Koran burning will endanger US lives: Petraeus

[GabonX]

The US commander of the Afghan war has warned that troops' lives will be endangered if a Florida evangelical church goes ahead with a planned burning of the Koran on Saturday's 9/11 anniversary.

General David Petraeus said the planned torching of Islam's holy book would be a propaganda coup for the Taliban in Afghanistan and stoke anti-US sentiment across the Muslim world.

The Dove World Outreach Center at Gainesville, Florida says it will burn copies of the Koran on this weekend's ninth anniversary of the September 11 airborne attacks in protest at what it calls "the evil of Islam".

In an interview with Tuesday's Wall Street Journal, Petraeus said of the event: "It could endanger troops and it could endanger the overall effort.

"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," he said.

The planned protest by the 50-member Florida congregation -- whose Facebook page bears the motto "Islam Is Of The Devil" -- has already triggered outrage in Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority country.

In late August about 100 Indonesian Islamists demonstrated outside the US embassy in Jakarta and threatened "jihad" or holy war if the US Christian group went through with the event.

Alleged desecration of the Koran by US troops in both Afghanistan and Iraq has been an incendiary issue in the past, including when a US soldier deployed to Iraq riddled a copy of the holy book with bullets in 2008.

A subsequent demonstration by about 2,000 people in central Afghanistan turned violent, with a Lithuanian soldier and two civilians killed in an exchange of gunfire between protestors and police.

The Florida church's pastor, Terry Jones, said Petraeus's concerns were "legitimate".

But in a statement to the Wall Street Journal, 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."

Interviewed by AFP in July, Jones said: "Islam and Sharia law was responsible for 9/11.

"We will burn Korans because we think it's time for Christians, for churches, for politicians to stand up and say no; Islam and Sharia law is not welcome in the US."

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-wo ... 14yxs.html

[2dimes]

I'd rather these genuii had the courage to go to Pakistan and try that stunt to really make some points.

1- The dudes there are not peacefull.
2- They're worshiping the right God that will protect them.

Unfourtunately for the US&A they're going to do it safely in Florida away from the guys they are trying to get worked up, who then may send the brainwashed new guys over for retaliation. Thanks jerks.

[Army of GOD]

Obviously it's going to piss some people off.

Also, that's a pretty peaceful church. Burning shit and what not.

[2dimes]

I think they're typical of some people that live in the US&A.

God blessed us to be born where we have the right to do increadibly stupid things and we're excited to practice that right.

[Army of GOD]

Just because you're making noise doesn't mean anyone gives a shit about what you're talking about. I really wanna gives these people a nice ol' slapperoo.

Also, what the f*ck do they think this will accomplish? Do they want the government and such to discriminate against Muslims? Or get people not to convert?

They're message is as hidden as their intelligence.

[2dimes]

Well text is no way to communicate but I'll post again.

I think the people in that church are confused. They think God wants them to take a stand against the qur' an by burning it. If that was true they could do it with impunity any where in the world.

I think they are wrong and challenge them to try it in nearly any middle east country.

You would like to give them a slaparoo, I think that would be good, yet still challenge you to go there and do it. To make the task easier for one of you here's the church address.

Dove World Outreach Centre
5805 NW 37th St
Gainesville, FL 32653

Conclusions: interweb toughness is just as valuable as burning someone else's holy book in your yard while living comfortably in the US&A.

[Army of GOD]

Nothing I said was towards you.

[2dimes]

Fair enough. I would have offered a ride down to administer said slaparoo if I had money for fuel and could get time off for my kids from school so we could take the trip.

I would of course want to pick up Woodruff and some cheese burgers.

[saxitoxin]

This is an interesting conversation. 2dimes and AOG both raise thought-provoking points, as always.

I see this decision toward book-burning as an intentional demonstration of primal group sexual power. It is an act whereby the members of this church, also being members of a powerful tribe (in this case the tribe is a militarily unchallenged nation-state), seek to visually demonstrate the power of their tribe. It is similar to the ritual rape of militarily defeated enemies in traditional societies (or, in some cases, more recent societies such as occurred in Bosnia in the 1990s). It is a fascinating and thrilling thing to observe in-action.

As a general rule I abhor the targeting of minorities for latent expressions of violence as much as I would overt expressions of violence. However, I also celebrate every demonstration of truly radicalized thought that shakes the status-quo at every level. Only radical action can crystallize ideological orientation and force the disinterested masses into committing to some - any - perspective. I'm excited and interested to see how this plays out.

Almost every meaningful thing that's occurred in history has been fueled by the flames of chaos. Order and normalcy must be smashed at every turn. Passionate questions deserve to be resolved by passionate action, not the restrained whimper of the high school debate club. So, comforted somewhat by my own confirmed atheism, I support this book burning.

[2dimes]

The more I read this.

The Florida church's pastor, Terry Jones, said Petraeus's concerns were "legitimate".

But in a statement to the Wall Street Journal, 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."

Interviewed by AFP in July, Jones said: "Islam and Sharia law was responsible for 9/11.

"We will burn Korans because we think it's time for Christians, for churches, for politicians to stand up and say no; Islam and Sharia law is not welcome in the US."

The less rational and more angry it makes me. This seems to me to be the equivalent of, "I'm in love with miss september in Penthouse, I will woo her by wanking in my yard while looking at the photos."

I support Terry Jones in going over there and showing "Islam" a thing or two. I am diametrically opposed to his current plan. He basically admits he's wrong!

said Petraeus's concerns were "legitimate".

[Nobunaga]

... How long before some media outlet tries to attach this lunacy to the Tea Party movement?

... Shouldn't take long.

...

[tzor]

"Ohhh, the KKK is evil ... let's burn bibles."

This is a good case where the shoe is on the other foot. This is a clear call to the Christian Community to turn to someone who claims to represent them and say, "THIS IS NOT CHRISTIAN."

I'll lead the way.

THIS IS NOT 'CHRISTIAN'
THIS IS NOT 'AMERICAN'
IT EVEN SMACKS OF TERRORISM
THIS IS INSULTING TO MANY HONEST GOD LOVING MUSLIMS
WE NEED TO PROTEST THIS LOUDLY AND CLEARLY!

[Woodruff]

Fair enough. I would have offered a ride down to administer said slaparoo if I had money for fuel and could get time off for my kids from school so we could take the trip.
I would of course want to pick up Woodruff and some cheese burgers.

I'll not be getting in any car containing Army of God. Cheeseburgers, on the other hand...fuel for the nose-punching to commence, I say!

[AAFitz]

Its really just another example of someone invoking God and righteousness, to justify their evil thoughts and push their own agenda. Another example of how easily some people can be manipulated, and how much easier it is to do, when anger and hatred is invoked.

The response would be a joke if the suggestion was to actually make an improvement in the world by spreading peace and love, the actual basis of their own Bible.

Instead they plan to go out and burn a different Bible, which is simply made of paper, but in doing so, burn the word of their own Bible. One can be replaced easily. It takes only a printing press. The other not so easily. Sometimes, once lost, it can never be recovered.

[2dimes]

Fair enough. I would have offered a ride down to administer said slaparoo if I had money for fuel and could get time off for my kids from school so we could take the trip.
I would of course want to pick up Woodruff and some cheese burgers.

I'll not be getting in any car containing Army of God. Cheeseburgers, on the other hand...fuel for the nose-punching to commence, I say!

I have to admit if I were to make the trip. I would take a couple of people I know would go through with the smack. To be honest I'd more likely just act as arbitrator between my guys and the Dove World Outreach dudes.

[Night Strike]

Why are there Muslims who make threats and violence whenever they are offended by an action such as depicting Muhammed or burning their bibles while these same things toward Christianity occur in some countries by some Muslims on a frequent basis? If it's okay for Iranians (for example) to hold public burnings of bibles and crosses, why isn't it ok in their eyes for others to burn the koran?

[notyou2]

Does this sort of thing only occur in the Excited States of America?

[Night Strike]

Does this sort of thing only occur in the Excited States of America?

Maybe we're the only country that gives people the freedom to act stupidly.

[Army of GOD]

Why do Muslims make threats and violence whenever they are offended by an action such as depicting Muhammed or burning their bibles yet some countries do these same things toward Christianity on a frequent basis? If it's okay for Iranians to burn the bible and crosses, why isn't it ok for others to burn the koran?

Congratulations for continuing to stereotype an entire religion.

[notyou2]

Does this sort of thing only occur in the Excited States of America?

Maybe we're the only country that gives people the freedom to act stupidly.

Is it permission/freedom or do you breed it into them?

[GabonX]

Why do Muslims make threats and violence whenever they are offended by an action such as depicting Muhammed or burning their bibles yet some countries do these same things toward Christianity on a frequent basis? If it's okay for Iranians to burn the bible and crosses, why isn't it ok for others to burn the koran?

Congratulations for continuing to stereotype an entire religion.

That's not stereotyping brother..

That's statement of facts coupled with a very legitimate question.

[2dimes]

Why do Muslims make threats and violence whenever they are offended by an action such as depicting Muhammed or burning their bibles yet some countries do these same things toward Christianity on a frequent basis? If it's okay for Iranians to burn the bible and crosses, why isn't it ok for others to burn the koran?

I personally support his right to do it.

What I have a problem with is him doing it in Florida then sending out images to rile up the "extreamists". I think it says, "Come and get us." and I don't think they need to be riled up that way.

If you have a need to do it, go there and really show them a thing or nine. One of the reasons everyone liked Canada and the US&A, causing all these white people to immigrate here was the fact that you didn't have to worry about your kids being blown up or not getting enough cheese burgers.

Why would you want to change that just to burn a dumb book? Or a pile of dumb books.

It seems to me like he'd say, "I'm not afraid of poisonous snakes. We need to show the snakes we're not going to live under fear of them." Then to prove it he anounces he is going to drop a bunch of huge bags of them through a hole in the roof of a school.

Freedom of religion in Canada so far means you have the right to pick one. We have not embraced the right to do things to upset one of the other flavours. We certainly like to look across the border and think. "Hey that looks good, I want to bring some home." so I'm sure eventually it could catch on.

[AAFitz]

Why do Muslims make threats and violence whenever they are offended by an action such as depicting Muhammed or burning their bibles yet some countries do these same things toward Christianity on a frequent basis? If it's okay for Iranians to burn the bible and crosses, why isn't it ok for others to burn the koran?

No one said it wasnt "ok" for them to burn the koran, only that it made them stupid hypocritical morons for doing so.

Assuming there is no fire code violation, burn away. However, if they are doing so and professing they believe in their own Bible and that it is somehow warranted by it, that is where one must point out they are simply morons. No one is suggesting that people burning any Books, whether it the new testament, old testament or koran is a smart thing to do or justified by the true word of their religion.

The only bible that should be burned is Dianetics, but thats not for religions purposes, just for fun. Also, the methane content simply makes for great burning.

[2dimes]

I like most people was not happy about Planes crashing into buildings on our safe plot of dirt.

It pisses me off to think that some moron would burn books and try to get it to happen again! Please leave the Island.

[AAFitz]

Why do Muslims make threats and violence whenever they are offended by an action such as depicting Muhammed or burning their bibles yet some countries do these same things toward Christianity on a frequent basis? If it's okay for Iranians to burn the bible and crosses, why isn't it ok for others to burn the koran?

I personally support his right to do it.

What I have a problem with is him doing it in Florida then sending out images to rile up the "extreamists". I think it says, "Come and get us." and I don't think they need to be riled up that way.

If you have a need to do it, go there and really show them a thing or nine. One of the reasons everyone liked Canada and the US&A, causing all these white people to immigrate here was the fact that you didn't have to worry about your kids being blown up or not getting enough cheese burgers.

Why would you want to change that just to burn a dumb book? Or a pile of dumb books.

It seems to me like he'd say, "I'm not afraid of poisonous snakes. We need to show the snakes we're not going to live under fear of them." Then to prove it he anounces he is going to drop a bunch of huge bags of them through a hole in the roof of a school.

Freedom of religion in Canada so far means you have the right to pick one. We have not embraced the right to do things to upset one of the other flavours. We certainly like to look across the border and think. "Hey that looks good, I want to bring some home." so I'm sure eventually it could catch on.

One of the more creative analogies.