U.S. soldier uses Quran for target practice. Military apologizes.

CNN ^ | May 17, 2008 | CNN

[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.

[Prole]

No thanks.

The New Testament is something that I prefer to stick with.

I am not a fan of appeasing the Mohammedans.

Their book is pure evil, and I won't ever grovel or cry in front of it.

[Grizzled Bear]

I just figured marymaryquitecontrary was TheZMan’s sock puppet and moved on.

[Grizzled Bear]

Thanks. My leadership and management styles are somewhat...eclectic.

[old-and-old]

wrong. we’re not in Iraq to fight all Iraqis. if you insult them, we’ll end up fighting them all.

[Prole]

"They aready hate us so they look for excuses to justify it."

Thank you.

I have been saying this for years with the Palestinians.

The Israelis gave them land, electricity, water etc...

Yet the Pali-b@st@rds still fire rockets at Israel.

Appeasement yields NOTHING, and we will find that out the hard way I guess.

[Jet Jaguar]

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=free+koran&btnG=Google+Search

Get a free Koran for worship or target practice.

[old-and-old]

who is “they” ?
Are in Iraq to fight a crusade and kill all Muslims or setup a decent government and get out of there?

[Prole]

"we’ll end up fighting them all."

Once Iran nukes Israel, we will be fighting all Mohammedans.

You think our "Shiite Allies in Iraq" will support the US-Israeli alliance against Iran?

[Grizzled Bear]

Go back and read my post # 73. I said the soldier was wrong.

Next, read my post #79 in the correct context. Neither the Islamofacsists nor the Liberal progressives will ever love us.

I choose not to let it hurt my feelings.

[1rudeboy]

It is rather funny, isn’t it? You’d think some of the internet generals on this thread would’ve seen the movie.

[old-and-old]

got it.

The idea is that if words spreads, even people who would normally be our allies will form a “Jihad brigade” and our soldiers have enough problems as it is. Quite a few are getting wounded and killed. If you recall, after Petraus, many insurgent Sunnis came on our side. Whatever he did (maybe pay them?) worked and less soldiers are getting killed

best

[VR-21]

"Whatever you think of the Koran, openly defiling one in a country where we’re trying to get people on our side is extremely dumb."

I agree with you. I have nothing but contempt for the Koran, but doing what that soldier did "in country" was bad headwork. This will be all over Al Jazeera and will be a setback for our cause.

[1rudeboy]

Why are our American Soldiers being forced to follow these careerist and opportunist officers who grovel like wimps and kiss the face of evil?

You are so right. A real officer would've made that soldier clean latrines for a year, then posted him so far north there's no sunlight.

[rfp1234]

OK, so it’s perfectly fine for terrorists to use the Bible as toilet paper (as they did during the siege of the Church of the Nativity).

[353FMG]

“Not where I live.”

Not where I live, either (so far). But considering the way we fall all over ourselves trying to please the muslims, the day will come that “desecrating” a Koran will become a misdemeanor at first and then a felony next, and who knows what the end result will be.

[El Gato]

The old warriors would never understand.... Wanna Bet?

First of all, that is not Patton, that's George C. Scott, playing Patton, and quite admirably too.

This is Patton:

Unlike Scott, Patton had a high squeaky voice. Did that make him a lessor man than the one portrayed by Scott. No Way!

Patton was forced, by Ike, to apologize to his own troops for slapping a private who "Just couldn't take it" in a hospital tent in Sicily. And he did. In several separate "briefings" in different locations. He also learned, from personal study after the incident, that "battle fatigue" was quite real and took measures to prevent and treat it in it's early stages, when he commanded 3rd Army. Patton was an SOB, proudly so, but he was a smart SOB.

So are our Colonels and Generals today.

Oh not all are SOBs, each has his/her own style, but they are also smart.

[El Gato]

I was OK with the Cadets visiting the Mosque, although I think having a sleepover there was a bit over the top. But making the female cadets cover their hair? That was disgusting. It should have been made clear that those women were not Muslims, and were not going observe Muslim customs in this regard because it would be considered demeaning in *our* culture, and last I checked NJ is still in the United States, although they tend not to be very respectful of our customs as codified in our Constitution. If they mosque leadership (which of course contains no women) can't live with that, then they should have been informed that no cadets would be partaking in the cultural exchange either.

Speaking of the Constitution, if wearing the headdress is a religious thing, then what about the freedom of religion of the female cadets. This is different than respecting another country's culture in their country, and not going out of your way to antagonize them.

But I'm antagonized by the site of those female cadets putting on that religous head gear that demeans women. They are not just women, they members of the US Armed Forces, and future commissioned officers.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

The New Testament is something that I prefer to stick with.

I didn't realize that Marcionism still existed. You always are learning new things on FR, that's for sure.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

OK, so it’s perfectly fine for terrorists to use the Bible as toilet paper

If I am not mistaken the PLO is not part of the US military and not subject to its discipline.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

making the female cadets cover their hair?

It is customary in Catholic Masses for women to cover their hair. Non-Catholics visiting a Catholic Church who are aware of this normally comply, out of respect.