Posted on 05/19/2008 4:57:59 PM PDT by forkinsocket
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Iraq's most powerful Sunni Arab political party on Monday said a U.S. soldier's desecration of the Quran, the Muslim holy book, requires the "severest of punishments," not just an apology and a military reassignment.
The Iraqi Islamic Party, the movement of Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi, condemned what it said was a "blatant assault on the sanctities of Muslims all over the world."
An American staff sergeant who was a sniper section leader used a Quran for target practice on May 9.
The U.S. commander in Baghdad on Saturday issued a formal apology and read a letter of apology from the shooter.
The sergeant has been relieved of duty as a section leader "with prejudice," officially reprimanded by his commanding general, dismissed from his regiment and redeployed -- reassigned to the United States.
But the Iraqi Islamic Party -- which said it reacted to the news "with deep resentment and indignation" -- wants the "severest of punishments" for the action.
"What truly concerns us is the repetition of these crimes that have happened in the past when mosques were destroyed and pages of the Holy Quran were torn and used for disgraceful acts by U.S. soldiers," al-Hashimi said.
"I have asked that first this apology be officially documented; second a guarantee from the U.S. military to inflict the maximum possible punishment on this soldier so it would be a deterrent for the rest of the soldiers in the future."
(Excerpt) Read more at edition.cnn.com ...
I think we should pick up our toys and all of us get out of IRAQ ASAP.
best post of the year and right on the money. a “fellow traveler” here, just checking in and yeah, we ARE legion.
Yep. Move him out to 1,500 meters with a crosswind and a pocket version of the “hol(e)y book”.
This may be the first time the Koran has ever been used for a useful function. Targets are expensive.
that’s digusting. the apology, I mean.
The Muslims have to understand that we do not treat our own sacred scriptures with as much respect, so why should we treat theirs that way?
A U.S. General groveling before these swine; how low have we gone.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.