americans preferring Republicans to Democrats in Congress, in spite of the GOP's demonstrable record of alienating significant portions of the population. From mostly Hispanic immigrants, legal or otherwise, they have trained their hatred on Muslims. If the Party of No regains power, those who voted them in will get the misery they deserve. Unfortunately, so will those of us who voted for a different outcome.
Cheney loves this sh*t. He wants another terrorist attack on Pres. Obama's watch.
ReplyDelete"So what if Americans get killed? Yippee, we made Obama look bad!"
Again, another Floridian disparaging the reputation of our State. People like this represent only a very, very small minority of the far right in our State and are viewed as crack pots for the majority of our citizens. The problem is the media gives these individuals far more press coverage than they deserve which creates the impression they represent a common view of most Floridians.
ReplyDeleteIf it fans the flames of hatred, if it endangers lives, then this "christian" pastor needs to turn in his collar. Shame on him.
ReplyDeletePlus burning books is just wrong.
We must send a message to right wing evangelical Christians that we will no longer, as Americans, be defined by them. They will no longer teabag us by fear and intimidation.
ReplyDeleteRevoke their tax exemption yesterday. And have them pay for military funerals, health care and rehab / therapy.
Just more false christians.
ReplyDeleteJesus cries.
This guy says he does not want to be dominated by Islamic terrorism, and yet his very action suggests that he is quite dominated by it. Why else would one go to the trouble of performing this act? If he wants to prove that he and his followers won't be cowed by the terrorists, he might consider displaying dignity and going about his business instead of acting like a jackass.
ReplyDeleteAnd what is the reason this jerk never saw the need to burn the Koran when there was a white man in the White House ALL THOSE YEARS?
ReplyDeleteIf his words and deeds are going to create havoc to our troops, the U.S. should stop this horrible minister and arrest him. What is it going to take to put a clamp on this stuff? Some of the suggestions and words being spewed today by Limbaugh, FOX News, Hannity, Beck,Palin (and her ilk)and many in the Republican party need to be stopped. What are they pushing for - riots in our streets and worse? I'm really beginning to fear for America!
ReplyDeleteIf the 9/11 terrorists represent all of Islam, then Terry Jones and his congregation represent all of Christianity.
ReplyDeleteIs that what you want, all of you mainstream Christians?? Let this hate-filled creep define Christianity??
If not, then why the hell are you NOT speaking out against this hate-monger and all the other hate- and fear-mongers (Jones, Palin, Beck, Westboro Baptist Church) who are shouting that they represent Christianity?
Lousy hypocrites. You make me sick. Gandhi was right: "I like your Christ, but not your Christians."
Shows how EMPTY the rhetoric of the right wing is, about "SUPPORT OUR TROOPS."
ReplyDeleteWhen I hear people like Palin saying that, I only hear: "Keep the money flowing to the multinational companies supplying the military!"
From the LEFT, it is more like: "Support our troops by bringing them HOME, and out of harm's way, from a "war" that cannot ever be won."
And when American service members are beheaded publicly or dragged naked through the streets, will this "leader" be arrested for inciting terrorist acts?
ReplyDeleteJust sign me a former service member.
I've been worried about us all for a very long time. I wish somebody could shut all those Christian nut cases up. I'm sick of them. They are the scariest people in the world today. They're enough to put me off organized religion of any kind for the rest of my days. They are the biggest danger to our lives today.
ReplyDeletePLease!!Don't vote for them.
Elaine in Canada
The Right Wing mouth machine in Congress, especially the Senate, should have been the first to do this, but those trolls are more worried about reelection than the actual safety of our Troops.
ReplyDeleteGood for General Petraeus.
If this pastor feels he has to send a clear message to the radical element of Islam effectively, why doesn't he go to Kabul, Afghanistan, stand on a street corner and burn the Koran?
ReplyDeleteBecause he is a coward. He puts the military in danger, but provokes from the comfort of his secure home, state, while putting others in danger?
He's a coward, troublemaker, and inspires hate and unforgiveness. And he thinks he represents Christ?
Why doesn't somebody ask Sarah Palin ON CAMERA--not through Twitter or Facebook--what she thinks of this church burning copies of the Koran? And then ask her if she supports the troops.
ReplyDeleteSarh Palin is the one that really helped to stir this shit up.Her and her stupid refudiate remark got all the dopey rednecks fired up.Ahh isn't she precious and all those muslims so evil.I know let's burn their holy book that'll show them.It's the height of ignorance with the flames being stoked by that simple minded money grubbing bitch.She ehould be tried as a traitor to this country.Mother of a combat veterann indeed. Ley her tell the mother of a vet that was killed because she couldn't keep her stupid mouth shut.
ReplyDeleteSort of like GWB saying "bring it on" when he or his family are not the ones in the line of fire.
ReplyDeleteThis book-burning event is nothing short of despicable. However, I don't want our military or government doing anything to quiet a protest, even for something so despicable. The government should not decide what is the right side of a protest.
ReplyDeleteWe as citizens should be the ones to put the end to the book-burning or overwhelm the event. Put civilian family members of the military right in front, with pictures of their enlisted family asking "why do you want to harm my child/spouse/parent?". Gather enough people to protest that the media can't get close to the actual book-burners. Of course, without the media, this event would never happen. The media won't have the guts to stay away. So citizens with integrity, compassion, and morals need to come out and smother this thing.
Perhaps some of the 40 religious scholars/advocates who signed the letter condemning the opposition to the Cordoba House could attend and get involved.
I've been reading many comments, here and elsewhere, criticizing the media for covering this story and blaming it for giving this lunatic so much attention.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, controversy is what sells papers and gets ratings, but we also need to remember that this horrible man has posted videos of his rantings online, and they are what many of the people in the Middle East who are so angry have seen. Even if no media outlets at all had covered this story, the videos would still be out there, stirring up anger towards America and Americans.
While the internet can be a wonderful thing, it can also be an extremely efficient way of spreading hate to all corners of the world.
Is this the same group that burned some bibles (versions they did not approve of) and some books by Billy Graham and others last Halloween?
ReplyDeleteOh, yeah, we have some righteous book burners in these here United States.
If you want to keep track of narrow minded racist hate and anal retentive control freak censorship, just go to ala.org and read through the Banned Books week info.
BTW Banned Books week is Sept. 25 - Oct. 2 this year. It to raise awareness of....censorship and book burning.
My favorite censorship quote is Mark Twain: You don't deny a man a steak because a baby can't chew it.