Petraeus Condemns U.S. Church's Plan to Burn Qurans

[gilliam]

KABUL—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.”

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703713504575475500753093116.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLTopStories

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

KABUL—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.”

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703713504575475500753093116.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLTopStories

It would seem that such would be obvious. I don’t see how book-burning serves any legitimate purpose. It certainly isn’t going further the cause of conversion to Christianity. One might also think that if Gen. Petraeus made the statement he did, he knows whereof he speaks as well of the consequences of that church’s proposed action.

 

[DOShea]

Honestly, did anyone need a General to tell us that Muslims were going to be offended by this, and that the element of them that is already radical is going to use this to fire up the locals? They already use any event they can, even ones they make up. How would this be any different.

I’m not for this plan to burn Qu’rans btw. I think it is offending many in a cheap attempt to target a few with something that isn’t charitable to begin with.

 

[Sonic]

What I don’t get is why the news media is continuing to publicize this story. If it was predictable that this event would offend the Islamic world and potentially put others in danger, then why give these people publicity. Had it not been for the news reports, no one outside that church and it’s immediate area would know about this.

There was a time when the press censored itself in some cases. In this case, it’s like they are intentionally fanning the flames.

This doesn’t take those at that church off the hook, but it doesn’t excuse the publicity, either. Seriously, this stuff goes on everyday. There are all sorts of groups out there burning and vandalizing objects of reverence for all sorts of religions. Those events aren’t published in the news unless it fits in with some bigger agenda.

In this case, the news is trying to prove to the world that there are people here who don’t like Muslims. It’s not really news. Every country in the world has people who dislike people of religions other than their own.

 

[DOShea]

Well honestly the media are in the business of selling news, and the more controversy a story generates, the more it sells papers or gets viewers to watch it.

A story like this is a no-brainer to run. It’s the generic “religious fanatic takes extreme action” story. They run it, and the best that can happen for them is someone else reads it and decides to go there and stir up trouble - thus more controversy, maybe even arrests, riots, murder, mayhem… in short, everything that helps sell newspapers.

 

[7_Sorrows]

i also do not agree with the pastor’s idea of having a day to burn the quran on the 9th anniversary of 9/11. it serves no purpose and when he says he is serving a warning, what does he mean by that?

i wouldn’t like it if somewhere in the world there was a burn the bible day.

it is sad that our general has to speak out against this. i definitely don’t want the troops to be in anymore danger than they have been in already.

 

[Tsuwano]

Honestly, did anyone need a General to tell us that Muslims were going to be offended by this, and that the element of them that is already radical is going to use this to fire up the locals? They already use any event they can, even ones they make up. How would this be any different.

I’m not for this plan to burn Qu’rans btw. I think it is offending many in a cheap attempt to target a few with something that isn’t charitable to begin with.

I don’t think the general is too worried about those radical elements within Islam that are offended by everything about the West, but rather about those moderate elements who may become radicalized by the contempt and callous disregard shown by many people in the West toward their faith. I also don’t think the general is too concerned about informing you about how wrong it is to burn a Koran, but about protecting his troops by distancing himself and his men from such ignorant acts. No, we don’t need a general to tell us how wrong it is, but many in the Middle East should know that the U.S. Military and Government do not condone such acts and find them reprehensible.

 

[Tsuwano]

What I don’t get is why the news media is continuing to publicize this story. If it was predictable that this event would offend the Islamic world and potentially put others in danger, then why give these people publicity. Had it not been for the news reports, no one outside that church and it’s immediate area would know about this.

There was a time when the press censored itself in some cases. In this case, it’s like they are intentionally fanning the flames.

This doesn’t take those at that church off the hook, but it doesn’t excuse the publicity, either. Seriously, this stuff goes on everyday. There are all sorts of groups out there burning and vandalizing objects of reverence for all sorts of religions. Those events aren’t published in the news unless it fits in with some bigger agenda.

In this case, the news is trying to prove to the world that there are people here who don’t like Muslims. It’s not really news. Every country in the world has people who dislike people of religions other than their own.

Don’t blame the press for exposing the No Nothing act of holding a public burning of a book deemed sacred by a vast percentage of the world’s population. You’re right that “every country in the world has people who dislike people of religions other than their own,” but that isn’t the fault of the press and the press has no obligation to ignore such ignorance where it finds it. If you’re embarrassed by such ignorance, then let your voice be heard. Ignoring it doesn’t make it go away or make things better.

 

[7_Sorrows]

I don’t think the general is too worried about those radical elements within Islam that are offended by everything about the West, but rather about those moderate elements who may become radicalized by the contempt and callous disregard shown by many people in the West toward their faith. I also don’t think the general is too concerned about informing you about how wrong it is to burn a Koran, but about protecting his troops by distancing himself and his men from such ignorant acts. No, we don’t need a general to tell us how wrong it is, but many in the Middle East should know that the U.S. Military and Government do not condone such acts and find them reprehensible.

 

[Sonic]

Don’t blame the press for exposing the No Nothing act of holding a public burning of a book deemed sacred by a vast percentage of the world’s population. You’re right that “every country in the world has people who dislike people of religions other than their own,” but that isn’t the fault of the press and the press has no obligation to ignore such ignorance where it finds it. If you’re embarrassed by such ignorance, then let your voice be heard. Ignoring it doesn’t make it go away or make things better.

Boy, you sure are putting a lot of words in my mouth. Why don’t I just give you my password, and you can write in my replies from now on.

1. I’m not placing the blame squarely on the press or anybody for that matter. I am pointing to the fact that they are playing an active part in the events taking place. It is an observation in addition to the statements made above. It is not a condemnation of the media: only an observation.

Proof of this can be found here in my statement…

This doesn’t take those at that church off the hook

Source: forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=7035939&postcount=4

1. I did ask a question… *“What I don’t get is why the news media is continuing to publicize this story?” *. Nowhere did I say the media should not have publicized the story. I asked about why they are continuing to publicize a story that has already been reported. This sentence in itself pretty much nullifies your critique of my commentary.
2. Nowhere, in my previous post, did I say I was embarrassed by such ignorance. Nor did I say I was ignoring it. Nor am I advocating ignoring it.
3. Do not confuse my observations for personal sentiments from which you can glean fertile arguments. If your bored, then PM me and I can suggest a good book for you to read.

 

[Darryl1958]

Moderate elements that become radicalized by such things were not really all that moderate to begin with.

These are the kind of ‘moderates’ that would kill the infidel only after a fair trial in a sharia court.

Mainstream Islam for sure, but hardly what moderate is all about.

The real blasphemy against the name of Allah is the Taliban who murder, enslave, and destroy the innocence of children to ‘honor’ Him. if throwing acid in the face of school girls does not ‘radicalize’ moderate Muslims to join in the battle against these truly blasphemous monsters, then nothing will.

To murder in the name of the Just, the Merciful the Compassionate Allah is the ultimate blasphemy against God. It makes a mockery out of mercy, compassion and justice. It debauches any holiness that may be in the pages in the Koran to an infinitely greater degree than some silly preacher burning korans in some obscure congregation.

If moderate Muslims were really moderate, they would understand this.

 

[GraceSofia]

What I don’t get is why the news media is continuing to publicize this story. If it was predictable that this event would offend the Islamic world and potentially put others in danger, then why give these people publicity. Had it not been for the news reports, no one outside that church and it’s immediate area would know about this.

There was a time when the press censored itself in some cases. In this case, it’s like they are intentionally fanning the flames.

Yes.
The American media probably does more damage to the United States and than any of her enemies. In Europe and the Middle East, anti-American elements love to run stories like this and like Abu Ghraib.
They get the stories and video straight off American TV and media; they don’t even have to do any original reporting. I believe that if the American media stopped being so anti-American, there would be a lot less anti-American feeling around the world.

So, okay, I’ll say the media should not have publicized this story.
But, since they care about money more than principles (or lives of soldiers), that would have been too much to expect.

Certainly during WW II, journalists would have put patriotism and the fight for freedom above cheap thrills. Yes, the people at the church are doing something idiotic, but journalists are supposed to be a bit more sophisticated.

 

[GraceSofia]

i wouldn’t like it if somewhere in the world there was a burn the bible day.

To a certain extent, every day is burn the Bible day somewhere in the world.
The Saudis routinely confiscate Bibles at airports. I believe they are shredded, though, not burned.
Rather ironic of the general, considering that the US military confiscated and burned Bibles in Afghanistan a year or two ago.

Where is the outrage about the Bibles?

Churches are burned and Christians tortured and killed every day in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
Just have a scan of www.persecution.org or any similar site.

Where is the outrage?

 

[7_Sorrows]

To a certain extent, every day is burn the Bible day somewhere in the world.
The Saudis routinely confiscate Bibles at airports. I believe they are shredded, though, not burned.
Rather ironic of the general, considering that the US military confiscated and burned Bibles in Afghanistan a year or two ago.

Where is the outrage about the Bibles?

Churches are burned and Christians tortured and killed every day in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
Just have a scan of www.persecution.org or any similar site.

Where is the outrage?

yes, i know that churches are burned and Christians are tortured and killed everyday somewhere in the world and the Bible is defaced in some way. however, i don’t think that we should lower ourselves to that type of persecution. i am not in favor of the mosque being built in the area of ground zero, but i don’t oppose mosques being built elsewhere in our country. in our country we have a right to freeedom of religion and the muslims here have a right to worship in a mosque, but i wish there was freedom of religion all over the world so that Christians and churches would be left alone.

 

[Dee_Dee_King]

while i don’t condone intentionally insulting people’s religion, do you really think that it makes any difference? look what happened when the Holy Father quoted a byzantine emperor’s criticism of islam. it’s not like these would be terrorists are sitting around waiting for something to offend them. i think our government being the p.c. leftist think tank that it is is in complete denial about the danger islam as a whole presents to the western world.

maybe we should work on learning to avoid islam and protect against islamicism rather than not offending them because the very fact that our troops are on islamic soil is a huge offense to them.

 

[GraceSofia]

while i don’t condone intentionally insulting people’s religion, do you really think that it makes any difference. it’s not like these would be terrorists are sitting around waiting for something to offend them.

True. They seem to be in a permanent state of “offendedness.”

 

[Tsuwano]

while i don’t condone intentionally insulting people’s religion, do you really think that it makes any difference? look what happened when the Holy Father quoted a byzantine emperor’s criticism of islam. it’s not like these would be terrorists are sitting around waiting for something to offend them. i think our government being the p.c. leftist think tank that it is is in complete denial about the danger islam as a whole presents to the western world.

maybe we should work on learning to avoid islam and protect against islamicism rather than not offending them because the very fact that our troops are on islamic soil is a huge offense to them.

You don’t condone intentionally insulting people’s religion but then you go on to insinuate that “Islam as a whole” is a danger to the western world. You go on to say we shouldn’t worry about offending them but should instead avoid Islam and protect ourselves against it. Why? Do you think all Muslims are “would be terrorists?” Perhaps this was merely an unintentional insult, but if I was a Muslim I would feel offended.

 

[jman507]

Don’t we have a First Amendment? And why is a government official reacting against it…oh wait, I forgot this is different.

 

[a_priori]

The sad thing is, this pastor claims to be proving how evil Islam is. That’s like walking up and poking the lion in his cage then using his reaction to prove lions are evil.

 

[a_priori]

I don’t think the general is too worried about those radical elements within Islam that are offended by everything about the West, but rather about those moderate elements who may become radicalized by the contempt and callous disregard shown by many people in the West toward their faith. I also don’t think the general is too concerned about informing you about how wrong it is to burn a Koran, but about protecting his troops by distancing himself and his men from such ignorant acts. No, we don’t need a general to tell us how wrong it is, but many in the Middle East should know that the U.S. Military and Government do not condone such acts and find them reprehensible.

Well said.