Posted on 05/17/2008 5:09:19 PM PDT by Prole
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- A soldier used the Quran -- Islam's holy book -- for target practice, forcing the chief U.S. commander in Baghdad to issue a formal apology on Saturday.
Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond apologizes after a soldier admitted using the Quran for target practice. Maj. Gen. Jeffery Hammond, commander of U.S. forces in Baghdad, apologized to leaders in Radhwaniya, in the western outskirts of Baghdad, for the staff sergeant who was a sniper section leader assigned to the headquarters of the 64th Armored Regiment.
He also read a letter of apology by the shooter. It was the first time the incident -- which tested the relationship between U.S.-backed Sunni militiamen and the military -- was made public since it was discovered May 11. "I come before you here seeking your forgiveness," Hammond said to tribal leaders and others at the apology ceremony.
"In the most humble manner I look in your eyes today and I say please forgive me and my soldiers." Another military official kissed a Quran and presented is as "a humble gift" to the tribal leaders.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
If the US had followed the idea that he was associated with, that we should ally with the Germans against Stalin, damned right he would have had to kiss it.
A problem (but not NOT “the”) is that when anyone, anywhere does something like this, muslims the world over riot over what ONE MAN did. The US didn’t do this. ONE MAN did. Just like the story about the kran in the toilet. Considering we’re trying to help Iraq, and get Iraqis to help us, it is very unhelpful. Still, the worst part of it is our military being “forced” to apologize for it.
Waste of a good bullet.
This article deserves a barf alert.
As unappealing to some as it may seem, this sort of behavior makes it harder for us to succeed in Iraq and draws out our mission.
“The shooter should have had some sense and waited until he got back stateside to do it.”
Should this have happened in the USA, the shooter would be in jail and the local mayor would have been forced to kiss the koran at the local mosque. So, what else is new?
“A military investigation found the shooter guilty and relieved him of duty; he will be redeployed to the United States for reassignment away from the 1st Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division.”
“Welcome home, soldier.”
So it worked.
Mein Kampf and the Koran are loaded with terrible, racist statements about killing Jews. They are something out of a Louis Farrakhan speech.
I am inclined to believe our military leaders today are too politically correct.
What kind of American kisses the Koran and grovels for forgiveness? Then they booted the sniper out of theater after "finding him guilty?" Guilty of what?
It's just weakness on display if you ask me. And it sends a message to the troops about being feeble-minded fools lest they upset the PC gods that govern our military.
“I can see General Patton rolling over in his grave.”
Why only Patton? The entire Greatest Generation probably wonders why they went through all the trouble, suffering and dying for a generation that is throwing its identity in the toilet.
He is the first one to come to mind whenever I hear the phrase "General."
But you are right in your statement. This Nationwide political correctness is suicide as far as I am concerned.
There is nothing good in the Koran. NOTHING. In fact, it is PURE EVIL. An abomination of everything that God stands for.
Yet our American Soldiers must kiss it and grovel in front of it????
DISGUSTING.
and when 15 soldiers are killed by Iraqis because of it...?
You don't want to know my solution to the Muslims.
Trust me on that one.
You don't want to know my solution to the Muslims.
Trust me on that one.
While I deplore political correctness and have no illusions about Islam being a ROP, what this soldier did was just plain stupid. And, if you're going to use a Quran for target practice, for heaven's sake, DON'T GET CAUGHT!
I can guess, but your life is not on the line. US should have stayed out of it then; we’re helping a Muslim country and you need to show some respect. If Iraqis are against us too, we will never get out and most likely lose. Why? Just so an idiot can shoot a book?
Not where I live.
First, while repelled by the Nazi extreme, anti-semitism was rather widespread in the US and elsewhere at the time of WWII. I was raised in large part by my Jewish grandfather in New York during the war.
Second, Patton had three times been forced to give public apologies for his behavior as shown in the movie. He apologized for slapping a soldier, he apologized for talking about the vitues of English speaking countries in a speech in England (DeGaulle objected), he apologized for comparing the Nazi party to Republicans and Democrats.
Third, if in an alternate history. Hitler was our ally against Stalin, and he had publicly insulted Hitler in this way, he would have been made to apologize again.
The Strategic Air Command should have used the Quran as live target practice
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