Posted on 05/19/2008 4:34:35 AM PDT by Marechal
BAGHDAD - An American sniper was removed from Iraq after he used a copy of the Quran for target practice, the military said Sunday, a day after a U.S. commander held a formal ceremony apologizing to Sunni tribal leaders.
The elaborate ceremony - in which one U.S. officer kissed a new copy of Islam's holy book before giving it to the tribal leaders - reflected the military's eagerness to stave off anger among Sunni Arabs it has been cultivating as allies.
The tribesmen have become key in the fight against al-Qaida in Iraq militants, who depict the American forces as anti-Islamic occupiers. One anti-U.S. Iraqi Sunni group condemned the Quran shooting, calling it "a hideous act." Similar perceived insults to Islam have triggered protests throughout the Muslim world.
Iraqi police found the bullet-riddled Quran with graffiti inside the cover on a firing range near a police station in Radwaniyah, a former insurgent stronghold west of Baghdad, U.S. military spokesman Col. Bill Buckner said.
American commanders launched an inquiry that led to disciplinary action against the unidentified soldier, who has been removed from Iraq, Buckner said.
Members of the local U.S.-allied group said the Quran was found with 14 bullet holes in a field after U.S. troops withdrew from a base in the area.
Sheik Ahmed Khudayer al-Janabi, a local tribal leader, said the group had planned a protest march last Thursday but called it off under pressure from U.S. forces and to prevent any insurgent violence as retaliation.
The incident, which occurred on May 9 and was discovered two days later, was first reported by CNN, which broadcast a ceremony at which the top American commander in Baghdad apologized to tribal leaders Saturday in Radwaniyah. The military confirmed the details Sunday in an e-mailed response to a query.
"I come before you here seeking your forgiveness," Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond was quoted as saying at the ceremony. "In the most humble manner I look in your eyes today and I say please forgive me and my soldiers."
"The actions of one soldier were nothing more than criminal behavior," he added. "I've come to this land to protect you, to support you - not to harm you - and the behavior of this soldier was nothing short of wrong and unacceptable."
The commander also read a letter of apology by the shooter, who has not been identified, while another military official kissed a Quran and presented it to the tribal leaders, according to CNN.
Tribal leaders, dignitaries and local security officials attended the ceremony, while protesters carried banners and chanted slogans, including "Yes, yes to the Quran" and "America out, out."
The military statement called the incident "serious and deeply troubling" but stressed it was the result of one soldier's actions and "not representative of the professionalism of our soldiers or the respect they have for all faiths."
The hard-line Association of Muslim Scholars condemned the shooting and what it said was a belated acknowledgment of the incident, calling it "a hideous act against the book of almighty God and the constitution of the nation and the source of its glory and dignity."
The alliances between Sunni tribes and U.S. forces have been key to a steep decline in violence over the past year. But the Quran incident was the latest in a series of setbacks, including the accidental killings of U.S.-allied fighters, that have raised concerns about the fragility of the support for the American forces.
U.S. troops also have struggled to overcome the perception that they are insensitive to Islamic traditions after several missteps in the early stages of the war in Iraq.
(End Excerpt)
What price vigilance and security?
“What price vigilance and security?”
It’s a really small price if it saves lives.
I hope the same people who had to kiss the new quran are the ones who discipline the soldier who made it necessary. That was a bonehead move.
True, but it sets bad precedent and surely leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
Now what do they do to the bible if they find it when you’re going through customs in Saudi Arabia?????
I would have apologized, but I’ll kiss the Koran right after the person I’m giving it to kisses my.....Captain’s Quarters.
It's criminal to shoot a book?
A sign of respect for something held dear by an ally is not the same as acknowledging its validity, IMO.
All I want to know is from what range was he shooting? 1000 yards?
Asking a question about Bibles in Saudi Arabia has nothing to do with what we’re trying to accomplish in Iraq.
Our people on the ground are doing what they have to in order to save lives and accomplish the mission.
Nice grouping !!!!
In this case, it set a bad precedent not to go out of our way to show our allies, such as they are, a bit of respect, after the stupidity of that soldier. No, I don't like how the religion is practiced, even by our 'allies' there, but, you can't very well build trust by excusing stupidity, either.
They should be giving him a medal for marksmanship.
and maybe.. will the book be sold on ebay?
I sympathize for what the Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond must have felt like having to do this. Im going to feel pretty much the same after walking out of the voting booth this November.
“A sign of respect for something held dear by an ally is not the same as acknowledging its validity, IMO”
Something way to many people here don’t seem to understand.
yep, target practice is important...just another example that our 'allies' who observe the ROP are intolerant of anything less than submittal to alla, which ultimately means jihad...
If the situation was reversed they would be dancing in the streets.
I’d sooner kiss a pig turd than that piece of printed wickedness.
I bet the remains of that target would bring a good price on E-Bay...
In a town in N.J. where my friend lives, there was a group of pro-choice wacko's who burned Bibles and Epistles in from of the abortion clinic. They did not get arrested nor even a harsh scolding from the police. Ah, yes home of the brave and free speech equals no consequences. However, I do understand, when you are in the land of Muslims, you have to deal with their lack of understanding that it is just a book, so when you shoot it, you may as well have shot ol' Moham-mad. And those who are still living in the 6th century are morons, and can't seem to get out of their 6th century loop. So better I suppose to kiss a dumb A$$ book than to have to fight or get killed by the morons.
No, respectfully, I must disagree. And, from an Islamic perspective, that officer merely used the Islamic construct of al-Tarqua against those Muslims.
Kinda KEWL!
Should we convert to Islam? To save lives?
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