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September 07, 2010
Petraeus Condemns U.S. Church's Plan to Burn Qurans
Pastor Terry Jones, of the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Fla., says he will burn copies of the Quran
Afghans burn an effigy of Mr. Jones during an anti-U.S. demonstration in Kabul on Monday.
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Gen. David Petraeus Warns Plans by Church to Burn the Koran on Sept. 11 Could Endanger U.S. Troops
KABU
The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan said the planned burning of Qurans on Sept. 11 by a small Florida church could put the lives of American troops in danger and damage the war effort.
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."
Mr. Jones has been denied a permit for the demonstration, but has said he plans to go forward with the protest.
Rev. Stephanie Sapp, spokeswoman for the center, said no one from the Pentagon or other federal agencies had expressed concern or asked that the event be canceled. She did say that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had discussed security measures.
Pentagon officials said they were not aware that any Defense officials have reached out directly to Mr. Jones. But military officers said they hoped that Gen. Petraeus's statement—an unusual move since military commanders rarely get involved in politics—would convince Mr. Jones to change his plans.
Gen. Petraeus declined to elaborate on the nature of the threats or violence that could occur, but westerners in Afghanistan have been warned away from restaurants and other public places amid the rising tensions.
Other senior military leaders echoed Gen. Petraeus comments Monday. Lt. Gen. William Caldwell, who oversees the effort to train Afghan security forces said he was informed of the planned Florida protests several days ago by a senior minister in the Afghan government.
Gen. Caldwell said many Afghans do not understand either the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment or the fact that President Barack Obama can't simply issue a decree to stop Mr. Jones from his demonstration. Military officials said they were not trying to deny Mr. Jones his right to free speech, but feared he was not thinking about the consequences of his actions.
"There is no question about First Amendment rights; that is not the issue," Gen. Caldwell said. "The question is: What is the implication over here? It is going to jeopardize the men and women serving in Afghanistan."
Military officials also fear that if video of the Quran burning is broadcast in Afghanistan, tensions could rise between NATO forces and the Afghan military and police. Allegations of mishandling the Quran have interrupted Afghan security training at least twice this year, Gen. Caldwell said.
In one instance, a Quran fell to the ground when an American officer opened a locker during an inspection of Afghan trainees' barracks. The rumor quickly spread that the officer had thrown it to the ground, angering the trainees at the camp. "He quickly apologized, but rumors took off like wildfire," Gen. Caldwell said. "It was so hard to get the misperception turned around we stopped all training for the rest of the day."
Reports about the Quran have set off violent protests before. A report in Newsweek, later retracted, that a U.S. interrogator at the Guantanamo Bay prison had flushed a Quran down a toilet set off riots in Afghanistan and elsewhere.
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Wild Thing's comment.........
I wonder if obama instructed Petraeus to come out with this statement.
Posted by Wild Thing at September 7, 2010 04:47 AM
Comments
I think Petraeus is right on this. This burning of qurans will just inflame much of the muslim world and endanger our troops. It will give a reason to the islamic radicals. It is not necessary. Jones is just seeking publicity.
Posted by: TomR, armed in Texas at September 7, 2010 10:12 AM
Tom is absolutely right in his comments
Posted by: John 5 (VN69-70) at September 7, 2010 10:32 AM
Reverend Jones, is a publicity seeking hound. Leader of a group of 50? Give me a break.
Petreaus is absolutly right, Reverend Jones needs to re-think his proposed actions.
Posted by: Sean at September 7, 2010 11:05 AM
How much more danger can they be in than they already are. I don't care if this guys a publicity hound and only has 10 people. We Are Americans damn it. Since when do we cow to anybody. They have already murdered 3000+ of our citizens
First of all we do have free expression, What are the muzzies going to do call us infidels and come after us and behead us, that is already in the cards. They are here. The General is only speaking on behave of obama. Since, when does a Military commander ever get involved in politics?
What atrocity in the field have they not committed, they took civilians in Iraq beheaded them then burned their bodies and hung them from a bridge.
But the 3 Seals that captured the mastermind coldcocked the little bastard and they were up for court martial. what the hell kind of message are we sending these rat bastards.
Posted by: Mark at September 7, 2010 05:44 PM
After they burned the America flag and danced around like idiots upon 9/11, they could take it like adults... but, no, they have to react like violent, ignorant children mortally upset because someone dared to treat their sensibilities like they treat others'. No, it's not nice of Mr. Jones to burn Korans, but being the "bigger man" with islamists tends to get one treated like carpet (or worse) by them. He should issue demands for them to meet to make him stop this. ("Begin by seizing something which your opponent holds dear; then he will be amenable to your will." --Sun Tzu) That gets their respect.
Posted by: Anonymous at September 7, 2010 08:14 PM
Mus;ims behave like violent, ignorant children if they do not die for that the terrorists have won. No Muslim will be at peace so long as one free man exists. However Petraeus is right on this. Our troops are going to be put in mortal danger by being there helping Muslims while the nulahs inflame the Mosques.
Posted by: Avitar at September 8, 2010 02:01 AM
Muslims behave like violent, ignorant children if they do not die for that the terrorists have won. No Muslim will be at peace so long as one free man exists. However Petraeus is right on this. Our troops are going to be put in mortal danger by being there helping Muslims while the mullahs inflame the Mosques.
Posted by: Avitar at September 8, 2010 02:03 AM
